What Is Metered Connection and What Is the Use of It in Windows 10

Wondering what is metered connection? It’s a network-related feature in Windows that lets you set your internet connection as limited, hence the name metered.

But what is the use of it? Well, it doesn’t make much sense if you are a Wi-Fi or ethernet user. But if you were to use your mobile’s data connection or your ISP provides a fixed amount of data per month, the metered connection would come in handy then.

In short, metered connection ensures that your Windows OS doesn’t consume any extra data in the background.

What is Metered Connection

A metered connection meaning often comprises in that kind of network connection where the provided data connection has limited data usage per month or maybe per day. If you cross the limit of the allotted data amount, you are charged extra money for the extra data usage. Initially, this service was generally used on landline phones. But now, the metered connection is generally used on smartphones and computers where a cellular data connection is provided by a telecom provider.

You should know that not only data connection can be set as a metered connection but also wireless connection especially, public Wi-fi networks that offer limited data connection can be set as a metered connection. Especially, those connections that offer a maximum limit od data usage can be set as metered connection.

What Types of Connections Can Be Set as Metered Connections in Windows 10?

Generally, metered connections are set when users have cellular network connections on their devices. But in Windows 10, all sorts of connections can be set as metered connections. The initial version of Windows 10 offered a metered connection for the wireless network connection. But when the Windows 10 creators update was released, users could set an ethernet connection as a metered connection. Now, you can set all kinds of networks as a metered connection whether it is a wireless network connection or an Ethernet connection or cellular network connection.

What Happens When a Network Connection Is Set as Metered in Windows 10

If you set your connection as metered, then it will prevent your Windows from using bandwidth automatically. What actually happens?

Automatic downloads of most Windows updates are disabled

If your connection is set as metered, then most of the updates of Windows won’t be automatically downloaded. Windows will give you a download button. You can click on the download button if you want to install updates of Windows. Though your connection is set as metered, Windows update will download priority updates such as critical security patches.

Apps Will Not Be Automatically Updated

There are many apps on your PC that were downloaded from the Windows Store. The update of these apps is automatically downloaded. But on a metered connection, apps that are downloaded from the Windows Store won’t be automatically updated. But apps like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other desktop apps will be updated normally like a normal update.

Peer-To-Peer Download and Upload of Updates Will Be Disabled

This feature of Windows is known as Windows Update Delivery Optimization. Using this feature, Windows uses your upload bandwidth so that it can share your updates with other PCs via the internet. Through peer-to-peer connections, Windows delivers the update in the background. This feature gets turned off if you use a metered connection.

App Tiles Will Not Be Updated Automatically

If you use Windows 10, you may have seen that Windows Store’s apps like news, weather etcetera that have live tiles on the start screen updates automatically using your internet connection. Microsoft says that these live tiles of Windows Store’s app may not update automatically if you set your connection as metered

Other Apps from Windows Store Can Behave Differently

Many apps from the Windows Store may behave differently if you have a metered connection. Some apps can stop downloading and updating data because of a metered connection. This kind of behavior varies from app to app depending on how the apps were programmed. But this is not generally applied to desktop apps.

When Your Connection Should Be Set as Metered

If your internet service provider (ISP) offers internet connection that has limited use of data, then you should set your connection as metered. Or you may have a slower internet connection that you cannot afford to use your data on other works except your direct use. You should set your connection as metered if you use these types of connections that are given below:

Mobile Data Connection

If you have a laptop or tablet that is running on Windows 10 and has integrated mobile data connection, then Windows 10 will recognize it and set your connection as metered automatically.

Mobile Data Hotspots

If you are using wifi metered connection that is tethered to your smartphones or if you use a dedicated mobile hotspot device, then you should set your connection as metered manually. Because Windows 10 cannot recognize this automatically.

Internet Connections That Offer Limited Usage of Data

If your ISP (Internet Service Provider) offers limited usage of data per month or per day, then you should set your connection as metered. Otherwise, if you cross the limit of data usage, you will be charged money for the extra usage of data.

Slow Internet Connection

If you are using slow internet connection like satellite or dial-up internet connection, then you should set your connections as metered. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use your internet connection smoothly for various purposes because of updating and downloading of contents by various apps and Windows.

If You Want to Control the Updates and Downloads

You may want your Windows updates to be downloaded and installed according to your choice instead of doing these automatically. In order to gain control over downloading and installing Windows updates and other apps, you have to set your connection as metered.

How to Set a Metered Wi-Fi Connection

If you are connected to a wireless network that has limited use of data, you should set your wi-fi connection as metered. To do this, follow the instructions given below:

1.  Type settings in the search box of Windows. A settings app will be shown and click on it. The Settings app will open.

Click on Network & Internet and then select Wi-Fi.

You will see your Wi-fi connection name here. Click on the name of your wi-fi connection.

You will see an option named “Set as metered connection”. Activate this option.

Your Wi-fi connection is now set as metered.

But if you leave the current wi-fi network and connect your PC to other wi-fi networks, Windows won’t set that network as metered. Windows update and other apps update that was paused because of metered connection will resume the downloads. So, be aware of this.

How to Set a Metered Wired/Ethernet Connection

If you are connected to a wired ethernet network that has limited use of data, you should set your ethernet connection as metered. To do this, follow the instructions given below:

1.  Type settings in the search box of Windows. A settings app will be shown and click on it. The Settings app will open.

 Click on Network & Internet and then select Ethernet.

: You will see your ethernet connection name here. Click on the name of your ethernet connection.

 You will see an option named “Set as metered connection”. Activate this option.

Your wired/ethernet connection is now set as metered.

Summing Up

We hope we were able to cover everything. Only consider using a metered connection when you are outdoors and using your cellular data on your laptop. Otherwise, leave everything default. It is for the best.