Steam update should respect Windows' "Metered connection" settings.

[Yeet Skeetusson]

Windows allows some connections to be set as a "metered connection", where data is at a premium. I'm currently travelling, and Steam just blew through a chunk of my fairly limited hotel room data.

There should be an option in Settings / Downloads to prevent downloads while on a metered connection.

This would help people travelling or tethering to mobile plans with low data caps.

[Yeet Skeetusson]

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

COversely it shouldn't take MS Devs any time to code something into WIndows.

Did you even read the thread? It's already in Windows. Apps should check with Windows if they are on a metered network, and then behave appropriately. This means they can work full speed for doing stuff you *want* them to do, and not waste data on doing background ♥♥♥♥ that can wait.

[oliverzip]

This would be a great feature. If I'm on a metered connection I don't want updates happening, I just want to play, not watch the download happen and delay my playing (throttling is of no help here as it just slows things down). Some option such as "Go Offline if in metered mode, or Don't updated in metered mode" would be the simplest.

Clearly it can be coded into Steam, as applications like Outlook respect it.

[Start_Running]

ESMR phx の投稿を引用：

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

COversely it shouldn't take MS Devs any time to code something into WIndows.

Did you even read the thread? It's already in Windows. Apps should check with Windows if they are on a metered network, and then behave appropriately. This means they can work full speed for doing stuff you *want* them to do, and not waste data on doing background ♥♥♥♥ that can wait.

Have you read my suggestion? MS could simply add one more layer to the feature that allows the user to additionally specifyt limitations for any given application. Like say, do not allow internet access when in metered more.

Never said it couldn't be coded into steam but that seems like a bit of a shift...something that the OS itself should manage and control, especially since it's range of limitation would be much greater.

It could specifically block outbound, or inbound connections, throttle speeds, etc. If you can say its something that STeam should have then it can equally be said that these are features Windows itself should have.

[MrL0G1C]

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

ESMR phx の投稿を引用：

Did you even read the thread? It's already in Windows. Apps should check with Windows if they are on a metered network, and then behave appropriately. This means they can work full speed for doing stuff you *want* them to do, and not waste data on doing background ♥♥♥♥ that can wait.

Have you read my suggestion? MS could simply add one more layer to the feature that allows the user to additionally specifyt limitations for any given application. Like say, do not allow internet access when in metered more.

Never said it couldn't be coded into steam but that seems like a bit of a shift...something that the OS itself should manage and control, especially since it's range of limitation would be much greater.

It could specifically block outbound, or inbound connections, throttle speeds, etc. If you can say its something that STeam should have then it can equally be said that these are features Windows itself should have.

Why do you persist in refusing to understand how the windows system works, it's clear that it's supposed to work with apps to let them decide what is necessary small data and what is large data that can wait. Everyone else gets it but you seem to think that microsoft and the app providers should all abandon the current good system and instead adopt your rubbish system just because you such a Valve fanboythat you don't think they should lif t a finger to make sensible changes to their software.

[Start_Running]

MrL0G1C の投稿を引用：

Why do you persist in refusing to understand how the windows system works, it's clear that it's supposed to work with apps to let them decide what is necessary small data and what is large data that can wait.

And trherein lies the problem. I'm just saying that if you're suggesting this sort of thing here, it'd be just as pragmatic to drop Jolly Bill a suggestion as well.

Everyone else gets it but you seem to think that microsoft and the app providers should all abandon the current good system and instead adopt your rubbish system just because you such a Valve fanboythat you don't think they should lif t a finger to make sensible changes to their software.

My suggestion would not change the system. it would be a logical enhancement of the system one that potentially provides the user with an even greater degree of control not just with steam but with other apps.

I'm not saying the idea is necessarily bad, just that it seems misdirected. Or are you just afgraid we shall all be smittedn for suggesting Microsoft uptheir ante as well hmm? Afraid Jolly Bill Senpai won't think you're cool if you suggest that they could also improve something?

