Troubleshooting Windows 11 Windows Update Delivery Optimization Configuration

Understanding Windows Update Delivery Optimization

As an experienced IT professional, I often encounter issues with Windows Update delivery, particularly on Windows 11 systems. One such common problem is the “Delivery Optimization: Download of a file saw no progress within the defined period” error, which can prevent timely updates and feature upgrades. To tackle this challenge effectively, let’s dive into the Windows Update Delivery Optimization feature and explore practical troubleshooting steps.

Windows Update Delivery Optimization is a technology that aims to improve the reliability and speed of Windows updates and Microsoft Store app downloads. It works by allowing your device to obtain parts of the update or app from other PCs on your local network or even the internet, rather than relying solely on Microsoft’s servers. This approach can significantly reduce the bandwidth required and provide a more efficient download process, especially for users with limited or unreliable internet connections.

Delivery Optimization creates a local cache on your device, storing the downloaded content for a short period. When a subsequent update or app needs to be downloaded, Delivery Optimization will first check if any parts of the content are available locally or from other devices, and then download the remaining pieces from Microsoft’s servers. This efficient, distributed approach can dramatically improve the user experience by reducing download times and ensuring more successful update installations.

Configuring Delivery Optimization

To manage Delivery Optimization settings on your Windows 11 devices, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and navigate to Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Click on Delivery Optimization to access the configuration options.

Here, you’ll find several settings that can be adjusted to optimize Delivery Optimization for your environment:

Allow downloads from other PCs: This setting determines whether your device can download content from other PCs on your local network or even the internet. You can choose to allow downloads from devices on your local network only or disable this feature entirely.

Download mode: This setting controls how your device will participate in the Delivery Optimization network. The options include:
– HTTP only (0): Your device will only download content from Microsoft’s servers and not share any content with other devices.
– LAN (1): Your device will download content from other devices on your local network, but not from the internet.
– Internet (2): Your device will download content from other devices on the internet, in addition to your local network.
– Bypass (3): Delivery Optimization is disabled, and your device will only download content directly from Microsoft’s servers.

Absolute max cache size: This setting determines the maximum amount of storage space your device will allocate for the Delivery Optimization cache. The default value is 10 GB, but you can adjust this based on your device’s storage capacity.

By configuring these settings, you can strike the right balance between download performance, bandwidth usage, and privacy concerns for your organization or home network.

Troubleshooting Delivery Optimization Issues

Now, let’s address some common problems you may encounter with Windows Update Delivery Optimization and explore potential solutions:

Issue 1: Windows Updates and Feature Upgrades Stuck at 0% Download

If you’re experiencing Windows updates or feature upgrades getting stuck at 0% download, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Delivery Optimization Settings: Ensure that the Delivery Optimization settings are configured correctly, as described in the previous section. Verify that the “Allow downloads from other PCs” setting is enabled and that the “Download mode” is set appropriately for your environment.

2. Verify Network Connectivity: Ensure that your device has a stable and reliable network connection, both to the local network and the internet (if applicable). Test the network connection by performing a basic internet speed test or by trying to download other files.

3. Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache: Sometimes, a corrupted or overloaded cache can cause issues with the Delivery Optimization process. To clear the cache, follow these steps:

4. Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator).
5. Type net stop dosvc and press Enter to stop the Delivery Optimization Service.
6. Run rd /s /q %systemroot%\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\DeliveryOptimization to delete the Delivery Optimization cache.

7. Restart the Delivery Optimization Service by typing net start dosvc and pressing Enter.

8. Disable and Re-enable Delivery Optimization: If the previous steps don’t resolve the issue, you can try disabling and then re-enabling Delivery Optimization. Follow these steps:

9. Open the Settings app and navigate to Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization.
10. Turn off the “Allow downloads from other PCs” setting.
11. Restart your device.

12. Once the device has restarted, turn the “Allow downloads from other PCs” setting back on.

13. Check for Group Policy Conflicts: Ensure that there are no conflicting Group Policy settings that may be overriding your Delivery Optimization configuration. Review the relevant Group Policy settings and ensure they are consistent with your desired Delivery Optimization behavior.

14. Consider Disabling Delivery Optimization: If the issues persist, you can temporarily disable Delivery Optimization and see if the Windows updates or feature upgrades download successfully without it. To do this, follow the steps in the previous point to turn off the “Allow downloads from other PCs” setting.

Issue 2: Delivery Optimization Downloading from Incorrect Sources

In some cases, you may find that Delivery Optimization is trying to download content from an incorrect or unsupported source, such as an internal server or a URL that is not accessible. This can lead to the Delivery Optimization: Download of a file saw no progress within the defined period error.

To address this issue, you can take the following steps:

1. Check the Delivery Optimization Log: On the affected device, open an elevated command prompt and run the following command to view the Delivery Optimization log:

get-deliveryoptimizationlog

Examine the log for any references to the incorrect download source, such as the URL or server name. Make a note of these details.

1. Verify the Whitelisted URLs: Ensure that the required Delivery Optimization URLs are whitelisted in your organization’s network settings. The necessary URLs are listed in the Microsoft documentation.

2. Check SCCM Configuration: If you’re managing Windows updates through Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (SCCM), review the relevant settings, such as the “Allow clients to download delta content when the option is available” and the “Port that clients use to receive requests for delta content” options.

3. Disable Delivery Optimization for Specific Updates: As a workaround, you can try disabling Delivery Optimization for the problematic updates or feature upgrades. To do this, you can create a Group Policy or a registry setting to exclude the specific updates from using Delivery Optimization.

4. For Group Policy, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Delivery Optimization > Delivery Optimization Exclusion List and add the relevant updates or applications.

5. For registry, create or modify the DOExclusionList value under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization key and add the updates or applications you want to exclude.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issues related to Delivery Optimization and ensure a smooth Windows Update experience for your Windows 11 devices.

Conclusion

Windows Update Delivery Optimization is a powerful feature that can significantly improve the reliability and speed of Windows updates and Microsoft Store app downloads. However, as with any technology, it can sometimes encounter issues that require troubleshooting.

By understanding the Delivery Optimization configuration options, monitoring the Delivery Optimization logs, and applying the appropriate troubleshooting steps, you can effectively address common problems and ensure that your Windows 11 devices are keeping up with the latest updates and feature upgrades.

Remember, the IT Fix blog is always here to provide you with practical tips and in-depth insights on technology, computer repair, and IT solutions. Stay tuned for more informative articles to help you navigate the ever-evolving world of IT.