How (and when) to set your Internet connection to 'Metered'
Enjoy today's featured easy-to-follow tech tip.
Rick's Daily Tech Tips Update for Saturday, August 24, 2024
[Standard Edition]
I welcome your questions and comments. Hit the Reply button and let me know what’s on your mind.
Today's issue is sponsored by...
You use your computer for work, home, email, browsing, chatting, and for much more. When you need a computer repair service, you need it done quickly and properly. You need uBreakiFix.
————
Advertise here… Want to speak directly to over 16,700 engaged subscribers? Click here to sponsor the next available issue of this newsletter.
Like my tips?
If you find my tips useful, you can help me keep them coming by opting for a Premium (Paid) subscription.
Premium subscriptions help offset my blogs’ web hosting and other related fees, which are substantial. Premium issues do not contain sponsorship ads.
If you’d like to help out just click this button now:
Monthly Tech Giveaway....
We have a winner for July...
Congratulations to Jamie F. from Pembroke Pines, Florida for winning the Polar Pacer Pro - Advanced GPS Running Watch in July's Tech Tips Giveaway.
August's winner will receive a fantastic Seagate Expansion 16TB External Hard Drive (click for details).
The prizes featured in my Monthly Tech Giveaways include a combination of the best items I have received for testing and review and brand new items provided directly by partner companies.
The winner will be selected at random on the last day of the month. All Standard subscribers have an equal chance to win. All Premium (Paid) subscribers have double the chance to win (their email addresses are added to the pot twice).
Standard subscribers: Double your chance to win by upgrading to any Paid subscription.
Today’s featured tech tip…
How (and when) to set your Internet connection to 'Metered'
Microsoft automatically sets cellular Internet connections as "metered" in Windows 10 and Windows 11 because many cellular service plans have a data cap.
If you exceed the data cap on your plan one of these things will typically occur, depending on the terms of the plan:
The devices using your plan will be cut off from using the Internet until the start of the next billing cycle.
The Internet connection speeds for devices using that plan will drop from 5G or 4G to what are effectively dial-up speeds for the remainder of the current billing cycle.
Your connection speed will remain the same but you'll be billed for the extra data that was used during that billing cycle.
Of course none of those results are desirable, hence Microsoft's decision to automatically set cellular connections to "metered" in Windows.
Setting the active Internet connection to metered has the following effects on a Windows machine:
1 - The Windows Update service will only download updates that are marked as Priority Updates (typically updates that increase the security of your system).
2 - App downloads from the Microsoft Store will be paused until the active connection is removed from "metered" status.
3 - "Live Tiles" on the Windows 10 Start Menu will stop updating (if you have Live Tiles enabled).
4 - Most apps that sync data over the Internet will stop syncing.
As you can see, setting the active Internet connection to "metered" will greatly affect your Windows user experience.
But that being said, there are situations in which setting your connection to metered can be beneficial.
For example, if your Internet connection has a data cap you can potentially avoid exceeding that cap by setting the connection to "metered".
Another example of when you might want to use a "metered" connection is if you want to limit the download of Windows updates to Priority Updates (i.e. security updates) only.
As mentioned above, cellular connections are set to "metered" by default. However, Wi-Fi and wired Internet connections typically are not.
Luckily, it's easy to set any Internet connection to "metered". Just follow the steps below for your Windows version.
Windows 10:
1 - Right-click the Start button, the select Settings from the menu.
2 - Click Network & Internet.
3 - Click the Status link over in the left-hand column. The Network Status screen should now be displaying the connection that's currently active.
4 - Click the Properties button.
5 - Scroll down and toggle the "Set as metered connection" setting to On.
Windows 11:
1 - Right-click the Start button, the select Settings from the menu.
2 - In the left-hand pane, click Network & Internet.
3 - In the right-hand pane, click on the network that needs to be set to "metered" (either Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
4 - If it's a Wi-Fi connection click [Network name] properties and toggle the "Metered connection" setting to On.
5 - If it's a wired Ethernet connection click Ethernet and toggle the "Metered connection" setting to On.
That's all there is to it. From now on this connection will remain set to "metered" until you manually change it back to unmetered.
If you find this newsletter useful, please consider sharing it with your friends.
Picture of the Day...
“Purple Lotus”
Today’s POTD features a closeup image of a beautiful purple lotus blossom. I hope you like it.
Bonus tips from some the web’s best Tech sites...
Every day I hand-pick five of the best tips I found on my favorite tech sites and share them with you, my wonderful subscribers. Here is today’s selection:
• How to check your Wi-Fi signal strength
• Preventing ad fraud: strategies for marketers
• Is Temu legit? Read this and form your own opinion
• How to hide games in your Steam library
Today's post from 'Living (and loving) Life'...
Q&A: Am I the only one that hates microfiber towels?
Rick's daily gadget pick...
Every day I feature a tech item that I’ve hand-picked to be among the best of the best.
Click here to see what I’m loving today.
Today’s tech news headlines...
• Google is distributing its apps on new Windows laptops
• Hotel room key cards everywhere could be at risk from RFID security flaw
• Apple to allow EU users to delete pre-installed apps on iOS 18
• Starlink adds new ‘Outside Region’ fee to combat unauthorized users
• Microsoft formally deprecates the Windows Control Panel
Have a question, comment or suggestion? Hit the Reply button and reply to this email. I love hearing what you have to say...
Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
Want to help support my work and keep this newsletter coming for all to enjoy? Your upgrade to a paid subscription will help a lot (and be greatly appreciated).