Today, we shall be dealing with one of the best ways to control how your computer or mobile phone uses internet data. If you are concerned about how fast your data subscription runs out, then this post will make your day. Furthermore, you will see how a small budget data subscription will last much longer on your devices simply by knowing about this Wi-Fi metering. Therefore, I will carefully teach you how to activate metered connections (Wi-Fi metering) on both android phones, laptops or PC to conserve more data. By the end of reading this article, you will no longer waste your internet data subscriptions. Nevertheless, I once had this challenge of running out of data quickly without knowing what ate it up. Overtime, I did some research and found out what consumes my data subscriptions on both phones and PC. Furthermore, I learnt how to stop unnecessary data loss through Wi-Fi metering. This article teaches you how to set up Wi-Fi metering (metered connections) on computers, Mobile phones, set data limit (restrictions) on android phones to stop data wastage.
What is Wi-Fi Metering
The Wi-Fi metering or what we call Metered connection is a device connectivity setting, which enables deeper control over internet data use. It defines how data flows in the device – both internally and on the screen surface. Internal data flow refers to consumption of data by Apps running in the background. When you meter a connection, you put a check on how data is consumed. Furthermore, Wi-Fi Metering controls what Apps receive internet data at any point in time. This way, you limit the use of internet data to the minimum. Let us look at what steals or consumes your internet data in your devices.
Why your internet Data Runs out Quickly
Have you noticed that sometimes, your data bundle runs out quickly? Sometimes, a one month data subscription bundle fails to last even up to one week. This happens both on android phone, other phones and even computers. Any device that browses with data subscription suffers this uncontrolled use of data.
You may be using one App at a time on the device screen. But internally, hundreds of Apps are running and all of them use your internet data. Furthermore, most of these Apps keep downloading and running updates in the background in total disregard to your data level. As a result, your data subscription runs out before you could say “Jack Robinson”.
However, Wi-Fi metering provides solutions to uncontrolled loss of data subscription bundle. With a metered connection, you enjoy full control over what apps use your data at any given time. With Wi-Fi metering, you are certain that only the current App on screen at that moment is using your data. However, there are other supporting measures to take to completely economize internet data use and they are;
- using a computer, deactivate automatic updates on PC system
- On mobile phones, deactivate background Apps Data Usage from the settings.
- On some specific Apps, use settings that optimizes data saving. For instance, there is this best WhatsApp settings to save data on your mobile.
These extra measures ensure that even the App currently in use on screen consumes least data at any point in time. I eventually applied these measures and surprisingly, I could use use the least monthly data plan of my providers for one month comfortably, despite my regular browsing as a blogger. Now let me show you how to activate Wi-Fi metering (metered connection) on both computer and mobile phones.
How to Set Up Wi-Fi Metering (Metered Connection) on a Computer
Setting up a metered connection (Wi-Fi metering) on a PC is very simple. First, you have to connect your computer to a wireless modem or phone using Wi-Fi Hotspot method. After establishing this connection, follow these few steps to meter your Wi-Fi connection;
- On your connected laptop or desktop, go to the Connection Network icon for Wi-Fi. This is located at the bottom right of the computer screen, beside the battery and speaker icons.
- Click on the connection or network icon to open. This reveals the available networks and connections including the active Wi-Fi connection.
- Beside or under the active Wi-Fi connection, see and click on the Properties. A dialog box opens to reveal some settings.
- Scroll down until you see the Wi-Fi Metering section. Look through and see a small tab, which you could switch ON or OFF under the Wi-Fi metering.
- Click on the Tab to switch ON the Wi-Fi Metering or metered connection. Congratulations, you have successfully metered your Wi-Fi connection and can now browse without losing much data on your laptop or desktop.
How to Set Up Wi-Fi Metering on Mobile Phone
On androids or other mobile phones, it is not directly programmed to meter connections. However, some android versions such as the Android 9.0 Pie may present an easier way to control data usage using Wi-Fi metering. However, other android versions can only set data limit usage or set data limit restrictions. Now let us look at how to do all of these.
#1 Setting Up Metered Connection on Android 9.0 Pie Devices
If you are using a device built on android 9.0 pie, this is how to set up Wi-Fi metering to control use of data on your device. However, you must be connected to another device’s Wi-Fi Hotspot in order to do this
- On Settings, go to Network and Internet.
- Go to Wi-Fi, then proceed to Wi-Fi Networks. You will see the network you are connected to.
- Click on it to open. then proceed to more Options tab and click to open.
- Look for Advanced Option, click to open.
- Go to Security option, click to open.
- Scroll to Metered Option. By default, it is set to Detect automatically.
- click on Metered status, and change it to Treat as Metered.
- Congratulations! The connected and selected network will instantly become a metered connection. This is how to activate Wi-Fi Metering on android 9.0 Pie devices.
#2. Set up Data Limits or Restrictions on other Android Or Mobile Phones
Since there may be no other way to meter connections including Wi-Fi on other mobile phones, you can control data use via data limiting or restrictions. To do these, follow these procedures;
Data Limit / Restriction Set Up
- To set Data limit on android, go to settings.
- Go to Network and Internet.
- Scroll down to Data Usage.
- Go to Data Warning and Limit, click to open.
- Tap on the Set Data Limit switch button beside the named option. This turns it on to reveal a warning box.
- Click on OK to accept the warning sign and proceed to enter your amount of Data in MB or GB you wish to share with others.
By these steps, you have successfully set a limit or restricted how much data should be used with others over Wi-Fi or even USB Tethering connections.
These connection metering methods provide huge relief to uncontrolled wastage of data in our mobile phones and computer. Try it today and thank me later. Do me a favour by sharing this content with friends on Facebook and other social media platforms. Remember that we love your comments. Kindly tell us how you feel below.
