How to Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connection in Windows 10

information   Information
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.

To help prevent extra charges, you can turn off download over metered connections so device software (drivers, info, and apps) for new devices won't download while you're on metered Internet connections.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off to download device software (drivers, info, and apps) over metered connections in Windows 10.

CONTENTS:
  • Option One: Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections in Printers & Scanners Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections in Connected Devices Settings
  • Option Three: Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections using a REG file





OPTION ONE

Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections in Printers & Scanners Settings


1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Devices icon.

2. Click/tap on Printers & scanners on the left side, and turn on of off (default) Download over metered connections on the right side for what you want. (see screenshot below)

3. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

Turn On or Off Device Software over Metered Connection in Windows 10-printers_and_scanners.jpg






OPTION TWO

Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections in Connected Devices Settings


1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Devices icon.

2. Click/tap on Bluetooth & other devices on the left side, and turn on of off (default) Download over metered connections on the right side for what you want. (see screenshot below)

3. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

Turn On or Off Device Software over Metered Connection in Windows 10-bluetooth_and_other_devices.jpg






OPTION THREE

Turn On or Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections using a REG file


Note   Note
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.


The .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DeviceSetup

CostedNetworkPolicy DWORD

0 = off
1 = on

1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Turn On Download Device Software over Metered Connections

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_ON_Download_device_software_over_metered_connections.reg

Download


 3. To Turn Off Download Device Software over Metered Connections

NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_OFF_Download_device_software_over_metered_connections.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

7. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



That's it,
Shawn


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