How To Setup Ethernet Connection Windows 7

Windows eight and 10 both allow y'all to prepare certain types of connections as metered so that you can limit the amount of data Windows (and sure apps) tin utilize without asking. You can employ the regular Settings interface to gear up mobile and Wi-Fi connections as metered, only for some reason Windows assumes you won't need to do this with wired Ethernet connections. If you lot use an ISP that has monthly data caps, you know amend. The skilful news is that a quick Registry edit volition fix yous right up.

RELATED: How, When, and Why to Set a Connection equally Metered on Windows 10

Note that this hack is no longer necessary if you have upgraded your PC to the Windows 10 Creators Update. The Creators Update now lets you set an Ethernet connection as metered right in the interface.

Fix an Ethernet Connection as Metered by Editing the Registry

To set your Ethernet connection to metered, you'll have to dive into the Windows Registry to make a quick edit.

RELATED: Learning to Use the Registry Editor Like a Pro

Standard warning: Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it tin return your organization unstable or even inoperable. This is a pretty simple hack and as long as you stick to the instructions, you lot shouldn't take any problems. That said, if you've never worked with it earlier, consider reading nearly how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely dorsum upwards the Registry (and your figurer!) before making changes.

To get started, open the Registry Editor by hitting Start and typing "regedit." Press Enter to open up Registry Editor and give it permission to make changes to your PC.

In the Registry Editor, use the left sidebar to navigate to the post-obit key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost

RELATED: How to Gain Total Permissions to Edit Protected Registry Keys

Before you go whatsoever farther with the edit, y'all're going to take to take an boosted pace. The DefaultMediaCost fundamental you just navigated to is protected, meaning that you don't by default have the permissions necessary to edit information technology. Y'all're going to take to take ownership of and set some permissions on the primal before you tin edit it for the showtime time. It'southward quick and yous'll only accept to practice it once. After y'all prepare the permissions, you lot'll exist able to edit the key freely in the time to come.

Once y'all've set those permissions on the DefaultMediaCost cardinal, you're going to edit ane of the values inside it. Click the DefaultMediaCost primal to select it and then in the right pane, double-click the Ethernet value to edit it.

On the Ethernet value'due south properties window, change the number in the "Value data" box from 1 to 2 then click OK.

RELATED: How to Stop Windows ten From Using And then Much Data

You tin now close Registry Editor. Your Ethernet connection is now fix to metered, significant that data-intensive Windows services similar Windows Update and automatic app downloads won't happen without request your permission offset. You lot might as well observe that some apps behave differently, as certain apps from the Windows store might be designed to respect this setting.

Unfortunately, the Settings interface in Windows won't update to evidence you that the connection is metered, every bit information technology does when you enabled metered connections for mobile and Wi-Fi connections. To verify, you'll demand to return to Registry Editor and check the settings. Just retrieve that a setting of 2 means metered, and 1 means unmetered.

If yous need to opposite the setting and change your Ethernet connection back to unmetered, just return to the DefaultMediaCost fundamental and set the Ethernet value from 2 back to 1.

Download Our One-Click Registry Hacks

If you don't feel like diving into the Registry each time to set up your connection as metered or unmetered, nosotros've created ii downloadable registry hacks you can utilise. I hack enables a metered connection for Ethernet and the other hack changes it back to an unmetered connection, restoring the default setting. Both are included in the following ZIP file. Before you tin apply these hacks, though, you volition have to fire up Registry Editor once to take ownership of and set permissions for the DefaultMediaCost central, as we discussed in the previous section. After you've done that, yous tin can so use our Registry hacks whenever you want. Double-click the ane you want to use and click through the prompts to give information technology permission to make changes.

Metered Ethernet Hacks

RELATED: How to Make Your Ain Windows Registry Hacks

These hacks are actually just the DefaultMediaCostkey, stripped downwards to the Ethernetvalue we described above, and and then exported to a .REG file. Running the "Enable Metered Ethernet Connection" hack sets the Ethernet value to 2. Running the "Restore Unmetered Ethernet Connectedness (Default)" hack sets the value dorsum to 1. And if you lot enjoy fiddling with the Registry, it'due south worth taking the time to learn how to brand your own Registry hacks.

And that'southward it. If you're using an Ethernet connection, only nonetheless have an Internet service provider that limits data, setting the Ethernet connection to metered can prevent Windows and some apps from using that information up when you're not paying attention.

Thanks to reader David for sending this tip in!