Save on bandwidth when you connect with mobile connections in Windows 8

Windows 8 is the first version of Windows designed to support mobile devices, such as tablets and hybrid laptops. From the user interface to the core of Windows 8, there are hundreds of elements that are focused on mobile users, and as proof of this we have the Start menu and Store apps, which are focused on offering a user-friendly interface for mobile users. users.

In addition to this, the network options allow us to establish settings in order to optimize performance on mobile devices.For this reason, in this article we will talk about what we can do to reduce bandwidth consumption when we are using Metered Internet Connections

"What is a Metered Internet Connection?"

If you are using a connection with a set data limit, it is considered a Metered Internet Connection. For example, most mobile networks (3G or 4G) are of this type because they have a maximum amount of data that you can consume each month, established based on the rate contracted with your company. However, while these types of connections are very popular on smartphones and tablets, some WiFi users also connect using networks of this type.

Precisely because of their limitations, anyone who makes use of these networks wants to reduce their consumption, since even In some cases, instead of reducing the browsing speed when reaching the established limit, the maximum speed is maintained but more data is consumed, increasing the amount of the invoice.This is where Windows 8 comes in, due to its ability to establish connections such as Metered Internet Connections and configure most settings on its own, thus reducing the steps the user must take to help minimize this consumption.

How does Windows 8 behave under metered Internet connections?

When you set up a network as a Metered Internet Connection, Windows 8 automatically limits system data usage. According to Microsoft, these are the actions that the operating system takes to do this:

• Windows will only download important updates.
• App downloads from the Store will be paused.
• The Start menu tiles will stop updating.
• Files designated as offline will not be synced automatically.

How to configure a network as a metered Internet connection

By default, Windows 8 knows that a mobile network is a metered Internet connection. So if you're using Windows 8 on a tablet, it should recognize when you're on a limited data connection. However, if the operating system does not automatically recognize your connection as such, or you simply want to reduce Internet consumption, you can do the following to manually set your network as a metered connection.

To see all the available connections, we move the mouse cursor to one of the corners on the right of the screen so that the side menu is displayed (we can also press the Windows key + I combination, or slide finger from the right side of the screen on touch devices).We go to Configuration, and below we click on the icon highlighted in the following image.

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In the list of available networks, look for the network you want to establish as a metered connection and right-click on it, or hold your finger if you&39;re using a tablet. In the menu that will be displayed, we have to choose the option Establish as metered use connection"

From now on, Windows 8 changes its behavior to reduce data/bandwidth consumption.

In addition to doing this, you can also take other actions in this regard, such as Don't allow your settings to sync periodically on metered connections To do this, swipe from the right side of the screen, or move the cursor to a right corner, choose the Settings option, and then click Change PC settingson the bottom.

Once you are in the new configuration screen, enter Synchronize your configuration, and at the bottom you will see a category called Synchronize through metered connections. Sets the switch to off mode.

Finally, on the left continuing in the same window, you will see another option called Devices. Inside here, there will be a category called Download via metered connections, where you will also have to toggle the switch to off mode.

How to calculate the amount of data/bandwidth consumed

Windows 8 has a native tool that monitors how much bandwidth you have used This tool currently works regardless of whether it is a metered connection or not, but it is more accurate in the first case.

To see the amount of data consumed, you have to go to the list that showed all the available networks to which you could connect, as described in the previous section. Then, right-click or hold your finger on the network you want to see, and choose View Estimated Data Usage, and Windows 8 will show you the amount of data consumed exclusively by said network.

Clicking on this option is only necessary the first time, since when you do it in future queries you will only have to click on the desired network and the amount of data used will automatically appear at the bottom.

How to activate airplane mode

Airplane Mode is a basic option on mobile devices that allows you to safely use your device on airplanes, although it can also be used at times when you want to be totally disconnected, since under this mode disables all wireless connections made, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, 2G/3G/4G, GPS, and NFC.

To activate it, you can do it from the desktop by clicking on the network icon at the bottom right in order to see available networks. The other way is to do it through the Charms bars, displaying the right bar by sliding your finger to the left on the touch screen, or by moving the cursor closer to a few in the corners on the right, to access the Settings option and click on the networks icon.

Once you're here, you'll see the option to set airplane mode at the top, all you have to do is toggle the switch position to turn it on or off.

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