Generally, most of us, when we connect to the Internet, we do so through a fiber optic, FTTH, or high speed ADSL connection. But, the most important thing is that we do it from unlimited connections, so we are not worried about the amount of traffic we spend. However, surely on occasion we have had to connect to a limited network , either by Wi-Fi, for example, through a data connection from a mobile phone or a modem. These connections only allow us to surf a small amount of gigs per month and, if we spend them, we will not be able to continue connected to the Internet . And this can be a problem.
Windows 10 has a function specially designed for this type of connection, which we know as “Metered usage connection”. What this option does is limit the number of connections that are made in the background , and stop certain tasks, to save data. For example, automatic updates and downloading of patches from Windows Update are disabled, as well as many synchronization features. Thus, the amount of megabytes sent or received is smaller, to avoid running out of data.
This option can be found within the Windows 10 network options. When we activate it, it applies to the operating system and many of the system’s applications, so that the more data we can save, the better. But there are programs, like Google Chrome , that do not respect this function. At least until now.
Chrome will detect metered usage networks in Windows 10
On Android and iOS, Chrome is able to detect when a connection is metered. However, in Windows 10 this was not possible. In order to detect this configuration, it is necessary that the software has the WinRT API, an API that is responsible for allowing any program or application to detect the network configuration to know, for example, if we are dealing with a metered-use network.
Now that Microsoft is making every effort to improve Chromium, the company has set out to ensure that Google’s engine, and any other browser, easily detect user settings. To do this, the company is working on a new function, GetConnectionCost , which will allow any program to detect if we are on a metered-use network without using the WinRT API.
Google Chrome can detect when we are connected to a mobile or metered network to apply certain traffic limitations. And the same when we automatically activate the metered use. It can even detect when we manually switch from one state to another.
We don’t know when this feature will arrive in the browser, but it’s probably for the next Windows 10 update. And of course, all Chromium-based browsers (like Edge) will be able to take advantage of it.
35% of Windows 10 users have connected to a metered network
Are mobile connections really so common on a PC? Thanks to the telemetry of Windows 10, Microsoft has been able to discover that at least 35% of users have such a connection saved on their PC. That does not mean that you use it daily, but it does mean that you have connected to it at least once. It can be the network of an airplane, using a modem or from a mobile AP. But they are used.
The arrival of this new function to Windows 10, and to the browser in general, will allow us to optimize the use of these measured networks much better and save data by avoiding unnecessary connections.