Restrict OneDrive Sync Speed in Windows via Intune Policy (Step-by-Step Guide)

This guide shows you how to control OneDrive sync speeds using Microsoft Intune. You can set fixed download limits to prevent OneDrive from using too much network bandwidth.

Why Use This Policy

Organizations use this policy when they need to:

• Control network bandwidth usage
• Prevent OneDrive from slowing down other applications
• Manage sync speeds during initial deployments
• Maintain consistent network performance

Policy Details

Setting	Details
Policy Name	Limit the sync app download speed to a fixed rate (User)
Platform	Windows 10 and later
Type	Settings Catalog
Speed Range	50 KB/s to 100,000 KB/s
Registry Key	[HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive] "DownloadBandwidthLimit"

Important Notes

• Values below 50 KB/s automatically get set to 50 KB/s
• This only affects file syncing, not app updates
• OneDrive.exe must restart for changes to take effect
• Setting is disabled by default

Configuration Steps

Step 1: Create the Policy

1. Open Microsoft Intune Admin Center
2. Navigate to Devices > Configurations
3. Click + Create
4. Select Windows 10 and later for Platform
5. Choose Settings catalog for Profile type
6. Click Create

Step 2: Add Basic Information

1. Enter policy name and description
2. Click Next

Step 3: Configure Settings

1. Click Add settings
2. Search for and expand OneDrive
3. Select Limit the sync app download speed to a fixed rate (User)
4. Close the settings picker
5. Toggle the setting to Enabled
6. Enter your desired bandwidth value (50-100000 KB/s)
7. Click Next

Step 4: Set Scope Tags (Optional)

1. Add scope tags if needed for filtering
2. Click Next

Step 5: Assign Groups

1. Select user or device groups for the policy
2. Click Next

Step 6: Review and Create

1. Review all settings
2. Click Create

Monitoring

Check Policy Status

1. Go to Devices > Configuration
2. Select your policy by name
3. Look for Succeeded status

Speed Up Deployment

• Use manual sync from Company Portal
• Policy updates may take a few minutes

Client Verification

Check Event Viewer for confirmation:

• Path: Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Device Management Enterprise Diagnostic Provider > Admin
• Look for Event ID 813 or 814

Managing the Policy

Remove Groups

1. Navigate to policy Assignments section
2. Click Edit
3. Remove unwanted groups

Delete Policy

1. Select the policy in Devices > Configuration
2. Click the three-dot menu
3. Choose Delete

Alternative Approaches

Instead of fixed rate limiting, consider:

• Enable automatic upload bandwidth management – Uses Windows LEDBAT protocol for smart bandwidth usage
• Percentage-based throttling – Adjusts based on available throughput
• Files On-Demand – Reduces sync requirements

Registry Reference

When enabled, the policy creates this registry entry:

[HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\OneDrive]
"DownloadBandwidthLimit"=dword:value

Example for 250 KB/s limit:

"DownloadBandwidthLimit"=dword:000000fa

Best Practices

• Test with small groups first
• Use during initial OneDrive deployments
• Don’t enable multiple bandwidth policies at once
• Consider user experience impact
• Monitor network performance after deployment

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Policy not applying	Check group assignments and wait for sync
Speed still unlimited	Verify policy is enabled and OneDrive restarted
Can’t set below 50 KB/s	This is by design – minimum is 50 KB/s
Users can change settings	Policy may not be properly targeted to user

This policy gives you direct control over OneDrive’s network usage while maintaining a good user experience.