These days, many PC users use mobile data connections or metered networks. Mobile data connections are usually not as cheap as broadband connections and often have a data limit.
When you exceed the data limit, internet service providers charge by the amount of data used or reduce the connection speed to a hardly usable speed.
If you’re on a metered connection or if your internet service provider has set the data limit, you can use the metered connection feature available in Windows 10 to reduce the amount of data used by your PC.
What happens when you set a network connection as metered?
When your PC is connected to a metered network, Windows Update in Windows 10 will only download priority or critical updates to save the data. Apps will not be updated automatically, and offline files (if using OneDrive) might not sync automatically. Also, the live tiles are not updated by default.
While Windows 10 treats all mobile broadband networks as metered connections by default, Wi-Fi networks are considered non-metered by default.
This means that, as long as your Windows 10 PC is connected to the mobile broadband, it will download only priority updates to reduce the data usage. Once you connect to a Wi-Fi or local area network, it will automatically download the remaining updates.
Complete the given below directions to set an internet connection or network as a metered connection in Windows 10. Earlier, it was not possible to set an Ethernet connection as a metered connection. However, now, it’s possible to set even Ethernet connections as metered in Windows 10.
Method 1 of 2
Set a Wi-Fi connection as metered in Windows 10
Important: Make sure that your Windows 10 PC is currently connected to the network that you want to set as a metered connection.
Step 1: In the system tray, click on the Wi-Fi icon to reveal the network flyout, and then click Network & Internet settings to open the Network and Internet section of the Settings app.
Step 2: Here, click the first option titled Wi-Fi to see the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) you’re PC is connected to. Click on the Wi-Fi name.
Step 3: Under Metered connection, turn on the option titled Set as metered connection. That’s it! From now onwards, Windows 10 will treat your current Wi-Fi network as a metered connection.
Windows 10 might continue to download device driver updates and get search suggestions and web results from the Bing even after you set a network as a metered connection. We recommend you go through our how to stop Windows 10 from automatically downloading driver updates and disable Bing web search guides to save metered data.
Method 2 of 2
Make your connection metered network in Windows 10
Step 1: Open the Settings app. There are plenty of ways to open the Settings app in Windows 10. You can either click on the Settings icon on the Start menu or use Windows + I hotkey to open it.
And if the Settings app refuses to open, use our fix to Settings app not opening in Windows 10.
Step 2: In the Settings app, go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Click on the Wi-Fi network’s name that your PC is currently connected to.
Step 4: Under the Metered connection section, turn on the option labeled Set as metered connection to make your current Wi-Fi network a metered network.
Did you know you can set a data usage limit for your Wi-Fi network in Windows 10?
Alex Young says
For those having trouble finding the “Advanced Setting” option, first go to “Manage known networks”. click that option, then click on the network you’re currently using to connect to the internet. Two options will appear: “Properties” and “Forget”. Click “Properties” and scroll down to “Metered connection”. From there, you can set your internet connection to metered, then exit Windows Settings. Don’t bother thanking me, as I’m always happy to help :)