Prevent specific application from using metered network connection

Question

Windows 8 introduces the new category of metered network connections. Applications that are aware of this type of connection can choose not to use it in an effort to reduce connection costs.

I would like to know if there is a way to prevent legacy applications (such as a backup software) from using a metered network connection. Is this possible using the built-in firewall, for instance?

Answer 1

I've only got Win7 in front of me, but this can be done manually with Advanced Firewall settings.

Create an Outbound Rule, narrow the scope to your application and the interface type or profile you want to deny it access on (assuming the metered WAN is a separate interface type), then set to Block the Connection.

Create an equivalent Inbound Rule.

Answer 2

I was able to get this to work essentially the way Dom suggests. I'm often working while tethered, and wanted to stop Dropbox from eating up gigs of metered network bandwidth.

This solution blocks Dropbox.exe on all LAN connections. This works for me because, like many people, I'm always on a wireless connection unless I'm tethering - my only LAN connection is my tethered iPhone. If you actually use a wired LAN connection on a regular basis, you'd need to find a different solution.

1. Hit Start (I'm on Windows 8.1) and open "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security." (You can also open Windows Firewall and click Advanced Settings.)
2. Click Inbound Rules
3. Click New Rule
4. Click Program - Rule that controls connections for a program, and click Next
5. Click "This program path" and fill in your full Dropbox program path (NOT %APPDATA% or another shortcut - I got hung up briefly here), and click Next
6. Select "Block the connection" and click Next
7. Select all boxes (Domain/Private/Public) and click Next
8. Name your rule (e.g. Dropbox - Inbound Tethering Rule) and click Finish
9. Now, right-click the new rule in the list, and click Properties
10. Click the Advanced tab in Properties
11. Click Interface Types -> Customize
12. Select only Local Area Network, and click OK, then OK again.
13. Now, repeat steps 2 through 12 for your Outbound rule.

Voila! No more Dropbox activity when you are on a tethered connection. Of course, if you do want Dropbox to sync at times over your metered connection, just disable these two rules in Firewall.

Answer 3

As far as I know, it is not possible.

Luke Williams answer is pretty good. I will add what topherg commented. Set up your metered connection to Public (if it is a mobile connection it probably is Public already) and create a Inbound and Outbound rule in your firewall to block the program for Public connections.

Dom solution will work if you use a wired connection for your not metered connection and a Wifi one for your metered connection.

I just have done it for Google Drive and it works, it says "Unable to Connect" now that I am using a metered (Public) connection.