Windows 10 is designed to work on personal computers, which usually have an unlimited Internet connection, allowing the download and upload tasks to be performed as desired without being asked. However, Windows 10 contains a useful feature called "Metered connection" that helps reduce data usage, and this is necessary for some types of connections.
Microsoft knows that not all Windows 10 users are connected to the unlimited internet, as there are those who connect to limited capacity packages, portable hotspots, or via a phone server, and anything else. Therefore, it was necessary to provide a feature that would make the system realize that you are connected to the limited internet and thus reduce data usage. This was an initial definition of the feature, so let me tell you on this topic how exactly it works, when and how to activate it.
As we indicated, when you activate the Metered connection feature, Windows 10 will know that you are on a limited connection and then take the necessary measures to automatically limit the use of the limited bandwidth or package capacity. These include: disabling automatic downloading of new updates; Instead, you will get a "Download" button that you can click whenever you want to install updates (as shown in the image below), but this does not apply to security updates, as they are important updates and cannot be postponed.
Also, automatic downloading of app updates will be disabled. Windows Store will not automatically download updates for apps installed on your device as long as the "Limited Connections" feature is enabled. But this only applies to store apps, regular programs like Chrome, Firefox, etc. will continue to update themselves normally.
If you don't know, Windows 10 is using your device for the upgrade on other devices, which may consume more data in the background, so once you activate the Metered connection feature, the system stops continuing to do so. Also, keep in mind that some apps will work differently under Limited Communications activity, especially apps downloaded from the Windows Store - they can read this setting to work in a way that makes them friendly to the limited package!
It should be noted that the OneDrive cloud service, which is integrated into Windows 10, will not be affected by activating the "Metered connection" feature, as it will continue to synchronize files as you do and ignore your connection restrictions. Microsoft may change this in the future, however, it is possible to control how much data a service can consume during synchronization operations.
When is the best time to activate the metered connection feature?
According to Microsoft, you should enable the "Metered connection" feature if your ISP limits the data that you can use, or in other words, if you are subscribed to a limited capacity package. However, you might also want to enable it to prevent Windows from using excessive bandwidth, unless you choose to, especially on slower connections.
For example, if you have a Windows 10 laptop or tablet that has a SIM card that can connect to the Internet via cellular data, then Windows will automatically activate limited connections on your behalf. Whereas if you are connected via a mobile network (HotSpot) using your mobile phone, you will need to activate the feature manually, as Windows is unable to realize your limited Internet connection.
You will also need to manually activate the feature if you are connected through a home network, but with a limited package, so that you do not have to renew this package before the specified time. In general, the "Metered connection" feature is very useful when you want to control the automatic updates and downloads that Windows 10 makes, so that you have some kind of control over the system's data consumption and make it work according to your own schedule.
How to activate the "Metered connection" feature in Windows 10
To activate this feature, whether you are connected to the Internet on the device via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable, all you have to do is open the "Settings" application, then go to the "Network & Internet" section, then click on the "Change connection properties" option and in the following properties page, Activate the feature by clicking on the button under "Set as metered connection" as shown in the screenshot.
Note that if you are connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi, this procedure only affects the network you are currently connected to. That is, Windows will remember this setting, and that this Wi-Fi network should be treated as a limited network whenever you connect. But as soon as you leave this network and connect to another, Windows 10 will automatically resume downloading updates and work normally since you did not specify to him that this network has limited connections as well.
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