How to Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Windows 10
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.
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.
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 do the steps in this tutorial.
If you set a data usage limit for a cellular, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet network, it will also automatically set the network as a metered connection.
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
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.
1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
3 Navigate to the location below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost
4 Change the owner of the DefaultMediaCost registry key in the left pane to be the Administrators group. (see screenshot below step 3)
5 Set permissions of the DefaultMediaCost registry key in the left pane to "Allow" the Administrators group "Full control". (see screenshot below step 3)
6 Change the owner of the DefaultMediaCost registry key in the left pane back to the default NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller. (see screenshot below step 3)
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.
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
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
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 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
13 Restart the computer to apply.
If you don't want to restart the computer to apply, you can run the command below in an elevated command prompt instead.
net stop Netman & net start Netman
14 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file.
That's it,
Shawn
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