In Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) and prior versions, we can check the data usage by navigating to Settings app > Network & Internet > Data usage. With the Fall Creators Update, the ability to reset data usage counter was added as well.
In version 1709 and earlier versions of Windows 10, it was possible to set data usage limit only for mobile networks. It was not possible to set data usage limit for Ethernet and Wi-Fi networks even if you set them as metered connections.
Starting with Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803), there is an option to set data limit for any type of network, which means you can now set data usage limit for Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks. You can use this feature to make sure that you will never exceed the data limit set by your internet provider. Once your PC exceeds usage limit, Windows 10 will alert you with the following notification.
Besides that, if you set data usage for a network, you can restrict the background data usage by Windows features and store apps when you are within the 10% of data limit. Here is how to set the data usage for Wi-Fi networks in Windows 10.
Set data usage limit for Wi-Fi networks in Windows 10
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Navigate to Network & Internet > Data usage.
Step 2: In the Show settings for drop-down box, make sure that the Wi-Fi network for which you want to set the data usage limit is selected. By default, it shows the your current Wi-Fi network.
Step 3: In the Data limit section, click the Set limit button (refer to the picture above). This will open a small flyout.
NOTE: If you cannot see the Set limit button, it’s likely because you are running version 1709 or prior Windows 10.
Step 4: Now, select the limit type (monthly, one time, unlimited), reset date, set the data limit and select unit as MB or GB.
Finally, click Save button.
As you see in the picture, I have selected monthly data limit for my Wi-Fi network and set the limit to 100 GB. Although my limit is 120 GB per month, it’s a good idea to get an alert when you have few GBs of data left.
Also, it’s important to note that the data usage measured by Windows 10 might not exactly match to the data usage calculated by your internet provider.
I have configured it to reset the data on the first of every month automatically. You can set the data reset date to the date when your monthly billing cycle starts.
Step 5: You have now set the data limit for the selected network. From now onwards, when you visit the Data usage page, you will see the data used so far after the last reset and remaining data for your account.
Of course, you can always edit the limit or remove the data usage limit by clicking Edit limit or Remove limit button, respectively.
