Wireless Network - Set or Unset as Metered Connection in Windows 8

Brink · Mar 29, 2012

How to Set or Unset Wireless Network as a Metered Connection in Windows 8 and 8.1

Information

A metered Internet connection is when a service provider charges by the amount of data sent and received by your PC.

This tutorial will show you how to mark (set) any wireless network (ex: Wi-Fi and mobile broadband) as a metered or non-metered connection to help reduce data usage for that network connection for all users in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note

Windows Update will defer the background download of all updates, unless it's a critical security update, until you connect to a non-metered network, such as your home broadband connection or another wireless network not set as metered. You can always override the deferred download by launching Windows Update and manually checking to initiating the download of updates when you like.
Some Metro apps may behave differently on a metered connection to reduce data usage, such as allowing a low-definition vs. high-definition video stream, or a header-only vs. full-sync of email.
Ethernet network connections can't be set to metered.

For more details, see also:
Engineering Windows 8 for mobile networks - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

OPTION ONE

Set or Unset Wireless Network as Metered in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Update in Networks

1. Do either step 2, 3, or 4 below for you would like to open Networks.

2. From Taskbar

A) Go to the Desktop, click/tap on the Network icon in the taskbar system icons area at the far right, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: You could open the desktop by pressing the Windows :winkey: + D keys.

3. From Charms Bar

A) Open the Charms bar, click/tap on the Settings charm, and click on your wireless network icon, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: You could also press the Windows :winkey: + I keys to directly open the Settings charm.

4. From Control Panel

A) Open the Control Panel (category view), click/tap on the Network and Internet link, click/tap on the Connect to a network link under Network and Sharing Center, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.

6. To Set a Wireless Network as a Metered Connection

A) At the top of the Charms bar under Wi-Fi, right click on a wireless network that you want to apply this to, click/tap on Set as metered connection, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Touch screen users will have to tap and hold on the wireless network instead of right clicking on it.

7. To Set a Wireless Network as a Non-metered Connection

A) At the top of the Charms bar under Wi-Fi, right click on a wireless network that you want to apply this to, click/tap on Set as non-metered connection, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Touch screen users will have to tap and hold on the wireless network instead of right clicking on it.

8. When finished, you could press the Windows :winkey: key to return to the Start screen if you like.

OPTION TWO

Set or Unset Wireless Network as Metered in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update in PC settings

1. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Network on the left side. (see screenshot below)

2. Click/tap on Connections on the left side of "Network", and click/tap on a network (ex: Brink-Router 2) on the right side that you want to set or unset at metered. (see screenshot below)

3. Under Data usage for the Set as a metered connection option, do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)

4. To Set Network Connection as a Metered

A) Move the slider to the right to turn it on, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 3)

5. To Unset Network Connection as a Metered

A) Move the slider to the left to turn it off, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 3)

6. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Wireless Network - Set or Unset as Metered Connection in Windows 8

Set or Unset Wireless Network as Metered in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Update in Networks

Set or Unset Wireless Network as Metered in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update in PC settings

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