How to Configure Metered Connection per Wi-Fi Network on Windows 11

Quick fix: Connect to the Wi-Fi network. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi. Click the connected network. Toggle Set as metered connection. Bandwidth usage limited: Windows Update pauses, Microsoft Store doesn’t auto-download, app updates pause. Configurable per network individually.

Marking a Wi-Fi as metered tells Windows to conserve data on that network. Useful for: cellular hotspots, capped home Internet, paid public Wi-Fi. Different networks can have different settings.

What causes this need

Windows uses bandwidth aggressively by default: Windows Update, Microsoft Store, OneDrive sync, app updates. On limited connections (mobile hotspot, capped ISP plan), this drains data quickly. Metered connection telling Windows to throttle / pause.

Method 1: Set per-network via Settings

The standard route.

1. Connect to the Wi-Fi network in question.
2. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
3. Click the connected network (top item).
4. Scroll to Metered connection. Toggle On.
5. Set Data limit:
   • Click Set data limit.
   • Set limit type: Monthly, One time, Unlimited.
   • Enter limit amount (e.g., 10 GB).
6. Windows tracks usage and warns when approaching limit.
7. Other connected devices not affected; per-Windows-PC settings.
8. Repeat for each Wi-Fi as needed.

This is the standard setup.

Method 2: Set Ethernet as metered (rare but useful)

For wired metered.

1. Settings → Network & internet → Ethernet.
2. Click the Ethernet connection.
3. Toggle Set as metered connection.
4. Useful for: wired tethering, mobile broadband, cellular dongle.
5. For dedicated home Ethernet: usually not metered. But option exists.
6. For VPN tunnels: separate. Not affected by underlying connection metered status.
7. For mobile hotspot from your own phone: typically metered automatically.

This is the Ethernet metered.

Method 3: Group Policy for managed environments

For corporate-managed.

1. Open Group Policy Editor: gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → WCM Service.
3. For Windows Update: Allow updates over metered connections. Set to Disabled to block updates on metered.
4. For corporate Wi-Fi profiles: Intune Configuration Profile with Wi-Fi settings.
5. For network profile metered flag: registry: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WlanSvc\Interfaces\[InterfaceGUID] and similar.
6. For bulk deployment: PowerShell scripting to mark networks as metered after connect.
7. For Intune: deploy as Configuration Profile with Cellular settings.

This is the corporate route.

How to verify the fix worked

• Network name in Settings shows “Metered” label.
• Windows Update pauses on this network.
• Microsoft Store doesn’t auto-download large apps.
• OneDrive may pause sync.
• Data usage tracking visible in Settings → Network & internet → Data usage.

If none of these work

If metered not respected: Specific apps ignore: some apps don’t check metered status. Read app’s data usage settings. For Windows Update on metered: feature/quality updates still pushed if critical (security). For OneDrive on metered: OneDrive Settings → Pause syncing on metered connections. For specific Cloud services: Settings → Network & internet → Data usage shows what’s using bandwidth. For cellular vs Wi-Fi auto-detect: cellular tethered Wi-Fi often auto-marked metered. For chronic data usage: use a tool like NetLimiter for hard bandwidth caps. For tracking accuracy: Windows estimates; not always exact. Match with ISP / cellular usage records.

Bottom line: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → pick network → toggle Set as metered connection on. Configure Data limit. Per-network settings. For Ethernet: similar route under Ethernet.