How to Reset Network Data Usage in Windows 10

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:

Step 1: Stop the Diagnostic Policy Service

1. Press Win + S to open the search bar.
2. Type cmd, right-click Command Prompt from the results, and select Run as administrator.

3. In the Command Prompt window, run the following command and press Enter:
   • net stop DPS

4. 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:

5. In the same elevated Command Prompt, run:

takeown /f "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"

6. 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.

7. To delete the file, run:

del "C:\Windows\System32\sru\SRUDB.dat"

8. 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

9. To restart the service, run the following command:

net start DPS

10. 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

11. Press Win + I to open the Settings.
12. Go to Network & Internet.
13. Select Data Usage.

14. Select your active network. The statistics should now be cleared.

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

1. Press Win + S to open the search bar.
2. Type Notepad and click on it from the search results.
3. 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

4. Click File > Save As.

5. Enter a name like: ResetNetworkUsage.bat
6. In the Save as type dropdown, select All Files.
7. Choose a convenient location to save the file (e.g., Desktop), then click Save.

Step 2: Run the batch file as an administrator

8. Locate the ResetNetworkUsage.bat file.
9. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
10. 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:

1. Press Win + S, type cmd, and right-click on the Command Prompt > Run as administrator.
2. Run the command:
   • net stop DPS

Then, take ownership of the file and grant full permissions:

3. 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

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and click Enter to open the System Configuration.

3. Go to the Boot tab.
4. Under Boot options, check Safe boot and select Minimal.
5. Click OK, then Restart.

6. Click Restart.

7. Once in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Administrator.
8. 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"

9. Once done, press Win + R and type msconfig to reopen the System Configuration.
10. 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

1. Press Win + X, then select Event Viewer.
2. Go to Windows Logs > System.

3. Look for red error messages related to DPS and note any dependencies.

Ensure dependencies are running

1. Press Win + S, type cmd, and right-click on the Command Prompt > Run as administrator.
2. In Command Prompt, run:
   • Sc qc DPS

3. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will deleting SRUDB.dat break any features?

No, but it will remove historical data. The SRUDB.dat file stores system diagnostic data, including network usage and energy consumption. Deleting this won’t break any Windows features, and the system will automatically regenerate it. However, all historical diagnostic data will be lost.

Can I schedule resets monthly?

Yes. You can automate the reset process using a batch file and Task Scheduler:

Create a Batch File

1. Press Win + S to open the search bar.
2. Type Notepad and open it.
3. 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

4. Click File > Save As.
5. In the Save as type dropdown, select All Files.
6. Name it: ResetNetworkUsage.bat
7. Click Save.

Schedule it in Task Scheduler

8. Press Win + S to open the search bar.
9. Type Task Scheduler and open it.
10. Click Create Basic Task.

11. Type a name (e.g., Reset Network Usage), then click Next.

12. Set the Trigger to Monthly, set a start date and time, then click Next.

13. Set the Action to Start a Program and click Next.

14. Select Browse.

15. Browse to your .bat file, click on it, then tap Open.

16. Click Next.
17. Review the information, then click Finish to create the task successfully.

Is there a Group Policy to reset usage?

No. Windows doesn’t provide a built-in Group Policy setting to reset network usage statistics. The only available approach is through manual or scripted file operations.

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.