Delivery Optimization

Windows ServiceMicrosoft Corporation

Also called dosvc, delivery optimization

WindowsMicrosoft

The Windows 10-era service that can share update bytes with other PCs on the LAN or the internet. BITS is the older transfer queue.

What you need to know

This is the Windows 10 peer update cache. BITS is a different service with a longer history.

DoSvc can download from Microsoft and from other PCs. A large upload on a metered home link is the usual complaint. Windows Update still has BITS beside it.

Important?: For peer update delivery, yes
High network?: It may be seeding or fetching
Same as BITS?: No. BITS is the older queue

Feex says

If the PC is uploading while nobody is at the keyboard, I would set Delivery Optimization to devices on the local network only. I would not disable BITS to punish DoSvc.

What does this service do?

Display name: Delivery Optimization. Service name: DoSvc.

It caches update payloads and can serve peers. Settings > Windows Update > Advanced > Delivery Optimization is the supported control. It is not SmartScreen.

History on Windows

Still present

Delivery Optimization shipped with Windows 10 as a peer-to-peer layer for Windows Update and Store content. It was not part of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. The service name DoSvc is still present on Windows 10 and Windows 11. BITS remains available for clients that still create BITS jobs.

Delivery Optimization service history
First shipped as DoSvc	Windows 10 (2015)
Earlier Windows	Not present as this service on Windows 7 or 8.1
Still present	Yes, including Windows 11
Discontinued	No

Why does Windows need it?

Microsoft uses it to shrink duplicate downloads on a LAN. Home users on a small uplink feel the internet-peer option first.

When does it run?

During Update or Store downloads, and while a peer asks for a piece you already have.

Should it always be running?

Automatic (Delayed Start) is common. You can leave the service on and still restrict peers in Settings.

Can I disable it?

Prefer Settings over Disabled

You can turn off internet peers in Delivery Optimization settings and keep the service. Setting DoSvc to Disabled stops that cache. Windows Update can still use other paths, including BITS.

What happens if I disable it?

Peer sharing stops. Some Store or Update transfers fall back. BITS jobs are a different queue.

Process host

DoSvc commonly runs inside svchost.exe. See svchost.exe.

Dependencies

Delivery Optimization dependencies
Depends on	RPC and the HTTP stack
Used by	Windows Update and Store on current Windows

Resource behavior

CPU: Low to moderate while hashing pieces
Disk: Cache under ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization
Network: Downloads and optional uploads
Memory: Moderate

Common problems

Upload on a metered home connection

Set Allow downloads from other PCs to LAN only, or off. That is the documented control.

People disable BITS instead

Wrong service. See the BITS article.

Troubleshooting

Safe steps first.

Settings > Delivery Optimization > Activity monitor

Shows upload. The service name is DoSvc.

Clear the cache only after you restrict peers

A huge cache is stored updates, not malware named DoSvc.

Technical details

DoSvc technical details
Display name	Delivery Optimization
Service name	DoSvc

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Microsoft Learn: Delivery Optimization · DoSvc behavior
Microsoft Support: Delivery Optimization settings · LAN versus internet peers
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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