How can I set a network connection as metered?

I would like to set a network connection as metered. I can't find how to do this; it seems to have changed in the upgrade from Windows 8 to 8.1.

I tried following the steps in the official metered connection FAQ. However, when I open the connection, there is no Data Usage heading nor a Set as a metered connection option. I tried this on two different computers, both running Windows 8.1. I also tried doing this for both wireless and ethernet adaptors.

Here's what the connection screen looks like. I've cropped the empty space from the image. Network connection without metering options or information

How can I set the connection to metered?

windows-8.1

Sam

Posted 2013-11-05T06:57:11.427

Reputation: 1 171

Answers

I found that there were two separate causes of this:

Ethernet connections can't be set to metered

I discovered a note under the What are the recommended settings? heading that says:

Ethernet network connections can't be set to metered.

Wireless adaptors can't be set to metered

I realised that only individual wireless networks can be set to metered. Wireless adaptors themselves cannot be. So to make a wireless connection metered, you have to first connect to the wireless network and then follow the normal instructions.

Sam

Posted 2013-11-05T06:57:11.427

Reputation: 1 171

If a set a wifi ad hoc connection by hand, Do you know how set it as a metered connection? Normal instructions doesn't work. – Jose Nobile – 2014-07-03T13:25:20.310

@JoseNobile, I only really know how to do what I covered in the answer! Did you make sure that the connection was active before trying to change the setting? – Sam – 2014-07-04T00:24:58.090

Yes, the connection was active before try to set as metered connection. – Jose Nobile – 2014-07-12T17:38:32.267

@Sam You can actually change it. See my answer below – chmod – 2017-01-10T02:46:33.573

Actually it's possible to set Ethernet and WiFi connection as metered connection. You just have to change them in the registry.

Here's how

Open registry editor (Run --> regedit)
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost
Back up registry key (File --> export)
Take ownership of DefaultMediaCost key (Right click --> permission ---> advance --> change [owner])
Give yourself full control permission
On right hand side, double click on Ethernet [REG_DWORD], change the value to "2"
Restart your computer
Done!

FYI: value 2 means metered, value 1 means unmetered, you can also change the metered setting for other connection type as well.

If you need full details, step by step (with screenshot), please see the reference link.

Reference : http://www.howtogeek.com/262477/how-to-set-an-ethernet-connection-as-metered-in-windows-8-and-10/

chmod

Posted 2013-11-05T06:57:11.427

Reputation: 2 082