Policy
Set default download behavior for BITS jobs on costed networks
Microsoft Windows
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016
This policy setting defines the default behavior that the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) uses for background transfers when the system is connected to a costed network (3G, etc.). Download behavior policies further limit the network usage of background transfers. If you enable this policy setting, you can define a default download policy for each BITS job priority. This setting does not override a download policy explicitly configured by the application that created the BITS job, but does apply to jobs that are created by specifying only a priority. For example, you can specify that background jobs are by default to transfer only when on uncosted network connections, but foreground jobs should proceed only when not roaming. The values that can be assigned are: - Always transfer - Transfer unless roaming - Transfer unless surcharge applies (when not roaming or overcap) - Transfer unless nearing limit (when not roaming or nearing cap) - Transfer only if unconstrained - Custom--allows you to specify a bitmask, in which the bits describe cost states allowed or disallowed for this priority: (bits described here) 0x1 - The cost is unknown or the connection is unlimited and is considered to be unrestricted of usage charges and capacity constraints. 0x2 - The usage of this connection is unrestricted up to a certain data limit 0x4 - The usage of this connection is unrestricted up to a certain data limit and plan usage is less than 80 percent of the limit. 0x8 - Usage of this connection is unrestricted up to a certain data limit and plan usage is between 80 percent and 100 percent of the limit. 0x10 - Usage of this connection is unrestricted up to a certain data limit, which has been exceeded. Surcharge applied or unknown. 0x20 - Usage of this connection is unrestricted up to a certain data limit, which has been exceeded. No surcharge applies, but speeds are likely reduced. 0x40 - The connection is costed on a per-byte basis. 0x80 - The connection is roaming. 0x80000000 - Ignore congestion.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
No explicit registry values are set for enabled or disabled states.
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
| Scope | Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | Foreground (Custom) ID BITS_TransferPolicyForegroundPriorityValueCustom | decimal | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name ForegroundTransferPolicyCustom Type REG_DWORD | Range: ? to 2147483647 | |
| Computer | High (Custom) ID BITS_TransferPolicyHighPriorityValueCustom | decimal | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name HighTransferPolicyCustom Type REG_DWORD | Range: ? to 2147483647 | |
| Computer | Normal (Custom) ID BITS_TransferPolicyNormalPriorityValueCustom | decimal | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name NormalTransferPolicyCustom Type REG_DWORD | Range: ? to 2147483647 | |
| Computer | Low (Custom) ID BITS_TransferPolicyLowPriorityValueCustom | decimal | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name LowTransferPolicyCustom Type REG_DWORD | Range: ? to 2147483647 | |
| Computer | Foreground ID BITS_TransferPolicyForegroundPriorityValue | enum | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name ForegroundTransferPolicy Type REG_DWORD | Options: Always transfer (2147483903), Transfer unless roaming (2147483775), Transfer unless surcharge applies (when not roaming or overcap) (2147483759), Transfer unless nearing limit (when not roaming or nearing cap) (2147483751), Transfer only if unconstrained (2147483681), Custom (255) | |
| Computer | High ID BITS_TransferPolicyHighPriorityValue | enum | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name HighTransferPolicy Type REG_DWORD | Options: Always transfer (255), Transfer unless roaming (127), Transfer unless surcharge applies (when not roaming or overcap) (111), Transfer unless nearing limit (when not roaming or nearing cap) (103), Transfer only if unconstrained (33), Custom (255) | |
| Computer | Normal ID BITS_TransferPolicyNormalPriorityValue | enum | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name NormalTransferPolicy Type REG_DWORD | Options: Always transfer (255), Transfer unless roaming (127), Transfer unless surcharge applies (when not roaming or overcap) (111), Transfer unless nearing limit (when not roaming or nearing cap) (103), Transfer only if unconstrained (33), Custom (255) | |
| Computer | Low ID BITS_TransferPolicyLowPriorityValue | enum | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\BITS\TransferPolicy Value name LowTransferPolicy Type REG_DWORD | Options: Always transfer (255), Transfer unless roaming (127), Transfer unless surcharge applies (when not roaming or overcap) (111), Transfer unless nearing limit (when not roaming or nearing cap) (103), Transfer only if unconstrained (33), Custom (255) |