Windows 10 will download updates over a metered connection

On Windows 10, updates are mandatory, and they download and install automatically to keep your device running smoothly with the latest security patches and improvements. While this is a convenient approach, many users have been setting their network connections as metered to prevent Windows 10 updates.

However, things are changing with the Windows 10 Creators Update. According to a new report from Supersite Windows, Microsoft will push automatic updates to device even when configuring a metered connection, but only those updates “required to keep Windows running smoothly” the company says.

On version 1703, if you go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, under “Update settings”, you’ll notice a new message explaining the new change:

We’ll automatically download and install updates, except on metered connections (where chargers may apply). In that case, we’ll automatically download only those updates required to keep Windows running smoothly.

This new change basically means that you’ll still be able to defer “large” updates from downloading through a limited internet service, but “critical fixes” on the other hand will download and install on your device. However, it’s unclear exactly the amount of bandwidth updates will use through a metered connection.

Typically, this shouldn’t be a problem if you use an internet service with unlimited data or high data cap. But users with a cellular data plan or satellite internet access often times get a very low data cap, which now could result in you having to pay more, or running out of data quickly, just to get a fix.