Network and Internet Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network in Windows 11

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This tutorial will show you how to set a Wi-Fi network as a metered connection or non-metered connection for all users in Windows 11.

Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and standard that uses high-frequency radio waves to provide wireless Internet and network connections to your device.

A metered connection is an Internet connection that has a data limit associated with it. Cellular data connections are set as metered by default. Wi-Fi and Ethernet network connections can be set to metered but aren't by default. Some apps might work differently on a metered connection to help reduce your data usage. Also, some updates for Windows won't be installed automatically.

If you have a metered Internet connection with a data limit, you might have to pay extra or the connection speed reduces if you go over the data limit.

Turning on metered connection for your Wi-Fi network can help prevent you from going over the data limit from your Internet service provider.

Reference:



Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network in Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network using Command




Option One

Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Network & internet on the left side, and click/tap on Wi-Fi on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Wi-Fi_metered_connection_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Manage known networks. (see screenshot below)


Wi-Fi_metered_connection_Settings-2.png

4 Click/tap on the W-Fi network name (ex: "Brink-Router2") you want to set as metered or non-metered. (see screenshot below)

Wi-Fi_metered_connection_Settings-3.png

5 Turn On or Off Metered connection for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Wi-Fi_metered_connection_Settings-4.png

6 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network using Command


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option


1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the netsh wlan show profiles command into the elevated terminal, and press Enter to see a list of all Wi-Fi network profiles on each interface on your PC. Make note of the W-Fi network name (ex: "Brink-Router2") you want to set as metered or non-metered. (see screenshot below)

Wi-Fi_metered_connection_command-1.png

3 Type the command below into the elevated terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 4)

netsh wlan show profile name="Wi-Fi network name"

Substitute Wi-Fi network name in the command above with the actual W-Fi network name (ex: "Brink-Router2") from step 2.

For example: netsh wlan show profile name="Brink-Router2"


4 Under the Cost settings section, look to see if Cost is currently set as Fixed (metered) or Unrestricted (non-metered) for this Wi-Fi network. (see screenshot below)

Wi-Fi_metered_connection_command-2.png

5 Type the command below you want to use into the elevated terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(non-metered - off)
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Wi-Fi network name" cost=Unrestricted

OR

(metered - on)
netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Wi-Fi network name" cost=Fixed

Substitute Wi-Fi network name in the command above with the actual W-Fi network name (ex: "Brink-Router2") from step 2.

For example: netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Brink-Router2" cost=Fixed


Wi-Fi_metered_connection_command-3.png
Wi-Fi_metered_connection_command-4.png

6 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
Is it possible to set it through GPDIT.msc so every connection would be metered so it won't download updates after a network driver update and such?
 

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@x7007 It would probably be better to just pause updates, if that's what you're after. Setting a network to metered has other consequences.


 

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Win11 Ent. 25H2
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@x7007 It would probably be better to just pause updates, if that's what you're after. Setting a network to metered has other consequences.


can you say which ones , consequences?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 117800x3DKINGSTONE DDR5ZOTAC 4090 AMP EXTREME
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Intel
CPU
7800x3D
Motherboard
MSI X690E TOMHAWK
Memory
KINGSTONE DDR5
Graphics Card(s)
ZOTAC 4090 AMP EXTREME
Sound Card
Creative SXFI AMP
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung S90C
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
Nmve WD850N 1TB
SanDisk SDSSDXPS480G
Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series 256Gb
WDC Enterprise Gold 16TB 512MB
WDC Enterprise Gold 6TB 256MB
PSU
ThermalTake ToughPower 1650
Case
Obsidian Series™ 750D Airflow Edition Full Tower ATX Case
Cooling
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
Keyboard
SteelSeries APEX PRO
Mouse
SwitPoint Z2
Internet Speed
5000/500
Browser
CHROME
Antivirus
ESET Internet Security

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Home x64 Version 26H2 Build 26300....
OS
Windows 11 Home x64 Version 26H2 Build 26300.9457

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