ConnectionCost Class
Definition
Important
Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Exposes cost and data plan constraint information for a network connection so apps can adapt data usage behavior.
public ref class ConnectionCost sealed/// [Windows.Foundation.Metadata.ContractVersion(Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract, 65536)]
/// [Windows.Foundation.Metadata.MarshalingBehavior(Windows.Foundation.Metadata.MarshalingType.Agile)]
class ConnectionCost final[Windows.Foundation.Metadata.ContractVersion(typeof(Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract), 65536)]
[Windows.Foundation.Metadata.MarshalingBehavior(Windows.Foundation.Metadata.MarshalingType.Agile)]
public sealed class ConnectionCostPublic NotInheritable Class ConnectionCost- Inheritance
- Attributes
Windows requirements
| Requirements | Description |
|---|---|
| Device family |
Windows 10 (introduced in 10.0.10240.0)
|
| API contract |
Windows.Foundation.UniversalApiContract (introduced in v1.0)
|
Remarks
ConnectionCost instances come from
ConnectionProfile.GetConnectionCost. They describe cost policies,
roaming state, plan limits, and background restrictions so applications can adjust transfer strategies.
Key properties
Core cost indicators
- NetworkCostType: Unrestricted, Fixed, or Variable plan classification.
- Roaming: Connection currently incurring roaming charges.
- OverDataLimit: Plan cap exceeded.
- ApproachingDataLimit: Nearing plan cap.
Background restriction
- BackgroundDataUsageRestricted: Background transfers limited by policy or settings.
Important
Always evaluate cost properties before large or background transfers. Respecting constraints preserves user data allowances and improves experience.
Adaptive behavior patterns
| Condition | Recommended strategy |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Full-fidelity sync, media prefetch, normal background work |
| Fixed | Regular operations; gate large optional downloads (offer user confirmation) |
| Variable | Minimize non-essential transfers; compress & batch user-initiated large tasks |
| ApproachingDataLimit | Warn before large downloads; lower streaming bitrate / quality |
| OverDataLimit | Pause non-critical background sync; require explicit user action for large transfers |
| Roaming | Suppress large automatic updates; prefer incremental / compressed payloads |
| BackgroundDataUsageRestricted | Restrict background-only telemetry & sync; allow user foreground actions |
| Roaming + Variable/Fixed | Strict throttling; surface lightweight usage indicator |
Implementation notes
- Evaluate individual flags; do not rely solely on NetworkCostType transitions.
- Re-check cost just before initiating sizable transfers (state can change mid-session).
- Prefer incremental chunking (smaller segments respect shifting policy constraints).
Properties
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| ApproachingDataLimit |
Gets a value that indicates if a connection is approaching the data usage allowance specified by the data plan. |
| BackgroundDataUsageRestricted |
Gets a value that indicates whether background data usage has been restricted. |
| NetworkCostType |
Gets a value that indicates the current network cost for a connection. |
| OverDataLimit |
Gets a value that indicates if the connection has exceeded the data usage allowance specified by the data plan. |
| Roaming |
Gets a value that indicates whether the connection is connected to a network outside of the home provider. |