How to Set Ethernet & Wi-Fi Connections as Metered on Windows 10

Do you have a limited data plan and want to set your Ethernet connection as metered?

Or you just want to get a better ping while gaming using the metered connection trick?

Windows 10 is designed for you to take full benefit of your internet connection, such as downloading updates, drivers or syncing your system settings. But not everyone have an unlimited access plan.

This trick will help you set Ethernet as metered connection in order to stop Windows 10 from downloading updates until you connect via an unlimited internet access connection. This is useful if you are connected using a modem that is recognized as Ethernet connection.

We are going to tweak the Registry Editor to make it default for any future connection type, but first you will discover how to do it the easy way, so you can set your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection as metered.

1. Set Ethernet Connection or Wi-Fi as Metered the Easy Way

Access your connection settings by clicking on it.

Or you can open the Settings App using the Windows+I keys and choose “Network & Internet” from there.

Click again on your connection name like the image below.

Here you will find Metered connection option, toggle-it to make it colored. Congratulations! Your connection is now metered!

Same goes for Wi-Fi connections.

But if you want to make it default for any kind of connection, you need to tweak the Registry!

2. Set Ethernet Connection or Wi-Fi as Metered Using Registry Hack

In order to make all Ethernet connections metered by default, you need this Registry trick!

Please backup your Registry or create a restore point before making any changes to your Registry. This method also works on Windows 8.

Open Run using Windows+R key combination and type in regedit, click “OK“.

Now we will need some permissions in order to edit the Ethernet Value. It’s easy!

Navigate to this path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows NT -> CurrentVersion -> NetworkList -> DefaultMediaCost

Right-click on the key “DefaultMediaCost“. Choose “Permissions“.

Click on “Advanced“.

Click on “Change” next to TrustedInstaller.

Type in “Administrators” and click “Check Names“, it will complete the name for you. Click “OK“.

Select “Administrators” in the list and check “Allow” next to “Full Control“. Click “Apply” & “OK“.

Select the key “DefaultMediaCost” and from the right-side double click on “Ethernet.”

It will open Ethernet value’s properties window; here you can see that the Value Data is set to “1“.

Change its value to 2 and click “OK“.

That’s it!

Once you see the value of the Ethernet changed to 2, your Ethernet connection is metered by default!

Please share this tutorial with your friends. Thanks!