How to Turn Off Metered Connection on Windows 10

This guide shows you how to turn off the metered connection setting for a Wi‑Fi or Ethernet network in Windows 10, so Windows and its apps can download updates and use data freely. You’ll need to be signed in with an administrator account, and you’ll need to know which network you want to change.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with the network you want to modify already connected.
• Administrator rights on that PC (the standard account can view but not change the setting).
• If it’s a Wi‑Fi network, the Wi‑Fi password (you’ll need to reconnect if you forget it).

Step-by-Step

1. Click the Start button (Windows logo) and select the Settings gear icon.
2. In the Settings window, click Network & Internet.
3. On the left sidebar, choose Wi‑Fi (if you’re using a wireless connection) or Ethernet (if you’re using a wired connection).
4. On the right side, click the name of the network you are connected to (e.g., “HomeWiFi”). Do not click “Manage known networks” – that only lets you forget or view properties.
5. In the network’s properties page, scroll down to the Metered connection section.
6. Toggle the switch under Set as metered connection to Off. The switch will turn gray and show “Off”.
7. Close Settings. The change takes effect immediately – no restart needed.

If you’re using Ethernet, the steps are the same: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet, click your connection name, and turn off the metered toggle.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking the wrong network – Make sure you click the network that shows “Connected” under its name, not a saved network you’re not currently using.
• Looking for the toggle in “Manage known networks” – That screen only shows network properties and a “Forget” button; the metered setting lives inside each network’s individual properties page.
• Turning it off on the wrong adapter – If you have both Wi‑Fi and Ethernet, the metered setting is per‑network, so you must repeat the steps for each network you want to un‑meter.
• Forgetting to check the “Set as metered connection” label – Some users toggle the wrong switch (e.g., “Use random hardware addresses”). Read the label before flipping.

Tips

• If you want to keep a network metered but still allow some updates, you can leave the metered toggle on and manually check for updates in Windows Update – Windows will still download critical updates even on a metered connection.
• For a Wi‑Fi network, you can also set it as non‑metered by using the old Control Panel: go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right‑click your Wi‑Fi adapter, select Status, then Wireless Properties, and uncheck “Set as metered connection” (this option appears in some Windows 10 versions).
• If you’re on a limited data plan, consider keeping the metered setting on for that network – it prevents large background downloads that could eat your data.
• After turning off metered, you can force Windows to check for updates immediately by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking “Check for updates”.

Troubleshooting

The metered toggle is grayed out or missing. This can happen if you’re not signed in as an administrator, or if your PC is managed by an organization (e.g., a work or school device). Try signing in with an admin account. If the device is managed, the setting may be controlled by group policy – contact your IT admin.

I turned it off, but Windows still behaves like it’s metered. Make sure you turned off the toggle for the network you’re currently connected to. Also, some apps cache the metered status – restart the app or the PC. If the problem persists, check if the network is set as metered in the legacy Control Panel as described above.

I can’t find the network under Wi‑Fi settings. If the network doesn’t appear, you may be connected via Ethernet instead. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet and look there. Also, make sure your Wi‑Fi is turned on.

The setting resets after a reboot. This is rare but can happen if a third‑party app or a script changes it. Check if you have any network management software installed. You can also set the metered flag via PowerShell (run as administrator): Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex <index> -NetworkCategory Private – but that doesn’t directly control metered; instead, use Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex <index> -MeteredMode Disabled (available in later Windows 10 versions).

I don’t see “Set as metered connection” at all. In some Windows 10 builds, the toggle is hidden for Ethernet connections. Use the legacy Control Panel method: Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right‑click the Ethernet adapter, select Properties, then Configure, and look for a “Metered” tab – if it’s not there, your driver may not support it. In that case, you can’t set it via the GUI, but you can use PowerShell as above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “metered connection” mean? A metered connection tells Windows that you have a limited data plan, so it reduces background data usage – for example, it pauses automatic updates and some app downloads.

Will turning off metered connection use more data? Yes, Windows will resume automatic downloads of updates, app updates, and other background content, which can consume significant data.

Can I set a metered connection for a specific time? No, the setting is a simple on/off toggle. You can manually turn it on or off as needed, but there’s no schedule.

Does the metered setting apply to all users on the PC? Yes, the setting is per‑network and applies to all user accounts on that device.

Why is my Wi‑Fi automatically set as metered? Windows may set a network as metered if it detects a mobile hotspot or if you previously set it that way. It can also happen if the network is a cellular hotspot.

Is there a way to turn off metered for all networks at once? No, you have to do it individually for each network. There’s no global “never metered” setting.

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