NetworkHelper

The NetworkHelper class provides functionality to monitor changes in network connection and allows users to query for network information without additional lookups.

It exposes network information though a property called ConnectionInformation. The ConnectionInformation holds information about ConnectionType, ConnectivityLevel, ConnectionCost, SignalStrength, Internet Connectivity and more.

What is a metered connection? A metered connection is an Internet connection that has a data limit or cost associated with it. Cellular data connections are set as metered by default. Wi-Fi network connections can be set to metered, but aren't by default. Application developers should take metered nature of connection into account and reduce data usage.

Try it in the sample app

NetworkHelper Properties

Property	Type	Description
ConnectionInformation	ConnectionInformation	Gets instance of ConnectionInformation
Instance	NetworkHelper	Gets public singleton property

ConnectionInformation Properties

Property	Type	Description
ConnectionCost	ConnectionCost	Gets connection cost for the current Internet Connection Profile
ConnectionType	ConnectionType	Gets connection type for the current Internet Connection Profile
ConnectivityLevel	NetworkConnectivityLevel	Gets connectivity level for the current Internet Connection Profile
IsInternetAvailable	bool	Gets a value indicating whether internet is available across all connections
IsInternetOnMeteredConnection	bool	Gets a value indicating whether if the current internet connection is metered
NetworkNames	IReadOnlyList<string>	Gets signal strength for the current Internet Connection Profile
SignalStrength	Nullable<Byte>	Gets signal strength for the current Internet Connection Profile

ConnectionInformation Methods

Methods	Return Type	Description
UpdateConnectionInformation(ConnectionProfile)	void	Updates the current object based on profile passed

NetworkHelper Events

Events	Description
NetworkChanged	Event raised when the network changes

Example

// Detect if Internet can be reached
if (NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.IsInternetAvailable)
{
}

// Detect if the connection is metered
if (NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.IsInternetOnMeteredConnection)
{
}

// Get precise connection type
switch(NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.ConnectionType)
{
    case ConnectionType.Ethernet:
        // Ethernet
        break;
    case ConnectionType.WiFi:
        // WiFi
        break;
    case ConnectionType.Data:
        // Data
        break;
    case ConnectionType.Unknown:
        // Unknown
        break;
}

' Detect if Internet can be reached
If NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.IsInternetAvailable Then
    ...
End If

' Detect if the connection is metered
If NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.IsInternetOnMeteredConnection Then
   ...
End If

' Get precise connection type
Select Case NetworkHelper.Instance.ConnectionInformation.ConnectionType
    Case ConnectionType.Ethernet
        ' Ethernet
    Case ConnectionType.WiFi
        ' WiFi
    Case ConnectionType.Data
        ' Data
    Case ConnectionType.Unknown
        ' Unknown
End Select

Sample Project

NetworkHelper sample page Source. You can see this in action in the Windows Community Toolkit Sample App.

Requirements

Device family	Universal, 10.0.16299.0 or higher
Namespace	Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.Connectivity
NuGet package	Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.Connectivity

API

• NetworkHelper source code