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Open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select the network, and look for Metered network in its options or Advanced settings. Turn it on if the control appears. The setting is not documented in Google’s current Wi-Fi help, and its availability may vary by ChromeOS version and configuration.

Turn on the metered network setting

  1. Select the time area in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then open Settings.
  2. Choose Network, then Wi-Fi.
  3. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to mark. Community guidance places the control in the selected network’s Advanced settings, though the exact label or location may differ. Google’s Wi-Fi instructions confirm the general Settings > Network > Wi-Fi route but do not describe this particular control.
  4. If you see Metered network, turn it on. A Chromebook community answer dated January 30, 2025, reports that the preference identifies a connection for bandwidth-sensitive uses, including automatic updates, and that enabling it stops automatic update downloads while leaving notifications. This reported behavior is community guidance, not a guarantee in Google’s current official documentation. Read the community answer.

If you cannot find the toggle

Use the search field in Settings to search for Wi-Fi, then inspect the selected network’s options. Google documents searching Chromebook settings, but does not explain why the metered control may be missing. Google’s settings search instructions can help you locate the relevant page.

Older community guidance from November 2023 describes the option under a network’s Advanced settings and reports that visibility varied. Some replies discussed Chrome flags, but that advice is historical and should not be treated as a required or universal current fix. See the older community discussion.

What the setting may change—and what it does not

Chromebooks automatically check for and download operating system updates when connected to the internet, according to Google’s update guidance. The metered preference is intended to help limit bandwidth use, but the reported effect on automatic downloads comes from community guidance rather than a current official explanation.

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You can check for an update yourself at Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates. When a Chromebook uses a phone connection or its own mobile data, Google says it alerts you about the data an update needs and lets you stop or continue.

Marking a network metered is a Chromebook preference; the reviewed guidance does not indicate that it changes your carrier plan or billing. Google notes that some mobile carriers limit hotspot use or charge extra for it, so check your plan if you connect through a phone. Google’s phone-network instructions explain tethering and the carrier caveat.

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Choosing when to update on a limited connection

  • If the network has a data cap or hotspot charges, enable the metered preference if it is available and consider waiting for an unmetered connection.
  • If you need an update sooner, use Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates and review any mobile-data prompt before continuing.
  • If the toggle is absent, do not assume the connection is protected from update downloads; Google’s current documentation does not specify what the missing control means for your device.

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