If you are traveling and tethering your Windows laptop to your smartphone’s mobile hotspot, Windows automatically detects this and flags the network connection as “Metered.” To save you from accidentally exceeding your cellular data cap, Microsoft Edge integrates with this Windows setting and will automatically pause all active file downloads until you connect to an unrestricted Wi-Fi network.
While this feature is great for users with strict 2GB data limits, it is incredibly frustrating if you pay for an unlimited cellular data plan. If you are specifically using your 5G hotspot to download a massive software update or a movie for a flight, having the browser constantly stall out the download and demand your permission to proceed is completely counterproductive.
You can force Microsoft Edge to ignore the Windows “metered” status entirely, ensuring that your downloads run continuously at full speed, regardless of how you are connected to the internet.
How to Allow Unrestricted Downloads on Metered Connections
You must dive into Edge’s download settings to disable the data conservation toggle.
- Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Downloads.
- Look for the toggle switch labeled Ask me what to do with each download (this occasionally intercepts metered connections).
- More importantly, look for the specific toggle labeled Pause downloads on metered connections (in newer versions of Edge, this is often explicitly separated).
- Turn this toggle to the Off position.
Note: If you cannot find the specific toggle inside Edge, you can also fix this by going into Windows Settings -> Network & Internet -> Wi-Fi, clicking on your hotspot, and turning the “Metered Connection” toggle to Off.
Microsoft Edge will immediately begin treating your mobile hotspot exactly like a standard broadband connection, ensuring your massive files download automatically without any unexpected interruptions.