[She___Wolf]

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

To do that steam would have to start digging into your system settings and details for that sort of info. Probably easier if you just use the limit auto updating setting to a time range when you're not going to be using the pc like say 2am -3am and disable downloading during gameplay.

😔 Best answer by far, I think. Thank you👍

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Steam should just have its own connection limit setting that gives more freedom than a series of presets. I haven't checked the Steam client recently but I know GOG Galaxy has just let people enter a number and it's a much better way of doing it than the way Steam has done it in the past.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Yep, just checked.

Here's how Steam does it:
* no limit
* 16 KB/s
* 32 KB/s
* 48 KB/s
* 64 KB/s
* 96 KB/s
* 128 KB/s
* 192 KB/s
* 256 KB/s
* 384 KB/s
* 512 KB/s
* 768 KB/s
* 1000 KB/s
* 1.5 MB/s
* 2 MB/s
* 3 MB/s
* 5 MB/s
* 7 MB/s
* 10 MB/s
* 25 MB/s

To be fair, this is a pretty generous range.

There is a separate setting that says "Only allow auto-updates between [time] And [time]".



GOG Galaxy, meanwhile does this:
* One box that lets you choose "Limit bandwidth" vs. "Don't limit bandwidth"

If you choose "Limit bandwidth", you get three more boxes:
* number entry field. Number has to be at least 1, but I can put in up to four digits (9999) if I so choose.
* KB/s or MB/s
* "Schedule" or "No schedule"

If I pick schedule I get two more boxes appearing where I can put in times of day.



GOG Galaxy is better in letting you choose the exact limit.

So for example if I'm on dialup (7 KB/s max speed), I can't tell Steam to use only 4 KB/s download speed, but I can tell GOG Galaxy to do that.

Steam is better in letting you set a schedule without setting a limit, but technically you could set GOG Galaxy's limit at some absurdly high number (e.g. 9999 MB/s) and then just use the scheduler.



(Steam also has "Throttle downloads while streaming" and "Display download rates in bits per second" neither of which is relevant to GOG Galaxy.)

[Wolfie]

I don't know if i've missed something among the posts but i've just lost about a GB data because steam went ahead and downloaded an update to both steam and a game that was queued, i wasn't even planning on playing the game.

If you are on a metered connection steam should simply say 'You are on a metered connection do you want to allow steam to update now or wait until you are on an unmetered connection'
It should also prevent queued updates to games unless you attempt to play the game in which case a similar prompt should be displayed.

If it could give an indication of the size of download before it starts that would also be great as it could make a difference to whether or not you continue.

As for setting the OS to limit the download, when i am on an unmetered connection, i don't care how much data gets downloaded or how fast it downloads it just doesn't matter. and i don't want to have to go into the os settings every time I change between metered and unmetered.

When it is in effect costing me money to download something that could download for free i want to be given a choice.

Apple did a similar thing a while back where a 'free' update cost me thirty UK pounds so steam aren't alone in this, but they are in a position to do something about it whereas Apple just don't care.

[Start_Running]

Wolfie の投稿を引用：

I don't know if i've missed something among the posts but i've just lost about a GB data because steam went ahead and downloaded an update to both steam and a game that was queued, i wasn't even planning on playing the game.

TRhose steam updates don't even cover 100 megs if as much...as for the game updates. TRhere's an account setting that only updates games when you start them. Learn the features available to you and you won't have those problems again.

If you are on a metered connection steam should simply say 'You are on a metered connection do you want to allow steam to update now or wait until you are on an unmetered connection'
It should also prevent queued updates to games unless you attempt to play the game in which case a similar prompt should be displayed.

WHat's the difference betweena metered and an unmetered connection? From the POV of another program... see this is whyh this suggestion needs to be more of a windows suggestion.rather than steam.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Wolfie の投稿を引用：

I don't know if i've missed something among the posts but i've just lost about a GB data because steam went ahead and downloaded an update to both steam and a game that was queued, i wasn't even planning on playing the game.

