Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 11 123 ... LastLast
    Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10

    Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10

    How to Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Network & Sharing
    07 Dec 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    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".
      Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10-metered-connection-outlook..png

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

    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






    OPTION ONE

    To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Settings


    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)

    Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10-metered_ethernet_settings-1.png

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

    Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10-metered_ethernet_settings-2.png

    4 You can now close Setting if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in Registry Editor


    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

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

    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


    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

    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






  1. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #1

    @Brink

    It seems that I can not change to Administrators and set it to have full control. It also seems the users substitute trick also doesn't work. The user was able to get full control but I am not sure it worked. Anyway to test it before creating a local local administrator account? When I tested before, I changed all to 2 in the registry. My windows 10 system only has Microsoft Account log-ins.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello groze, :)

    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.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #3

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


  4. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Great news.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1
    Windows 8.1
       #5

    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.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello mynextosismac, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

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


  7. Posts : 44
       #7

    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?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,543
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

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


  9. Posts : 112
    Win 7 Ultimate
       #9

    1511 - Ethernet Reg not importing into Hyper V VM?
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:37.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums