Type a name for the filter in the Filter Name box, and then click the “OK” button.īack in the main window (with the Filterset option still selected on the left), click the “Apply” button. Now, check the “Enable Speed Limit (Traffic Shaper) in KBytes/sec” option, and then enter the number of KB/s to which you want to restrict the application in the box to that option’s left. Select the one you want, and then click “OK” to continue.
There, you should see the process definitions you created earlier. Next, click to open the “Process Definition” dropdown menu. In the Rule Editor window, choose the “Local Process” option from the “Source” dropdown menu. In the window that appears, click the “Add Rule” button. Click “Filterset” in the sidebar, and then click Add > Filter. You can now create a filter that limits an application’s bandwidth. After installation, open your Start menu, search for “TMeter,” and then launch the “TMeter Administrative Console” application.
TMeter Freeware Edition has a rather complicated interface and can only limit the bandwidth of four applications at a time, but it is free and, within those limits, works well.įirst, download and install TMeter. It’s the only free option now that NetBalancer no longer offers a free version. If you want to restrict an application’s bandwidth without spending any money, you’ll need to download TMeter Freeware Edition. When you want to remove the limit, just uncheck the box. To set a custom speed, click the “5 KB/s” in the DL Limit or UL Limit column and type in your desired speed.
To limit an application’s download or upload speed, just check the appropriate box under DL Limit or UL Limit. Launch the application after installing it and you’ll see a list of applications using your network connection along with their current download speed (“DL Rate”) and upload speed (“UL Rate”). NetLimiter provides a free 28-day trial, so you can test it and see if it works for you before buying it. If you want to use it for work, you need to spend $20 instead. You can purchase a single home user license of NetLimiter Lite for $16.
You don’t need NetLimiter Pro if you just want to set bandwidth limits, so the basic NetLimiter Lite program is fine. It’s cheaper than other paid options too. Unlike the free option we’ll be covering in the next section, NetLimiter has an easy-to-use interface and lets you limit the bandwidth of an unlimited amount of applications. We’ll cover that free option in the next section, but NetLimiter is worth a purchase if you really need this feature. We only found a single free tool for setting per-application bandwidth limits on Windows. You usually can’t set a precise bandwidth limit, but your router will automatically prioritize traffic based on the rules you set up to keep everything performing quickly. If you have a router with Quality of Service (QoS) features, you also can use your router to prioritize traffic.
RELATED: How to Limit Windows Update's Download Bandwidth on Windows 10 There’s also a “Limit how much bandwidth is used for uploading updates to other PCs on the Internet” option here, but you can disable the uploading feature entirely if you’re concerned about its bandwidth usage. Toggle the “Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background” option here.
To configure this, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Delivery Optimization > Advanced Options. Putting restrictions on those (particularly if you’re uploading lots of files at once) can be really helpful.Įven Windows 10 now lets you restrict how much bandwidth Windows Update uses in the background. Many other applications, including tools like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, have similar built-in options. For example, if you want to manage the amount of bandwidth Steam uses to download games, you can head to Steam > Settings > Downloads, and then use the “Limit bandwidth to” box to restrict its bandwidth. Look for options integrated into the programs you already use before you install any third-party software. Option One: Use Options Built Into the Programs You Use