Key Points
- What is Windows 10 network data usage? Windows 10 tracks how much data each network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) uses over time to help users monitor bandwidth consumption.
- Can you reset network data usage in Windows 10? Yes, but Windows 10 does not offer a built-in reset button, so the data must be cleared manually using system services and files.
- What file stores network usage statistics in Windows 10? Network usage data is stored in the SRUDB.dat file, which logs diagnostic and bandwidth information for the system.
- Is it safe to delete the SRUDB.dat file? Yes, deleting SRUDB.dat does not break Windows features, and the file is automatically regenerated, but historical usage data is permanently removed.
- Do you need administrator access to reset data usage? Yes, resetting network data usage requires local administrator privileges to stop system services and modify protected system files.
Windows 10 includes a built-in data usage tracker that logs bandwidth consumption per network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). This information is available via Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage and is updated automatically. While the tracker is useful, some users opt to reset it for various reasons, such as starting fresh, auditing network usage, troubleshooting excessive data consumption, or analyzing changes after system configuration.
However, Windows 10 doesn’t provide a built-in button or GUI option to reset this counter. Instead, it requires administrative access and changes to the file system. This guide will show you how to reset network data usage in Windows 10.
How to reset network data usage
Before you can reset network data usage, ensure the following requirements are met:
- You are using Windows 10 (all editions).
- You have local administrator rights.
- You can stop and start system services.
- You are familiar with changing file ownership and permissions.
Once these conditions are met, follow the steps below to reset your network data usage statistics:
⚠️ Things to know before resetting network data usage in Windows 10
- Resetting data usage deletes historical network statistics permanently
- The reset applies to all network adapters, not just Wi-Fi or Ethernet individually
- You must stop the Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) before deleting SRUDB.dat
Step 1: Stop the Diagnostic Policy Service
- Press Win + S to open the search bar.
- Type cmd, right-click Command Prompt from the results, and select Run as administrator.
- In the Command Prompt window, run the following command and press Enter:
net stop DPS
- Wait for the confirmation message:
“The Diagnostic Policy Service was stopped successfully.”
Step 2: Take ownership of the data usage file
The network data usage statistics are stored in this file:
- C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat
You need to take ownership of this file before making changes. To do this:
- In the same elevated Command Prompt, run:
takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
- Then grant full permissions to administrators:
icacls "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat" /grant administrators:F
Step 3: Delete or rename the usage database
Now that you have control over SRUDB.dat, you can either delete it to reset usage statistics or rename it to keep a backup.
- To delete the file, run:
del "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
- To rename the file (as a backup), run:
ren "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat" "SRUDB_old.dat"
Step 4: Restart the Diagnostic Policy Service
- To restart the service, run the following command:
net start DPS
- Wait for the confirmation message:
“The Diagnostic Policy Service was started successfully.”
A new SRUDB.dat file will be generated, and network usage stats will reset to zero.
Step 5: Confirm the reset
- Press Win + I to open the Settings.
- Go to Network & Internet.
- Select Data Usage.
- Select your active network. The statistics should now be cleared.
You may also watch this short video: ‘How to View Computer Network Data Usage Details in Windows 10’.
Using a scripted batch file for automating resets (optional)
You can also automate the complete reset using a batch (.bat) script. This method is fast, repeatable, and helpful if you need to perform the reset regularly.
Step 1: Create a batch file
- Press Win + S to open the search bar.
- Type Notepad and click on it from the search results.
- Copy and paste the following script into Notepad:
@echo off
net stop DPS
takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
icacls "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat" /grant administrators:F
del "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
net start DPS
echo Network usage stats have been reset.
pause
- Click File > Save As.
- Enter a name like: ResetNetworkUsage.bat
- In the Save as type dropdown, select All Files.
- Choose a convenient location to save the file (e.g., Desktop), then click Save.
Step 2: Run the batch file as an administrator
- Locate the ResetNetworkUsage.bat file.
- Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
- If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
This will automatically stop the Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS), take ownership of the usage data file, delete it, and restart the service.
Troubleshooting common issues
Issue: “Access Denied” when deleting SRUBD.dat
This error usually occurs because the SRUDB.dat file is still being used by the Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) or because you don’t have sufficient permissions. Make sure the DPS service is stopped:
- Press Win + S, type cmd, and right-click on the Command Prompt > Run as administrator.
- Run the command:
net stop DPS
Then, take ownership of the file and grant full permissions:
- In the Command Prompt, run:
takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
icacls "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat" /grant administrators:F
Issue: Stats not resetting
If the stats are not resetting, it’s likely because the file wasn’t successfully deleted or is still being locked by another system service, preventing its removal. Try rebooting in Safe Mode.
Reboot into Safe Mode
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type msconfig and click Enter to open the System Configuration.
- Go to the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, check Safe boot and select Minimal.
- Click OK, then Restart.
- Click Restart.
- Once in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run the following command:
takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
icacls "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat" /grant administrators:F
del "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"
- Once done, press Win + R and type msconfig to reopen the System Configuration.
- Uncheck Safe boot > OK > Restart to reboot your PC normally.
Service fails to restart
The DPS service may fail to start if one or more dependencies are missing, corrupted, or not running. By definition, dependency is another service that must be running for the current service (in this case, the current service is DPS) to work properly.
Check Event Viewer logs
- Press Win + X, then select Event Viewer.
- Go to Windows Logs > System.
- Look for red error messages related to DPS and note any dependencies.
Ensure dependencies are running
- Press Win + S, type cmd, and right-click on the Command Prompt > Run as administrator.
- In Command Prompt, run:
Sc qc DPS
- Look under DEPENDENCIES and make sure those services run using services.msc. If any listed services are stopped, start them using:
net start [dependency_name]
Alternatively, you can open Services Manager (services.msc) via the Run dialog box (Win + R), find the dependencies, and manually enable them.
Take charge of your network data usage in Windows 10
Resetting network data is helpful if you want to monitor data from a clean slate or prefer not to view your historical usage patterns. In Windows 10, the only method to reset network data usage is by deleting the SRUDB.dat file. This process requires administrator privileges and the ability to manage system services.
For advanced users or IT administrators, automated scripting offers scalable solutions for managing multiple systems. If you encounter any issues, this guide includes clear troubleshooting steps and answers to common questions.
