How to monitor your Internet bandwidth usage in Windows

This tutorial will guide you in installing, setting up and using AnalogX Netstat Live (which is free) to monitor your Internet usage (uploads and downloads). As a number of ISP’s are now disconnecting customers for using “too much” bandwidth (this one in particular), knowing exactly how much you’ve downloaded (or uploaded) in a given month can be very helpful. Note: the OS X version of this tutorial can be found here.

  1. Download and install AnalogX Netstat Live. The installation is very straight forward – you’ll mostly just click ‘next’ and ‘ok’ a few times. Launch it by clicking Start -> All Programs -> AnalogX -> Netstat Live -> Netstat Live.
  2. open analogx netstat live

  3. Right-click anywhere in the Analog X Netstat Live window. Select Configure from the pop-up window
  4. configure analogx netstat live

  5. By default a number of the features are disabled. Click the Disabled button for the following items: Auto Minimize, Auto Start and Close Minimizes. Each one should now be set to Enabled.
  6. configure analog x netstat live

  7. By enabling these features, Analog X Netstat Live will launch each time Windows starts up, but automatically minimize to your System Tray. Also, if you open it from the tray (to check and see what your usage currently is) you can click the X button and it won’t actually close Netstat Live, rather it will be minimized back to your System Tray. This is important as Netstat Live must always be running, otherwise your uploads/downloads won’t be accurately tracked.
  8. analog x netstat live system tray icon

  9. You can also disable some of the ‘other’ things that NetStat Live monitors. Right-click in the main window, select Statistics and review the items that are monitored. You will very likely want to keep Local Machine, Incoming Data, Incoming Totals, Outgoing Data and Outgoing Totals enabled. The Remote Machine, System Threads and CPU Usage can all be disabled.
  10. analog x netstat live statistics

  11. Now you can track your Internet bandwidth (upload and downloads) usage. The current monthly total is displayed, along with the previous monthly total and “total since your last reboot”.
  12. netstat live summary window

  13. If you live in a multiple-computer household, all sharing the same Internet connection, make sure to install AnalogX Netstat Live on each PC (running Windows) so that you can total them up to get your ‘true’ upload and download stats.

If this article helped you, I'd be grateful if you could share it on your preferred social network - it helps me a lot. If you're feeling particularly generous, you could buy me a coffee and I'd be super grateful :)

buy a coffee for simplehelp.net


Home » Home Networking » How to monitor your Internet bandwidth usage in Windows

7 thoughts on “How to monitor your Internet bandwidth usage in Windows”

  1. Amazing!
    I tried about 5 different monitors and this one worked the best and it also has a good real time refreshing thingy which makes it awesome
    i recommend this to all D:

  2. northern woods gal

    wow this is awesome!! i am not that computer friendly, but manged to set this up!! cool!!!! thank so much whoever put this out here:),, Let them try to over bill me now! ahhhahahahahahaaaa

  3. Spot on! Exactly what I have been looking for. Seemingly simple, stream-lined application… so far. ;) The same could well be said for the tutorial, as well. Thanks!

  4. Comcast just called and told me they didn’t appreciate my using of 500G last month. If I go over 250G once it’s banned for 12 months and no DSL here. :( This software will come in handy

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.