A metered connection is an Internet connection that has a data limit associated with it. Cellular data connections are set as metered by default. Wi-Fi and Ethernet network connections can be set to metered but aren’t by default. Some apps might work differently on a metered connection to help reduce your data usage. Also, some updates for Windows won’t be installed automatically.
Set Metered or Non-Metered Connection in Windows 10:
To set a Wi-Fi network connection as metered:
- Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the Wi-Fi network > Properties > turn on Set as metered connection.
Set Metered or Non-Metered Connection in Command Line:
Open command prompt and Copy and paste the command below and press Enter. This will show you a list of all wireless network profiles on your PC.
Wi-Fi:
netsh wlan show profiles
Cellular Mobile Broadband:
netsh mbn show profiles
Copy and paste the command below and press Enter. This will let you see if a wireless network profile is currently set as a metered or non-metered connection.
Wi-Fi:
netsh wlan show profile name="name"
Cellular Mobile Broadband:
netsh mbn show profile name="name"
Under the Cost settings section, look to see what is set for Cost to see if this wireless network is set as metered or non-metered.
C:\Users\msdhulap>netsh wlan show profile name="Mangesh Dhulap 2" Profile Mangesh Dhulap 2 on interface Wi-Fi 2: ======================================================================= Applied: All User Profile Profile information ------------------- Version : 1 Type : Wireless LAN Name : Mangesh Dhulap 2 Control options : Connection mode : Connect automatically Network broadcast : Connect only if this network is broadcasting AutoSwitch : Do not switch to other networks MAC Randomization : Disabled Connectivity settings --------------------- Number of SSIDs : 1 SSID name : "Mangesh Dhulap" Network type : Infrastructure Radio type : [ Any Radio Type ] Vendor extension : Not present Security settings ----------------- Authentication : WPA2-Personal Cipher : CCMP Authentication : WPA2-Personal Cipher : GCMP Security key : Present Cost settings ------------- Cost : Unrestricted Congested : No Approaching Data Limit : No Over Data Limit : No Roaming : No Cost Source : Default
Type the command below into the command prompt to set the wireless network as a metered or non-metered connection, and press Enter.
Wi-Fi:
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="name" cost=cost
Cellular Mobile Broadband:
netsh mbn set profileparameter name="name" cost=cost
Substitute cost in the command above with either Unrestricted (non-metered), Fixed (metered), or Variable (metered) for what you want to set instead of what is currently set in step above.
Metered – Fixed
C:\Users\msdhulap>netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Mangesh Dhulap 2" cost=Fixed Profile "Mangesh Dhulap 2" on interface "Wi-Fi 2" updated successfully.
Non-metered – Unrestricted
C:\Users\msdhulap>netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Mangesh Dhulap 2" cost=Unrestricted Profile "Mangesh Dhulap 2" on interface "Wi-Fi 2" updated successfully.
Also Read – Useful Command Prompt Tricks and Tips Everyone Should Know
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