Windows networking data usage monitor

This service provides network data usage monitoring functionality.

Default Settings

Startup type:	Automatic
Display name:	Windows Network Data Usage Monitoring Driver
Service name:	Ndu
Service type:	kernel
Error control:	normal
Path:	%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\Ndu.sys
Registry key:	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ndu

Default Behavior

Windows Network Data Usage Monitoring Driver is a kernel device driver. In Windows 10 it is starting automatically when the operating system starts. If Windows Network Data Usage Monitoring Driver fails to start, the failure details are being recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 10 will start up and notify the user that the Ndu service has failed to start due to the error.

Dependencies

Windows Network Data Usage Monitoring Driver cannot be started under any conditions, if the TCP/IP Protocol Driver service is disabled.

Restore Default Startup Configuration for Windows Network Data Usage Monitoring Driver

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config Ndu start= auto
sc start Ndu

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

How to Monitor Your Network Usage in Windows 8 (And Prevent Paying For The Extra Bandwidth)

With more and more Internet Service Providers (ISPs) around the world capping bandwidth for subscribers, these users have to find ways to monitor network usage to avoid slow service and high fees. Windows 8 has a built-in tool to show network usage statistics as well as ways to limit your usage to help keep on top of it before your ISP caps you.

How to show network usage statistics

1. Head to your Windows 8 desktop.

2. Click on the “Internet Connection” icon in the taskbar.

3. “Right-click” your Internet connection.

A small menu will appear.

4. Click “Show estimated data usage.”

5. “Left-click” your Internet connection again.

A drop down menu will appear that will give you your estimated usage since Windows 8 started recording it. If you have never turned this on before, it’ll be since you installed Windows 8. You can reset the stats at any time by clicking “Reset.”

Windows 8 only gives you an estimate of usage. For more in-depth statistics, we will take a look at a Windows Store app that gives you more information.

Using the Network Usage app

You can download the Network Usage app from the Windows Store.

Once installed, Network Usage will breakdown your monthly and daily MBs sent and received on an Internet connection.

If you click on any month with data, you can see the breakdown daily of what was sent and received.

On days that have particularly high data usage, you can recall what you did that day to figure out ways to cut back on sending and receiving data.

Network Usage will keep records for all network connections you have utilized until you reset it. This includes networks you merely connected to once or your home network you stay connected to most of the time.

How to limit your network usage

If you are already using a metered connection, you may need to ensure you are not downloading over it. Depending on your data plan with your ISP, you may or may not have to worry about limiting your usage. Windows 8 has a built-in setting to help meter your own connection.

1. In order to do that, open the “Charms Bar.” Then click “Change PC Settings,” followed by “Devices” under PC settings.

2. Scroll down below your devices, and you will see the “Download over metered connections” option.

3. Ensure this is turned off.

This means you will never download software drivers, information, apps or updates when you have a metered network connection. This will help save bandwidth and keep your usage low when you cannot afford to go over.

Windows 8 lets you quickly go from ametered connection to a non-metered one through the network properties.

4. Open your network connection.

5. “Left-click” your Internet connection.

Keep in mind that only wireless connections can be metered in Windows 8. Wired connections cannot.

6. Click “Set as metered connection.”

The unwanted data that was configured above will no longer be downloaded.

You can toggle this on or off any time by following steps 4 through 6.

Conclusion

Check with your ISP to see if you are on a metered data plan. You could be and may not even know it. If you are, the steps above can help give you an idea of what you are using each month, and you can take precautions to not go over your data allotment.

What methods do you use to monitor your network usage statistics in Windows 8? Let us know below in the comments section.

How To Monitor Real Time Data Usage In Windows

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e are going to share the easiest method that will help you monitor your data usage in a proper way so as to avoid the extra charges of overusing internet plans. The methods are pretty simple and depends on some cool tools that will allow you to track your network packets. Moreover, this will show you the real-time usage.

If you are running short of the internet data then you need to monitor the complete data usage of your internet. In Windows 7, there is a widget where you can view the actual status of internet usage when you are connected to the internet. However, on the other version of windows, this feature was missing. So we are here with an excellent method that will allow you to monitor your data usage properly to avoid extra charges of overusing internet plans. So have a look on complete guide discussed below to proceed.

How To Monitor Real Time Data Usage In Windows

The method is very simple and depends on some cool tools that will allow you to track your network packets. Moreover, this will show you the real-time usage. So, check out the best data usage monitor for windows 10

#1 Shaplus Bandwidth Meter

This is one of the best software that you can use to monitor all the data status of your network. It is very simple to use bandwidth monitoring software to track Internet bandwidth usage. It remains in tray and displays the bandwidth usage in the current session, day and month. This will be helpful for those with limited bandwidth broadband/Adsl connection. By using this, you can avoid extra usage of your data.

#2 Glasswire

GlassWire’s network monitor visualizes your current and past network activity by traffic type, application, geographic location, all on a beautiful and easy to understand graph. Go back in time up to 30 days and see what your computer or server was doing in the past. Click the graph to see details of what app or network event caused a spike in network activity. So must try out this cool software in your Windows PC and have the complete track on your internet usage to manage them best according to your plan. Also with this tool, you do lots of other things too like creating firewall, etc. in your Windows PC.

#3 Free Meter

FreeMeter is the best data usage app for pc that performs as a widget on your PC’s desktop. It will help you to monitor network bandwidth (C#.NET 2k/XP+) Desktop and Systray graph. Configurable connection speed, update interval, color, transparency. Monitor any or all network interfaces. Ping/Trace/UPnP utilities. This widget is small and easy to install and it will track all your network usage and will show you in real-time.