I really don't like how Steam doesn't tell you before downloading updates, doesn't ask you at all, and doesn't give you an option to throttle download speed for its own updates.

And it doesn't even tell you it's doing a download, until it's done. That's what makes it super scummy.

These downloads are quite sizable too. It's not like just a few megs.

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

Wolfie の投稿を引用：

I don't know if i've missed something among the posts but i've just lost about a GB data because steam went ahead and downloaded an update to both steam and a game that was queued, i wasn't even planning on playing the game.

TRhose steam updates don't even cover 100 megs if as much

100 megabytes is quite a bit, if you're on a limited data transfer plan.

It's also a lot if you're on a slow internet connection. Even if one's data plan is unlimited, many have limits to how much fast data transfer they'll allow, before speed gets throttled.

It would be better if people could simply choose when to download the Steam client update. And also know how big it is. Like, y'know, how Steam presently handles game downloads. Then people can know "I want to wait until I get home to download this update", for example.

[Aztek]

Just lost big amount of money because fckn pubg update on metered network. Thanks steam.

[Kinquisitor Slim]

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

steam would have to start digging into your system settings

That's what many programs do anyway, Steam is not an exception

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

The other thing is there has to be some coding that allows for different behaviour under metered connections.

That is exactly the purpose of the "metered" flag

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

You know.;. come to think of it this is more a thing MS should be doing Like allow the users to set which windows applications are allowed to access the networks over metered connections and if so what their data rates should be limited.

I agree that this feature would be nice to have. In fact, there are programs that allow you to do that, maybe even based on connection tcp ports and protocols. The problem is that they don't know which data should be blocked and which not. "certain applications" abstraction is different from "certain data" one.

For example, you want to open Steam because of its social features (to chat for example - Despite being a separate application, Chat cannot be opened without opening steam) - in this case steam can allow you to chat or browse the store, but updating a game or updating itself can be postponed till you connect to a connection that isn't metered. Or at least it can ask user if he/she wants to download it (like Google Play does - it says that an app is too big and will be downloaded using WiFi, but you have a button "download using carrier network").

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

Probably easier if you just use the limit auto updating setting to a time range when you're not going to be using the pc like say 2am -3am and disable downloading during gameplay.

Not really. The Metered Connection feature is relevant to laptop users, who may take their laptop anywhere and anytime. During the same time in the schedule they can be at home or be out. Barely anyone lives by a strict schedule.
And I think not many users like to hear CPU cooler spinning when they go to sleep, so 2-3am isn't always an option.
And it doesn't apply to Steam updates

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

Wolfie の投稿を引用：

I don't know if i've missed something among the posts but i've just lost about a GB data because steam went ahead and downloaded an update to both steam and a game that was queued, i wasn't even planning on playing the game.

TRhose steam updates don't even cover 100 megs if as much...as for the game updates

And those 100 MB can matter in some cases. You can use the internet whole day and still be in a 100 MB limit, imagine if you spent these megabytes on an update and traffic is gone.

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

TRhere's an account setting that only updates games when you start them. Learn the features available to you and you won't have those problems again.

And will get another, like waiting for updates to download before playing. What will you suggest in this case, to get rich or to not go out?

Start_Running の投稿を引用：

It [Windows Firewall] could specifically block outbound, or inbound connections, throttle speeds, etc.

- User wants to open steam!
- Open the connection!
- But it's metered WiFi!
- Close the connection!
- User wants to get a free game!
- Open the connection a little! (so updates anyway start to download, and pages take ages to load)

[oliverzip]

When is steam going to fix this! Hit by it today. So irritating not being able to play my game on the bus because it insists on a huge download over a limited phone network.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Steam simply needs a way to throttle downloads of updates to itself.

It can do this for games, so it can do this for itself.

Edit: Oh wait, this thread is two years old and I've even posted in it before.