[Tip] Force Windows 10 to Use Ethernet Connection as Metered

In Windows 10, the regular Windows updates, hotfixes, security updates, driver updates, store updates, etc are downloaded automatically and once the download finishes, Windows 10 notifies the user about the installation of new updates and if a system restart is required to apply the updates.

If you have an unlimited and faster Internet connection, you may not worry about this automatic installation of Windows updates but if you are using a capped i.e. limited Internet connection with a predefined data limit, you’ll definitely need to worry about it as it may eat your valuable Internet connection bandwidth and may cross the monthly data limit which will cost you some extra bucks at the end of the month.

To overcome this problem, Microsoft has provided an option in Windows 10 which is called “Metered Connection“. You can set mobile data connection (3G/4G) and Wi-Fi connection as metered in Windows 10 which prevents the automatic download of Windows updates and drivers, thus saves your limited Internet connection bandwidth. You can set your cellular data or Wi-Fi connection as metered using Settings app -> Network & Internet page.

We have posted an exclusive tutorial to prevent automatic installation of Windows updates in Windows 10 at following link which covers this metered connection trick:

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Install Problem

Now there is one small issue in settings Internet connection as metered. Windows 10 doesn’t provide any option to set Ethernet connection (LAN) as metered. So if you are using Ethernet connection for Internet connectivity in your Windows 10 computer, you can’t use it as metered and Windows 10 will automatically download all updates.

Don’t worry! Although Windows 10 doesn’t contain any built-in option to set Ethernet connection as metered but there is a small Registry tweak to force Windows 10 to use your Ethernet connection as metered. Thanks to our reader “Sumit Dhiman” for sharing this trick.

If you are using Ethernet connection in Windows 10 and want to set it as metered, following steps will help you:

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit in RUN and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

3. In right-side pane, you’ll see five DWORD values as following:

• 3G
• 4G
• Default
• Ethernet
• WiFi

By default, the values of 3G and 4G are set to 2 and values of Default, Ethernet and Wifi are set to 1 which means 3G and 4G connections are set as metered and other connections such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi are set as non-metered.

4. To set Ethernet as metered, you’ll need to change value of Ethernet to 2 but Windows will not allow you to change its value as you wouldn’t have required permissions.

You’ll need to take ownership of “DefaultMediaCost” key to be able to change value of Ethernet or other DWORDs. You can take help of following guides to take ownership of the Registry key:

[Guide] How to Take Ownership (Permission) of a Registry Key in Windows?

[Windows Tip] Take Ownership (Permission) of Registry Keys from Command Line

5. After taking ownership and full control, double-click on Ethernet DWORD and change its value to 2

6. That’s it. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effects.

After reboot, Windows 10 will use your Ethernet connection as metered and will not download any update automatically.

In future, if you decide to restore Ethernet as non-metered connection, just change value of Ethernet DWORD to 1 again and restart your computer.

Also Check:

[Guide] Things To Do After Installing Windows 10