#4 BitMeter OS

BitMeter OS is a free, open-source, bandwidth monitor that works on Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX. BitMeter OS keeps track of how much you use your internet/network connection and allows you to view this information either via a web browser or by using the command line tools. The Web Interface displays various graphs and charts that show how your internet/network connection has been used over time – online demo available. The Monitor pane displays a graph that updates once each second, showing you what’s happening with your connection right now

#5 NetWorx

NetWorx is a simple, yet versatile and powerful tool that helps you objectively evaluate your bandwidth consumption situation. You can use it to collect bandwidth usage data and measure the speed of your Internet or any other network connections. The incoming and outgoing traffic is represented on a line chart and logged into a file so that you can always view statistics about your daily, weekly and monthly bandwidth usage and dial-up duration.

#6 tbbMeter

tbbMeter is a bandwidth meter we have developed to help you monitor your Internet usage. It allows you to see how much your computer is sending to and receiving from the Internet in real time. It also shows you how your Internet usage varies at different times of the day.

#7 Network Activity Indicator

Well, it’s another simple tool that helps you to monitor your internet usage. After installing this tool, you will see the icon in the system tray. Users just need to hover the mouse pointer over the two computer screen icon to view the upload and downloaded internet data for the session.

#8 iTraffic Monitor

iTraffic Monitor is a network monitor and reporting tool. It provides a real-time graph of network traffic. It also displays the total downloaded and uploaded data for the connected session. So, its one of the best windows 10 network meter that you can use.

#9 NetBalancer

NetBalancer is not just a tool to monitor real-time data usage, but its more than that. With the help of NetBalancer, you can control and monitor your data usage. You can manage multiple network adapters and the processes. Moreover, you will also get the option to set priorities for the running processes.

Actually, NetBalancer comes with some sets of settings which allows users to control the speed limits for processes. For example, you can set uTorrent to consume only 50Kbps. You can check network speed, connected networks, data consumed by apps and detailed traffic analysis for all apps with the help of NetBalancer. So, its one of the best data usage monitor for windows 10 free download.

#10 NetGuard

NetGuard is another best Windows tool which allows users to monitor their real-time data usage. NetGuard comes with a powerful bandwidth monitoring tool which helps users to keep a watch on apps consuming data. You can also set the network limit to each individual apps which helps to save some precious data.

Another unique feature of NetGuard is that it displays graphs to understand the bandwidth use of each apps running on your Windows computer. It also analyzes your data consumption and forecasts the amount of bandwidth you need each month.

#11 SLT Usage Meter

SLT Usage Meter is another best data usage monitor on the list which can help you to monitor the internet data usage in real time. The great thing about SLT Usage Meter is that it shows the graphs of data usage in different categories like Total Usage, Peak Usage, Off-Peak Usage, etc. So, SLT Usage Meter is another portable Windows 10 tool which you can use to track real-time data usage.

#12 Data Usage

As the name of the tool says, Data Usage is one of the best Windows 10 utility available on the Microsoft store that allows users to monitor real-time data usage. The tool arrives with a neat interface and it can show the details of current connection like External IP, Host Name, Local IP, etc. So, Data Usage is definitely the best Windows 10 tool which you can use to monitor Real Time Data usage.

#13 Using Windows 10 Task Manager (how to check data usage on pc)

You can have a brief look at all the data that the installed apps use. You can get the data overview of a current month. The best part is you don’t need to install any third-party app to Monitor your network usage. Let’s know how to check network usage with Task Manager

Step 1. You need to right click on the taskbar and select Task Manager, or you can simply press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open Task manager.

Using Windows 10 Data Usage Option

Step 2. Once you opened the task manager you can see the option of “App History” where you can see the overview of Universal Windows platform apps, it will not include desktop applications like Chrome or Microsoft Office, etc.

Using Windows 10 Data Usage Option

#14 Monitor Using Windows 10 Settings

Step 1. You need to search for the option of Data Usage in the Windows 10 Search Box and select the option “Data Usage Overview”

Monitor Using Windows 10 Settings

Step 2. Now you will see the complete overview of past 30 days. You just need to click on “Usage Details”

Monitor Using Windows 10 Settings

Step 3. Now you will see all the network usage for all your applications installed on your Windows 10 computer which will also include desktop applications like Chrome, Office files, etc.

Monitor Using Windows 10 Settings

#15 Find Out if Windows 10 is downloading/updating in the background

As we all know, Windows 10 arrives with a bad habit of updating itself silently on the background. This thing consumes lots of internet data and can make your computer slow for a few hours. Usually, users can end the ‘Windows Update’ process from the task manager itself, but there’s something more running on the background which triggers the ‘Windows Update’ process again.

Most of the time it was the Windows process called ‘Service Host’ which consumes all of the internet bandwidth. You can’t end the ‘Service Host’ process from the task manager and you need to use Resource monitor for that.

On Windows 10, you need to open the Task Manager and under the ‘Performance’ tab, you need to click on ‘Open Resource Monitor’

Windows 10 Resource Monitor

On the Resource monitor, select the ‘Network’ tab and you will be able to see the process which is hogging the internet data in real-time. You can easily close the process from the Resource Monitor.

Windows 10 Resource Monitor

So above are the tools for Monitoring Real Time Data Usage In Windows. With the above-discussed tools and methods, you can easily view the complete receive and sent packages of data in your Windows PC. Moreover, you can overcome extra charges on limited internet plans. Hope you like this, do share with others too. Leave a comment below if you have any related queries with this.