{"id":4700,"date":"2016-12-01T12:53:31","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T07:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=4700"},"modified":"2023-02-19T23:37:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-19T18:07:24","slug":"ethernet-metered-connection-windows-10-defaultmediacost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/ethernet-metered-connection-windows-10-defaultmediacost\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Ethernet (LAN) Connection as Metered in Windows 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windows 10 allows you to set a Wifi connection as a “Metered” connection, but no such GUI option existed for Ethernet (LAN) networks. In Windows 8 and Windows 10 v1607 and earlier, you needed to apply a registry edit to set Ethernet or LAN connection as metered. Thankfully, with Windows 10 Creators Update, it’s a built-in option that can be configured using the Settings UI — no registry edit required.<\/p>\n

Wi\u2011Fi network connections are set as non-metered by default. However, you can change set it to metered to limit data usage by the user as well as the Operating System, if your ISP charges you by the amount of data traffic you use.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, mobile broadband networks are set to metered by default. There are mobile broadband service providers that allow unlimited data plans with full speed for a fixed monthly fee. In such cases, you may want to change the setting to non-metered.<\/p>\n

Coming to Ethernet networks, it doesn’t mean it has no data usage limit because one uses an Ethernet connection. Ethernet is just the medium you use to access or share an internet connection, which can be capped.<\/p>\n

I have two different setups. One uses a mobile broadband modem which plugs into a power socket using a travel adapter. The connection is shared via Wi-Fi. Another setup uses a fiber network whose endpoint connects to my TP-Link router. The connection is shared via Ethernet (with three computers) and through Wi-Fi so my tablets and mobiles can connect to it at home. In either case, my providers charge me by data usage, given the plan I opted for.<\/p>\n

Set Ethernet (LAN) connection as metered<\/h2>\n

If you access the internet via ethernet, whose source connection is capped, you can still set it as a metered connection to reduce data usage by the Operating System and the Apps.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click Start, Settings (or press Winkey + i)<\/li>\n
  2. Click Network & Internet<\/li>\n
  3. Click Ethernet, and click the network connection listed.<\/li>\n
  4. Click to enable the option “Set as metered connection”\n

    \"Set
    Set Ethernet as metered in Windows 10<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    <\/a>“Set as metered connection” Disables Automatically?<\/h4>\n

    If the “Set as metered connection” toggle button turns off automatically, an important service may have been disabled.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Launch Services.msc<\/li>\n
    2. Double-click “Data Usage<\/strong>” service (DusmSvc)<\/li>\n
    3. Set its startup type to “Automatic”<\/li>\n
    4. Click “Start” the start the service.<\/li>\n
    5. Close Services MMC,<\/li>\n
    6. Open Settings and set your ethernet connection as metered. The setting should be retained.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
      \n

      For Windows 10 v1607 (Anniversary Update) and earlier<\/h4>\n

      Here is how to set an Ethernet connection as Metered, using the registry in Windows 10. The instructions should apply to Windows 8 as well.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Start the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and go to the following key:\n
        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\NetworkList\\DefaultMediaCost<\/pre>\n
        This key is owned by TrustedInstaller by default. You’ll need to take ownership of the key<\/a> and assign full control permissions for “Administrators” group.<\/li>\n
      2. Double-click Ethernet<\/strong> and set its value data to 2<\/code>. (Value data of 1<\/code> means non-metered and 2<\/code> is metered.)
        \n\"ethernet<\/li>\n
      3. Once done, revert back the ownership to TrustedInstaller (“NT Service\\TrustedInstaller<\/code>“) for that branch.<\/li>\n
      4. Exit the Registry Editor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        What happens when using a metered internet connection?<\/h2>\n
        When on metered connection, Microsoft Outlook would show the notification “Outlook is working offline to prevent data charges..” and offers the “Connect Anyway” option.
        \n\"ethernet
        \nWhereas other apps may reduce their         data usage<\/a> but won’t necessarily show you a notification.<\/p>\n
        When you set a connection as metered, Windows Update won’t automatically download updates, except perhaps the priority updates. You’ll need to click the “Download” button manually to install updates. Start screen tiles might stop updating. Offline files automatic sync may not work. Also, Windows Store won’t update apps automatically<\/a>.<\/p>\n
        And, in Windows 10, the Spotlight feature may stop working when on a metered connection — it may not fetch new images<\/a> for your Lock Screen<\/a>. Microsoft didn’t document this one officially, though.<\/p>\n
        Image credits: Martinelle, pixabay.com<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
        Windows 10 allows you to set a Wifi connection as a “Metered” connection, but no such GUI option existed for Ethernet (LAN) networks. In Windows 8 and Windows 10 v1607 and earlier, you needed to apply a registry edit to set Ethernet or LAN connection as metered. Thankfully, with Windows 10 Creators Update, it’s a … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[441,492],"class_list":["post-4700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows-10","tag-registry","tag-settings"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":75256,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wireless-display-optional-feature-install\/","url_meta":{"origin":4700,"position":0},"title":"Fix: Wireless Display Optional Feature Fails to Install","author":"Ramesh","date":"May 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Wireless Display is a feature-on-demand (FOD) package that adds the Connect application. 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