The use of VPNs has increased a lot in recent times. They are very useful programs for encrypting connections when browsing the Internet. However, sometimes we can have certain limitations and also problems. In this article we are going to explain how we can allow or not the VPN through networks of metered use in Windows. It is a process that can sometimes be very interesting, as we are going to explain.
What is a metered use network
First of all we want to explain what exactly that metered use network is that we can see in Windows. It must be taken into account that when browsing the Internet we will not always have an unlimited network available, such as our domestic fiber optic connection. It is possible that we are connected to a Wi-Fi network that has a download limit or that we are even sharing data with the mobile and we do not want the rate to run out.
That’s where metered network usage in Windows comes in. You are going to consider a Wi-Fi network, for example, as metered usage and you are going to control consumption , thus avoiding excessive use of it and quickly depleting resources. We can even assign you a data limit.
Let’s say we are doing Tethering with the mobile. We are sharing our rate to be able to navigate with the laptop and use the data rate for this. But of course, the normal thing is that we have a limit . Let’s say the rate is 5 GB and we don’t want it to run out. We can use the network as metered usage and thus put a limit on it.
Allow or block VPN on metered networks
We can activate a network of metered use both Ethernet and Wi-Fi, although the latter option is usually more common, so we comment on the limit that may be in the rates or when sharing data. But yes, we can also configure a VPN to work or not through metered networks.
As we will see later, in certain circumstances it can be interesting that the VPN does not work in a metered network. We would have to block it. It is a simple process, whether we want it to work or if it is blocked on the contrary.
To do this, the first thing we have to do is go to Start, enter Settings, Network and Internet and access the VPN section. There we will find some options that we can modify, although it does not have a large number of alternatives. One of them, the one that interests us, is to Allow VPN through metered-use networks .
We will see that there is a button to activate or deactivate it , depending on what interests us. If we have it marked on Activated, as it appears in the image above, the VPN will work normally when we are connected to a network of metered use. On the other hand, if we deactivate this option, this tool will not work in those cases.
We can modify it whenever we want and the steps to follow are those we have described. Just go to the corresponding option and check or uncheck the box for it to act correctly.
The network must be configured in metered use
Logically, if we want the connection to work in measured use, even if we mark that option in VPN we must bear in mind that the network must be configured correctly . We must mark it like that whether we are browsing a Wi-Fi network or through Ethernet.
To configure a network in measured use we have to go to Start, enter Configuration, Network and Internet, click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, the option that interests us, and there we click Properties. A new window will open and we will see an option to establish as a metered usage connection.
From that moment, when we connect to that network, we will be browsing with the metered use activated . At any time we can deactivate it, if we are interested in that, and navigate without any type of limit.
Why block the VPN in metered use
Now, what reasons could there be to block the VPN in metered use? We have seen that it is very easy to configure and prevent the program from acting when we are browsing with a network configured in such a way, such as Wi-Fi. There are some reasons for this, as we will see.
Save data
The main reason may be to save data . If we are connected to a network of metered use, it is because there is some limit and we do not want it to run out. We have configured it as such and what interests us most is to save as much as possible.
Why doesn’t a VPN help save data? Although each program can vary considerably, the truth is that when browsing through a VPN the consumption will be higher. Ultimately the connection is being encrypted and going through additional servers. This is inevitably going to cause something else to be consumed.
Everything will depend on the type of encryption, mainly, as well as the servers that we are using. We can take an average of approximately 15% higher consumption as good when we connect to the Internet through a VPN. This makes it interesting to lock it in metered use.
Trust a network
Another reason is simply because we trust the network we are using. We may want to use the VPN to surf Wi-Fi networks when we enter public places, such as a library or a restaurant. However, by sharing data from our mobile and creating a network of metered use so as not to exhaust resources, we are browsing from a secure network.
In these cases, we could do without the VPN if what we want is to improve security and avoid being spied on insecure networks. We could mark the option of Windows so that the VPN does not work in networks of metered use and yes in the rest, which would be basically the majority of wireless networks where we connect.
In short, Windows allows you to create metered-use networks and also be able to configure if we want the VPN to work or not in these cases. We have explained how we can configure it and in what circumstances it can be interesting that it is blocked.
