Windows 10: Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10

How to: Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10


Information A metered connection is an Internet connection that has a data limit associated with it. Cellular data connections are set as metered by default. Wi-Fi and Ethernet network connections can be set to metered but aren't by default. Some apps might work differently on a metered connection to help reduce your data usage. Also, some updates for Windows won't be installed automatically.

Internet service providers can charge by the amount of data used (the amount of data sent and received by your PC). That's called a metered Internet connection. These plans often have a data limit, and if you exceed the limit you might have to pay extra. In some cases, you aren't charged extra but your connection speed becomes slower until the billing cycle ends.

If you have a metered Internet connection, setting your network connection to metered in Windows can help you reduce the amount of data you send and receive, and prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates.

Windows 10 doesn't provide an easy way to set an Ethernet connection as metered or non-metered.

This tutorial will show you how to set an Ethernet network as a metered or non-metered connection for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


Note If an Ethernet network is set as a metered connection, then:

• Windows will automatically download and install updates, except on metered connections. In that case, Windows will automatically download only those updates required to keep Windows running smoothly.
• Some available updates in Windows Update will no longer be automatically downloaded. You have to click/tap on the Download button in Windows Update to download and install them.
• You can update Windows Defender definitions directly in Windows Defender instead of through Windows Update to avoid installing all other available updates at that time.
• You can turn on or off downloading drivers over metered connections separately in Settings -> Devices.
• You will need to manually check for available app updates in the Store.
• You will not be able to download and install Optional Features until you set the Ethernet connection back as non-metered until finished.
• If you have Outlook installed, it will show you a message that "Outlook is working offline...", and offer you to be able to "Connect Anyway".
  
  
  

Starting with Windows 10 Creators Update version 1703, Windows Update will now also automatically download on a metered connection only those updates required to keep Windows running smoothly.




CONTENTS:

• Option One: To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Settings
• Option Two: To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Registry Editor

OPTION ONE [/i] To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Settings


Note This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 14986.

1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Network & Internet icon.

2. Click/tap on Ethernet on the left side, and click/tap on the Ethernet connection (ex: "Ethernet") on the right side you want to set as metered or non-metered. (see screenshot below)



3. Turn On or Off (default) Set as metered connection for what you want. (see screenshot below)



4. You can now close Setting if you like.




OPTION TWO [/i] To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Registry Editor
1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit, and press Enter to open Registry Editor.

2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost




4. step 3)

5. step 3)

6. step 3)


Note After you have done steps 4 to 6 once, you will not have to do them again to be able to do step 7 at any time afterwards.


7. Do step 8 (metered) or step 9 (non-metered) below for what you would like to do.


Note The .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below. This is the same location in step 3.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost

Ethernet DWORD

1 = non-metered
2 = metered


8. To Set Ethernet Network as Metered Connection
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.

Set_Ethernet_as_metered_connection.reg

Download

9. To Set Ethernet Network as Non-Metered Connection
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 10 below.

Set_Ethernet_as_non-metered_connection.reg

Download
10. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

11. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

12. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

13. Restart the computer to apply.

14. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• Set Wireless Network as Metered or Non-Metered Connection in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Sync Your Settings on Metered Connections in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connection in Windows 10
• Turn On or Off Download Offline Maps over Metered Connections in Windows 10
• How to Limit Bandwidth to Download and Upload Windows and App Updates in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Allow VPN over Metered Networks in Windows 10
• Enable or Disable Allow Automatically Download Updates over Metered Connections in Windows 10
• How to Set Data Limit for Wi-Fi and Ethernet in Windows 10
• How to Restrict Background Data Usage for Wi-Fi and Ethernet in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Automatic Pause OneDrive Sync when on Metered Network in Windows 10

:)

 

Windows 10 Data Usage

See the following:

Ethernet Connection - Set as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10 ...

 

how to stop automatic update in windows 10

Incorrect.You can also set ethernet as metered:

Ethernet Connection - Set as Metered or
Unmetered in Windows 10 ...

I am using windows 10 home and usign the same trick and it asks me before download

 

Hello groze, *Smile

Odd. Were you signed in to an administrator account when trying to change the owner and set permissions of the registry key?

If the Ethernet DWORD value is set to 2, then it should be a metered connection. I suppose one way to verify is to see if Windows Updates will still automatically download and install updates or not. It won't if it's a metered Ethernet connection.

 

The users substitute instead of administrators did work at least for me. It just took a little while to find out.

 

Although i reverted back to Windows 8.1, i'm thankfull for this tip. Since my attempt changing permissions was denied, i digged some memory banks from my NT days, and did what is outlined here.

 

Hello mynextosismac, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

It sounds like you didn't do step 4 first before doing step 5 since you were denied permissions.

 

Hi again! Step 5 is referencing to the Eight Forum, things look different. But I managed to sort it out and changed Ethernet to 2. Can I confirm somehow it now really is metered?

 

Great news. You can keep checking for updates to make sure that they don't automatically download and install.

 

1511 - Ethernet Reg not importing into Hyper V VM?

 

Hello xbliss, *Smile

Did you download the .reg file from within the VM?

What is happening when you try to merge the .reg file? Any error messages?

 

Did you download the .reg file from within the VM?
Yes from within VM - Got 2 REGs, one for Metered, other for Disabling Automatic Updates
Windows Update Automatic Updates - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Error Message - Not with the other REG

 

What was the exact error message you got?

 

Can we revert "change the owner" and "set permissions" if we decide to? or would there not be any need to?

How exactly does setting the connection to metered affect updates? Do we control what and when to update? Will the metered connection have any effect on anything else we're not aware of?

 

Hello Kol12, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Q1) There's no need to revert the owner or permissions, but you could change them back if you like.

Q2) Windows will not automatically download updates with a metered Internet connection. Setting your Internet connection to be metered is a workaround to effectively disable automatic updates.

Q3) Having a metered Internet connection will also affect anything else (ex: Store, OneDrive, etc...) that uses your Internet bandwidth. They will also no longer automatically use your bandwidth, but you can still manually use it with them.