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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
To Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Non-Metered in SettingsOPTION ONE
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.
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)
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
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
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
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
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@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.
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