Member Avatar for Doctor Inferno

Windows uses 20% of your bandwidth Here's how to Get it back:

Microsoft reserve 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes (suspect for updates and interrogating your machine etc..)

Here's how to get it back:

Click Start > Run > type "gpedit.msc" This opens the group policy editor. Then go to:
Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > QOS Packet Scheduler > Limit Reservable Bandwidth.

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab :

"By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default."

So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, then set it to ZERO. This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by tigerbright

Dani AI

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The original tweak posted by (changing the "Limit reservable bandwidth" setting) is rooted in a real Group Policy/registry value, but the common claim that Windows is silently "stealing" 20% of every connection is a misunderstanding. The Packet Scheduler setting defines the maximum percentage that QoS-aware software can reserve — it does not permanently hold 20% back from all traffic. (learn.microsoft.com)

Under the hood the policy maps to a Psched value (NonBestEffortLimit) in the machine policy/registry; when present it sets the percentage, and when absent the Packet Scheduler uses its default behavior (historically 20%). and hit the usual symptom: Home editions do not include the gpedit.msc snap‑in, so registry edits or other controls are the alternative. (speedguide.net)

Practical effect is usually small. Anecdotal reports in this thread (for example and ) vary — isolated speed tests can show modest gains because of background activity or test variance, but a blanket "20% faster" claim is unlikely on modern broadband where the ISP or router is the bottleneck. For update-related bandwidth control, modern Windows exposes Delivery Optimization and update throttling (prefer those controls for limiting Windows Update traffic); for real prioritization or shaping, configure QoS on the router/gateway where it affects all devices. Removing or disabling the QoS Packet Scheduler prevents local reservations but may also remove genuine priority behaviour that some apps expect. (howtogeek.com)

Suggested, repeatable test procedure:

  • record a 3–5 run median from the same speed test server with no other big transfers;
  • note background activity and device/client differences (same machine, same browser/app each run);
  • change the policy/registry and reboot or refresh policy; repeat the 3–5 run median and compare medians.

Any change should be treated as a tweak: document the baseline, keep a restore point, and prefer router/edge QoS or Delivery Optimization controls for consistent, network‑wide results.

Recommended Answers

All 15 Replies

Member Avatar for GrimJack

I tried that and get the message:
Windows can not find gpedit.msc - I am running VISTA HE on a Toshiba A215 with an AMD athlon(64bit) dual core processor tk-55. What am I missing?

Member Avatar for Doctor Inferno

I just found another way to do it, try this:

Go to Control Panel -> Network Connections
-> Right-click on your Dial-up or ADSL connection -> Properties
-> Networking
-> Uninstall QoS Packet Scheduler

Member Avatar for pcfresh

Hey Guys,
This would appear to be a myth, the 20% reserved bandwidth is available to any program requesting priority access. This "reserved" bandwidth is still available to other programs unless the requesting program is sending data. You can check it out here.


Dave

Member Avatar for tigerbright

Hi - for whatever reason, seemed to be good for about 5% increase on my system
- i just reduced to 10% rather than 0%.
I test using the same download file from a consistantly fast site.
regards

Member Avatar for hollowman1

Let me try..:)
Thanks for the guide.

Member Avatar for robleeuk

I have not tried it. Let me also try it and will send back my feedback.

commented: Don't make absolutely useless posts just to get your sig link posted. -3
Member Avatar for jbennet

I tried that and get the message:
Windows can not find gpedit.msc - I am running VISTA HE on a Toshiba A215 with an AMD athlon(64bit) dual core processor tk-55. What am I missing?

You dont get group policy support on the home editions, as they cant join a domain, so it would be kind of redundant to have the group policy editor snapin.

Go to services under admin tools and simply disable the QOS service.

Member Avatar for GrimJack

You dont get group policy support on the home editions, as they cant join a domain, so it would be kind of redundant to have the group policy editor snapin.

d'Oh!

Go to services under admin tools and simply disable the QOS service.

Looked there but did not find QOS - dug around a bit I vaguely remember seeing it under XP but I can't find it under Vista.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Try removing the protocol from the network connection properties then

Member Avatar for GrimJack

Yeah! I did that - thanks. Will see if that helps

Member Avatar for jbennet

it made a 20-30% difference in the download speed IE was reporting.

Member Avatar for hollowman1

d'Oh!

Looked there but did not find QOS - dug around a bit I vaguely remember seeing it under XP but I can't find it under Vista.

What version of vista are you using ?

Member Avatar for Jen0608

how come it cannot find the file?

Member Avatar for vilas_1

cool simple,easy steps i loved it doing.
nyc.
tnx

Member Avatar for tigerbright

lol !!! five years later , just recieved an email regarding this discussion , but must admit that I had forgotten this tweak
Now using Windows 7 but managed to find the " limit reservable bandwidth " control and set default ( blank = 20%) to 10%
Which did seem to wake up youtube viewing and rendering web page elements using my rather patchy mobile wireless internet service from a degraded reception region.
Did note some suggesting setting to zero reserve , but I personally consider unwise as apps uploading that usually use reserved bandwith would rudely intrude upon more ordered user initiated browser tasks and so create disruptions - this is purely speculation upon my part

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