Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is a Windows service that facilitates efficient and reliable file transfer in the background, even when the system is under heavy load or not actively in use. It is used primarily for tasks like software updates, downloading large files, or transferring files over a network without interfering with the user’s active processes. BITS allows applications to transfer files in the background without significantly impacting the user’s experience by using idle network bandwidth and system resources, resuming transfers when the system is free.

BITS supports resumable transfers, ensuring that file transfers occur in a way that minimizes their impact on the system’s performance by transferring data when the computer is idle or when network bandwidth is available. It also allows for error recovery and bandwidth management, ensuring that critical applications are not starved for resources.

BITS is used by Windows Updates, Microsoft Store, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and other software applications to download updates, patches, or large files without interrupting the user’s work. The BITS Service is the primary service that manages file transfers in the background, while the BITS Job represents a transfer process containing all necessary information about the file(s) being transferred.

BITS works through job creation, transfer process, error handling, and troubleshooting. If the BITS service is stopped or malfunctioning, Windows Update and other services dependent on BITS may fail. To restart or reset the service, use the Services application or Command Prompt. If the BITS queue gets stuck, resolving it can usually be done by clearing the queue or restarting the service.

To manage BITS on Windows 10/11, press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Scroll down and find Background Intelligent Transfer Service, right-click and select Start, Stop, or Restart as needed. Configure BITS settings through Group Policy Editor or Windows PowerShell for more advanced settings, such as bandwidth throttling or scheduling transfers.