How to Disable Windows 10’s Metered Connection
Maintaining an internet connection is crucial in today’s digital environment. Windows 10 has added a number of options to effectively control internet connections. The “metered connection” setting is one such feature that lets customers establish data limits for their internet connections. Users with restricted data plans may find this helpful, but if you want to use more data or get regular updates, it may become a problem. This post will explain what a metered connection is, why it could be used in your network settings, and—above all—how to successfully get rid of this limitation on your Windows 10 computer.
Understanding Metered Connection
In Windows 10, a metered connection feature lets users manage the amount of data they consume over a particular network. When this feature is enabled, Windows will automatically limit background data usage for internet-connected data-intensive processes including app downloads, automated updates, and other data-intensive operations.
When Is a Metered Connection Appropriate?
Reasons to Disconnect a Metered Connection
You may need to disable a metered connection on your Windows 10 device for a number of reasons:
Steps to Remove Metered Connection in Windows 10
Let’s examine the detailed procedure for removing a metered connection now that we know what it is and why you might wish to do so. In Windows 10, there are several methods for modifying or deleting the metered connection settings:
Getting into the Settings App:
-
Click on the
Start Menu
(Windows icon) located at the bottom-left corner of your screen. -
Select
Settings
(the gear icon) to open the Windows Settings window.
Getting to the Internet and Network:
-
In the Settings window, click on
Network & Internet
.
Choosing the Proper Network:
-
On the left sidebar, choose either
Wi-Fi
or
Ethernet
based on your connection type. -
If you are connected to a
Wi-Fi
network, click on
Wi-Fi
and then click on your connected network (the name of the network). -
If you are connected via
Ethernet
, select
Ethernet
and then click on your network connection.
Turning off the meter connection:
-
In the network settings of your connection, scroll down to find the
Metered connection
section. -
Toggle the switch under
Set as metered connection
to
Off
. This will disable the metered connection for the selected network.
The Group Policy Editor is another tool for managing metered connections if you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise:
Launching the Editor for Group Policies:
-
Press
Windows + R
to open the Run dialog. -
Type
gpedit.msc
and hit
Enter
.
How to Access Network Policies:
-
Follow this path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Network Connections
.
Modifying the Policy for Metered Connections:
-
Look for the policy named
“Set Metered Connection”
on the right pane. - Double-click on it to modify.
-
Set it to
Disabled
to disable all metered connections. -
Click
Apply
, then
OK
.
Windows PowerShell offers a command-line interface for more experienced users to efficiently manage settings:
Launching PowerShell on Windows:
-
Search for
PowerShell
in the start menu. -
Right-click on
Windows PowerShell
and choose
Run as administrator
.
Identifying Your Network’s Name:
-
Type the following command to see your network list:
Get-NetConnectionProfile -
Make a note of the
Name
of the network you want to edit.
Eliminating the Metered Link:
-
To remove the metered connection setting, run the following command replacing
YourNetworkName
with the actual name of your network:Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name "YourNetworkName" -MeteredConnection No
You can change the metered settings straight from the Windows Registry if you’re comfortable with it.
Make a registry backup:
-
Before making any changes to the registry, it s always wise to back it up. You can do this by selecting
File > Export
and saving the current state.
Launch the Registry Editor:
-
Press
Windows + R
, type
regedit
, and hit
Enter
.
Getting to the Right Key:
-
Follow this path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
Finding Your Network:
- Browse through the different profiles and look for the one corresponding to the network you wish to modify. It might take a bit of looking, as the names are usually GUIDs.
Registry Value Editing:
-
Once you find the profile, look for the key named
“Cost”
. Change its value to
1
for non-metered connections.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Try the following troubleshooting advice if you run into issues when trying to disconnect the metered connection:
Verify Windows Updates: Updates may fix underlying problems with connection settings, so make sure your Windows operating system is current.
Network Adapter Problems: Occasionally, the network adapter may not work properly. Locate your network device in Device Manager, then make sure the drivers are up to date.
Network Resets: If problems continue, you may want to think about resetting your network configuration. Click on Network reset after selecting Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Keep in mind that doing so will eliminate all network adapters and can necessitate reconnection settings.
Conclusion
In Windows 10, unplugging a metered connection is a simple procedure. You can take back control of how Windows 10 handles data consumption on your device by using the techniques mentioned above. The flexibility offered by turning off metered connections can greatly enhance your Windows 10 experience, whether your goal is to carry out important updates, increase application functionality, or just enjoy unlimited browsing.
As usual, keep in mind to rank your data management according to your own usage patterns. To make sure you are constantly in charge of your data usage, if you have restricted data, think about going back to metered settings after you have finished the necessary downloads or upgrades.