---
title: "Block an app on metered networks · Kilobat Recipes"
url: "https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/block-app-on-metered"
description: "Let Kilobat switch to its Travel profile on hotspots and other metered networks, so that only the apps you allow can use data."
---

Recipe

# Block an app on metered networks

The Travel profile allows only the apps that you choose. Kilobat can switch to it on its own when the network is metered.

Needs Kilobat Pro in the app · Blocking needs the network filter · Checked: 29 October 2026

## In the app

1. Set up filtering in Kilobat. Approve the extension and the content filter when macOS asks.
2. Open Settings and turn on Switch to Travel on metered networks.
3. If macOS does not flag the network, open the Wi-Fi menu and set Data cost to Metered.
4. In the app list, click an app's switch to allow or block it in the active profile.

## With the CLI

1. Make sure that the app is running and the filter is on.

   ```
   kilobat doctor
   ```
2. Allow the apps that you need in Travel before you switch.

   ```
   kilobat allow com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap --profile travel
   ```
3. Block one app in Travel.

   ```
   kilobat block com.getdropbox.dropbox --profile travel
   ```
4. Block an app for two hours only.

   ```
   kilobat block com.getdropbox.dropbox --minutes 120
   ```
5. Turn on the automatic switch to Travel.

   ```
   kilobat settings auto-travel on
   ```
6. Mark a network as metered by its name, for example an Android hotspot.

   ```
   kilobat networks cost metered "Pixel hotspot"
   ```
7. Read the Travel rules.

   ```
   kilobat rules --profile travel
   ```

## Through MCP

Connect the MCP server once with `claude mcp add kilobat -- kilobat mcp`. For other clients, see [the docs](https://kilobat.app/docs#agents). Then an agent can call these tools. Tools that change settings tell the agent to ask you first.

| Tool and arguments | What it does |
|---|---|
| `set_network_cost` `{"cost": "metered", "network": "Pixel hotspot"}` | Treat that network as metered. |
| `set_app_rule` `{"app": "com.getdropbox.dropbox", "action": "block", "profile": "travel"}` | Save a block rule. Add `minutes` for a temporary rule. |
| `list_rules` `{"profile": "travel"}` | The saved rules and whether apps without a rule are allowed. |

## Good to know

- Without the filter, rules are saved but nothing is blocked.
- Filtering affects new connections. A connection that is open can continue until it reconnects.
- macOS flags an iPhone hotspot as metered, but not every Android hotspot or USB tethering.
- When you leave the metered network, Kilobat brings back your previous profile.

## Sources

- [Kilobat docs: Hotspots and data cost](https://kilobat.app/docs#data-cost)
- [Kilobat docs: Blocking and filtering](https://kilobat.app/docs#filtering)
- [Kilobat skill: mac-hotspot-data-saver](https://github.com/seifip/kilobat-skills/tree/main/skills/mac-hotspot-data-saver)

Sources checked on 29 October 2026. Man pages are the ones installed with macOS; open one with `man <name>` in Terminal.

## Related guides

- [Make a Mac treat a network as metered](https://kilobat.app/guides/metered-network-mac): macOS marks some connections as expensive, such as an iPhone Personal Hotspot.
- [Mac uses Personal Hotspot data in the background](https://kilobat.app/guides/hotspot-background-data): A Mac on a phone hotspot can use a lot of data with no action from you.
- [Stop updates from using hotspot data](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/stop-updates-on-hotspot): On a metered network, Kilobat can pause the helpers that download updates.
- [Get approvals for new apps](https://kilobat.app/guides/recipes/approve-new-apps): In Ask mode, Kilobat holds the first connections of an app that has no rule.