Use less wireless data with the help of our guide on how to use less data.

You love your mobile phone. You don’t go anywhere without it and you love all it allows you to do. Video chat with your kids or grandkids. Browse Facebook. Shop Amazon. Stream your favorite shows. Listen to your favorite music. And never, ever miss your preferred podcasts. (True crime anyone?)

Young man in an orange tee shirt leaning against a blue wall ad checking his cell.

But all of these activities, done on your cellular network, can blow through your data pretty quickly particularly if you don’t have an unlimited data plan. And we all know what happens when you run through your data – you get a surprise bill. And that kind of surprise is no fun at all.

That’s where this post comes in. We’ve got 10 easy ways to help you conserve your mobile data usage. Ready? Let’s go.

1.When You’re Home, Be on Your Wi-Fi

Brunette young woman sitting on the floor and leaning against her sofa while checking her cell.

If you’re reading this on your phone in your home, it’s most likely that you are connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. But if you’re not sure, or you’re sure you are not connected to it, turn it on now. Right now. Here’s how:

Go into Settings. You’ll see options like Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, etc. Click on Wi-Fi. Then select the name of your network. When you’re done, tap Settings again and return to its main menu. If Cellular or Bluetooth are on, turn them off. Now that you are on your home’s Wi-Fi network, you don’t need them hiking up your data usage and having them on will drain the battery in your phone.

Connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network can significantly reduce the amount of cellular data you use. And once you’ve connected to it as described above, whenever you’re home your device will recognize your Wi-Fi network and connect to it.

If you’re at home watching Netflix on your phone or FaceTiming with friends, even if you’re just browsing social media, being on your Wi-Fi network will save you on data usage.

2.When You’re on Wi-Fi in an Airport or Coffee Shop, Be Careful

Young man in a blue shirt and dark glasses sending a text in a coffee shop.

When you’re watching your data usage, it’s crucial to be on Wi-Fi when you can. And your home Wi-Fi is the safest. But, should you find yourself in the airport or a coffee shop or somewhere there’s Wi-Fi you can access, go ahead – but be careful. These are public Wi-Fi networks and sometimes other users can see your information. It’s fine to browse social media, and read articles, etc., but stay away from anything that requires you to provide personal information. Even banking apps are best left unopened until you’re home.

3.Turn on Data Saver or Low Data Mode

Cheerful young woman in a pink sweater standing next to a blue wall and checking her cell.

When you’re not connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network, you’re using your mobile data. To save on data usage, you can disable background app functions like background data refresh and data syncs by turning on the mobile Data Saver if you use an Android phone, or Low Data Mode if you use an iPhone. It is easy to do and you’ll be glad you learned how to do it!

On iPhone, select your plan and do the following:

LTE/4G Cellular

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular

Tap Cellular Data Options, then turn on Low Data Mode.

5G Cellular

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular.

Tap Cellular Data Options, select Data Mode, then turn on Low Data Mode.

Dual SIM

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular or Mobile Data.

Tap one of your numbers.

Turn on Low Data Mode.

On Android:

Open Settings.

Go to SIM card and Mobile Data tab.

Tap Data Usage option.

Go to Data Saving option.

Turn on Data Saving.

4.Stop Your Apps from “Refreshing” Themselves

If you’re not on Wi-Fi and you don’t turn on your data saver or enable low data mode, your apps will keep working in the background collecting information and refreshing themselves while using your data. It's called Background App Refresh and to prevent it, do the following:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings. Tap general. Tap Background App Refresh. Here, you can choose to have this feature off, available only when you’re on Wi-Fi, cellular data connections or available when you’re on Wi-Fi and cellular data. (Not recommended when you’re trying to use less data!) You can also toggle this on or off for each individual app on your phone.

On Android:

Open Settings. Tap Data Usage. Here you’ll be able to see which apps are using the most data. Decide which app or apps you’d like to restrict, and tap on it.

5.Control How Your Apps Are Updated

Pretty dark-haired young woman in pink glasses smiling at a text on her cell.

When your apps decide it’s time for an update, be sure they’re doing so while you’re on Wi-Fi. Otherwise, they might decide to do so over a cellular network. Eeek! To make sure your apps update only when you’re on Wi-Fi, do the following:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings.

Tap App Store.

Turn on or turn off App Updates.

On Android:

Go to the Play Store. Tap Menu, then Settings, then Auto-update apps. Select “Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only.”

6.Disable Cellular Data for Certain Apps

If you know which of your apps eat up most of your data, it’s wise to get in and disable them from using a cellular network. And if you don’t which apps are using most of your data, it’s easy enough to find out and then disable them from using a cellular network. Here’s how:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular. Then scroll down to see which apps are using cellular data and toggle them on or off. You’ll also be able to see which of your apps use the most cellular data usage, and toggle those off.

On Android:

Open Settings. Tap Wireless & Networks, then Data Usage, then Network Access. Uncheck those apps you want not to use cellular data.

7.Disable Wi-Fi Assist / Smart Network Switch

Dad and adult son enjoying cold drinks at an outdoor cafe and looking at a cell phone.

Both iPhone and Android phones have programs built in to help enhance your Wi-Fi or cellular connection. If the program senses a slow or spotty connection, it will jump in to help by accessing your cellular data. Unfortunately, this results in using up a lot of data. To turn this off, do the following:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular or Settings, then Mobile Data. Next, scroll down and toggle the slider for Wi-Fi Assist.

On Android:

Open Settings. Tap Connections, then Wi-Fi. Tap the three dots that appear, tap Advanced, then toggle the slider for “Switch to Mobile Data.”

8.Use Wi-Fi to Backup Photos and Videos

Backing up your photos and videos is important. After all, they’re our memories! But because we don’t want our data allotment to become a memory it’s best to make sure the only times backups occur is when you’re on Wi-Fi. To do so:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings. Scroll to Photos, then Cellular Data. Toggle Cellular Data “off.”

On Android:

Open Google Photos. Tap the Account icon. Scroll to Settings, Backup & Sync, then Cell Data Usage. Select “None.”

9.Keep An Eye On Your Data Usage - iPhone

Beautiful young woman in a striped shirt sitting outside checking her cell.

If you’re always on top of how much data you’re using, there’s less opportunity to be surprised by overages. Once or twice a month, check in and see how you’re doing. To see how much cellular data you’ve used on your iPhone, do the following:

Go to Settings. Tap Cellular then scroll to Cellular Data.

10.Keep An Eye on Your Data Usage - Android

With Android, you can avoid surprises by limiting your background data usage to a certain amount. Here’s how:

Open Settings. Go to Network & Internet, then Data Usage, and Data Warning & Limit. Here you can reduce data usage and set the amount of data you want to use for the month.

In closing

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