When you connect to a network that charges you per megabyte—such as a mobile hotspot or a paid public Wi-Fi—Windows still pulls down updates, syncs files, and runs background apps in full force. Turning on a metered connection tells Windows 11 to treat that network as limited, which slows automatic downloads and protects your data allowance. This guide shows you how to enable the setting on both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections, along with fixes for the most common problems.
Before You Start: You only need a metered connection for networks where data actually costs you money. A personal mobile hotspot, a tethered phone, or a public hotspot with a data cap all qualify. Home broadband and office fiber connections do not—marking those as metered would only slow your PC without any benefit.
Step 1: Connect to the network you want to limit
- Click the Network icon in the system tray. Look at the bottom-right corner of your taskbar for the Wi-Fi or globe icon, then click it to open the quick network menu.
- Pick your hotspot or public network from the list. Select the network you are currently using, enter its password if needed, and wait for Windows to connect. The metered setting applies to whichever network is active when you change it.
If your network does not appear, make sure Airplane mode is off and that wireless is enabled. On a laptop, some models have a physical switch or a function-key combo that disables Wi-Fi entirely, so check those before assuming the radio is broken.
Step 2: Open Settings
- Press
Windows + Ion your keyboard. This shortcut opens the Settings app instantly, which is faster than hunting through the Start menu. - Alternatively, right-click the Start button. Pressing the
Windowskey opens a quick menu where you can choose Settings from the list.
Either route lands you on the same home screen. You should see a column of categories such as System, Bluetooth, and Network & internet down the left side.
Step 3: Open Network & internet
- Click Network & internet in the left sidebar. This section holds every connection-related setting, including your metered connection switch.
- Confirm you are on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet page. The correct page depends on how you are connected, which brings us to the next step.
Step 4: Select your connection type
- Click Wi-Fi in the left column if you are on wireless. The main pane then shows your current Wi-Fi network and a Properties link.
- Click Ethernet instead if you are plugged in with a cable. Enterprise users on wired office networks can apply the same metered setting here, though most home users rely on Wi-Fi. Domain-managed PCs may also receive this policy from your IT department.
The page you land on shows the name of the network you are connected to. If it looks wrong, you are on the wrong network—disconnect and reconnect to the one you intend to limit before continuing.
Step 5: Open the network’s properties
- Click the Properties link under your network name. On the Wi-Fi page this appears right below the connected network; on Ethernet it sits under the adapter description.
- Wait for the network details page to load. You will see fields for IP settings, connection status, and the metered option further down the page.
Step 6: Turn on the Metered connection toggle
- Scroll down to the “Metered connection” section. You will find a heading labeled “Metered connection” with a toggle switch next to it.
- Flip the toggle to On. The switch turns blue or teal to confirm the setting is active. Windows now treats this network as limited.
Once enabled, Windows shows a small “Metered” note on the network in your quick menu. This is your confirmation that the setting is working, and it stays in place until you turn it off.
Alternative: Set it from the quick network menu
For a faster route on Windows 11 23H2 and later builds, you can toggle the metered setting without opening the full Settings app.
- Click the Network or Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar. This opens the compact network flyout with your saved networks and quick toggles.
- Click the arrow or “i” icon next to your connected network. This opens a smaller properties panel for that specific network.
- Turn on the Metered connection switch. The change applies immediately, and you can close the flyout right away.
Troubleshooting
If the metered connection is not behaving the way you expect, check these common issues first.
- The toggle is grayed out or missing. This usually means you are not actually connected to a network. Reconnect to your hotspot, then return to the network properties page. On Ethernet, make sure the cable is seated and the adapter shows as connected.
- Data use does not drop after enabling it. The setting affects automatic and background activity, not downloads you start yourself. Open a browser and download a file manually to confirm your data still flows. If background sync still drains data, wait a few minutes for Windows to register the change.
- Updates stop completely and you need one now. Metered mode pauses automatic downloads, but you can still fetch an update on demand. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check now; the update downloads even on a metered connection.
- The setting resets after a reboot. A metered connection sticks until you change it, but switching to a different network will not carry the setting over. Reapply it each time you connect to the same limited network.
Pro Tip: Pair a metered connection with a data counter for the best results. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Data usage to see exactly how much data Windows has consumed, so you can catch a runaway sync before you hit your cap.
Closing tips
- Reapply the setting whenever you reconnect. Metered mode is tied to the specific network, so reconnecting to your hotspot means flipping the toggle again.
- Turn it off on trusted networks. Leave home broadband as a normal connection so updates and syncs run at full speed where data is unlimited.
- Combine it with background-data limits. Under Settings > Apps > Installed apps, you can restrict background activity for individual apps to save even more data on a tight allowance.
Over to you: Do you keep a metered connection turned on all the time, or only when you are on a mobile hotspot?
