Windows updates even with metered connection set

rivre said:

I've been able previously to avoid Windows forced updates at inopportune times on my Windows 10 home by setting my internet connection to metered, by setting:

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

to a value of 2. That prevented Windows from downloading updates unless I check manually.

What version of Windows do you have? You haven't needed to edit the registry to set a metered Ethernet connection since it was added to Settings in version 1703. For WiFi this has always been available in Settings.
Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered in Windows 10

...Now it downloads and installs anyways. I was just in the middle of a backup this afternoon and Windows decided to download updates and run the malicious software removal tool and cumulative updates for July...

There's a setting that may have inadvertently got ticked. Check yours...

Allow Automatic Updates over Metered Connections in Windows 10

rivre said:

To add to this, if I open Windows update, it says "Some settings are managed by your organization". No idea what this means.

I have Windows 10 64bit home.

Again, what version is it? 1803, 1709, or something earlier?

In 1803 it is normal to see 'Some settings are managed by your organization' in windows update while an update is downloaded but pending install. You will also see a 'view configured update policies' link just below that message. This normally just says the two policies Active Hours Start and Active Hours End are set. Does your say anything else?

rivre said:

...I checked and it says:

- Set as metered connection: On

So why is it updating automatically then?

It may be that editing the registry to set this in the past has left it in an indeterminate state. Settings may show metered connection as 'on' but it is not effective. Try turning it off, then back on again in Settings. That should ensure it is set correctly.

rivre said:

..I guess I won't know if it's working right until next time an update comes out though.

You don't have long to wait. Tuesday 14th at 10am Pacific time will be the next cumulative update...

Microsoft said:

“Patch Tuesday” was formalized in October 2003 after years of updates shipping whenever they were ready....

We chose the second Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time for two reasons:

• To provide you with a day (Monday) to deal with any other issues you need to work through from the previous week.
• To give you plenty of time to test the updates and deploy them to devices, then respond to any issues that may arise during the rest of the week.

Windows 10 update servicing cadence

Note that some updates will download even over a metered connection. This change started in 1703...

note that starting with 1703 there was a subtle change in the wording regarding metered connections. It now says...


Observation has shown that those updates deemed too urgent to wait for an unmetered connection include the Flash updates, but do not include the cumulative updates, as demonstrated in this screenshot. Note that the CU is awaiting you clicking Download, while the Flash update has already downloaded.


Subsequently I've only seen one other type of update download over a metered connection, updates for the Defender Antimalware Platform. That's an update for the Defender engine and UI itself, definitions updates do not download automatically on a metered connection.

Metered Connection not preventing Windows from updating