Fix Service Host Delivery Optimization High Memory & Disk Usage

If you’re seeing high memory and disk usage from “Service Host: Delivery Optimization” in Windows 10, the fix is to adjust or disable the Windows Update delivery optimization settings, clear the cached update files, and restart the service. This article explains exactly how to do that and why the issue happens.

What Is Service Host: Delivery Optimization?

Delivery Optimization is a Windows 10 feature that helps you get Windows updates and Microsoft Store apps faster. It works by using a peer-to-peer (P2P) system: your PC can download pieces of updates from other computers on your local network or the internet, and it can also upload those pieces to others. The process runs as part of the “Service Host” group, which is a container for several background services. When you see high CPU, memory, or disk usage from “Service Host: Delivery Optimization,” it usually means the service is actively downloading or uploading update files, or that its cache has grown too large.

Why Does It Use So Much Memory and Disk?

There are three main reasons Delivery Optimization can spike in resource usage:

Active downloading: When Windows is downloading a large update (like a feature update), Delivery Optimization can use significant disk and network bandwidth.
Uploading to peers: The service also uploads cached update files to other PCs. If you’re on a metered connection or have limited bandwidth, this can feel like a problem.
Large cache: Windows keeps downloaded update files in a cache folder (usually C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DeliveryOptimization). Over time, this can grow to several gigabytes, especially if updates are frequent.

Sometimes the service gets stuck in a loop, causing it to continuously scan or retry downloads, which shows up as high CPU or disk usage even when no update is pending.

How to Check What’s Causing the High Usage

Before you change anything, confirm that Delivery Optimization is actually the culprit. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the “Processes” tab, and look for “Service Host: Delivery Optimization.” Click it to expand and see the actual service name. You can also go to the “Details” tab and sort by Memory or Disk. If the usage is consistently above 30% for several minutes, it’s worth fixing.

Also check if a Windows update is in progress. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see if there’s a pending download. If so, the high usage is normal—just let it finish. If not, proceed with the fixes below.

Fix 1: Adjust Delivery Optimization Settings

The simplest fix is to limit how Delivery Optimization uses your system. Here’s how:

Open Settings (Win+I).
Go to Update & Security > Delivery Optimization.
Under “Allow downloads from other PCs,” toggle it Off to disable P2P entirely. This stops both downloading from and uploading to other computers.
If you want to keep P2P but limit its impact, click Advanced options. You can set:

Percentage of measured bandwidth for background downloads (e.g., 20%).
Monthly upload cap (e.g., 20 GB).
Check “Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the foreground” and set a low percentage.

These settings take effect immediately. If you disable P2P, Windows will still download updates from Microsoft servers directly—just without the peer-to-peer component.

Fix 2: Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache

If the disk usage is high because of a bloated cache, clearing it can help. The cache is stored in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DeliveryOptimization. To clear it safely:

Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Find Delivery Optimization in the list. Right-click it and select Stop.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DeliveryOptimization.
Select all files inside (Ctrl+A) and delete them. If some files are in use, skip them and try again after a restart.
Go back to Services, right-click Delivery Optimization, and select Start.

This clears the cached update files. The next time Windows downloads an update, it will recreate the cache from scratch, but it should be smaller and more efficient.

Fix 3: Restart the Service or Disable It

If the service is stuck in a high-usage loop, restarting it can help. In the Services window (as above), right-click Delivery Optimization and choose Restart. If that doesn’t help, you can disable the service entirely—but note that this may affect Windows Update performance and is not recommended for most users. To disable:

In Services, double-click Delivery Optimization.
Set “Startup type” to Disabled.
Click Stop if it’s running, then click OK.

Disabling the service is a last resort. It will stop all P2P activity, but Windows Update will still work—just slower, as it will only use Microsoft’s servers. Some users report that disabling it also reduces background disk usage significantly.

Fix 4: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

If the problem persists, the Windows Update Troubleshooter can automatically detect and fix issues with update components, including Delivery Optimization. To run it:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
Click Additional troubleshooters.
Select Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the on-screen instructions. It may take a few minutes.

This tool can reset Windows Update components, clear corrupted cache, and fix registry issues that might cause abnormal behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to disable Delivery Optimization?

Yes, it’s safe. Disabling it only stops peer-to-peer updates. You’ll still get updates from Microsoft directly, but they may take longer to download, especially during peak times when Microsoft’s servers are busy. Most users won’t notice a difference.

Will clearing the Delivery Optimization cache delete my personal files?

No. The cache only contains update files that Windows has already installed or is preparing to install. Deleting them is safe—Windows will re-download any that are still needed.

Why does Delivery Optimization use so much disk even when I’m not downloading?

It could be uploading cached files to other PCs. If you have P2P enabled, your PC acts as a server for other users. The disk usage comes from reading the cached files to upload them. Disabling P2P or setting a monthly upload cap will stop this.

Can I move the Delivery Optimization cache to another drive?

Yes, but it’s not officially supported. You can create a symbolic link (junction) to redirect the folder to another drive. This is an advanced step and requires admin rights. It can help if your system drive is low on space, but it’s not necessary for fixing high usage.

Does Delivery Optimization affect gaming performance?

It can, if it’s using disk or network bandwidth while you’re gaming. The fixes above—especially limiting bandwidth or disabling P2P—can reduce the impact. For a gaming PC, it’s often best to disable P2P entirely.

In summary, the quickest fix is to turn off “Allow downloads from other PCs” in Delivery Optimization settings. If that doesn’t solve it, clear the cache and restart the service. For persistent issues, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. These steps should bring your memory and disk usage back to normal.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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