Configure metered connections

What you will achieve

Mark a Wi‑Fi or Ethernet connection as metered so Windows limits background downloads and respects your data cap.

1) Set metered on Wi‑Fi (Windows 11)

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi‑Fi → [your network name].
2. Toggle Metered connection to On.
3. Windows reduces automatic Windows Update downloads, Store updates, and some sync activity on that network.

2) Set metered on Ethernet (Windows 11)

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Ethernet.
2. Select the active adapter and enable Metered connection.

3) Windows 10 path

1. Settings → Network & Internet → Wi‑Fi → Manage known networks → [network] → Properties.
2. Set Set as metered connection to On.

4) Verify and understand limits

Admin PowerShell:

Get-NetConnectionProfile | Select-Object Name, InterfaceAlias, NetworkCategory, @{N='Metered';E={(Get-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name $_.InterfaceAlias -RegistryKeyword '*Metered*' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).RegistryValue}}

Metered mode delays but does not permanently block security updates. OneDrive and other apps may still sync unless configured separately.

5) What still downloads on metered

1. Critical security updates may still install — metered is a throttle not a full block.
2. Store auto-updates and peer delivery pause; manual Store updates still work.
3. OneDrive sync continues unless you pause sync separately in OneDrive settings.

6) Set metered via Group Policy (Pro)

1. Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → WLAN Service → WLAN Settings — cost settings for corporate SSIDs.

7) Registry check per adapter

Get-ChildItem "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles"

8) Per-app background data

1. Settings → Apps → Installed apps → [app] → Advanced options → Background apps permissions — set Never on metered-heavy apps like cloud sync tools.

9) Ethernet metered on Windows 10

1. Requires registry on some 10 builds: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost — use Settings on 11 where possible instead.

10) Corporate VPN always-on interaction

1. VPN may mark connection as Domain profile — metered Wi‑Fi setting might not apply while tunnelled.
2. Confirm update behaviour on VPN separately from home metered Wi‑Fi testing.

11) Pause OneDrive on metered

1. OneDrive tray → Settings → Network → “Pause syncing” on metered or limit upload rate.

Verification checklist

After enabling metered, monitor Settings → Windows Update for download behaviour over 24 hours. Confirm OneDrive sync paused if that was the goal.

1. Reboot once after changes that affect services, drivers, or firmware.
2. Confirm the original problem is resolved under normal daily use, not only immediately after the fix.
3. Note date, Windows version (Settings → System → About), and what changed in your personal runbook for next time.

Related guides

• Windows Firewall: inbound vs outbound rules
• Set up a VPN using Windows built-in client