Monitor and limit data usage

How to monitor and limit data usage on an Android phone

 

Use data saver mode

If you have Android 8.0 or later, your phone should come equipped with Data Saver mode, which kicks in when you are not on Wi-Fi and ensures that apps and services that are not being actively used won’t be able to stream data in the background.

  1. It is very easy to turn Data Saver mode on and off. To do this,

    • Go to Settings
    • Go to "Network & internet" > "Data usage"
    • Select "Data Saver." Toggle "Use Data Saver" on.

    There may be specific apps that you want to allow to use background data, even when Data Saver mode is on. For example, you may want to get Twitter notifications no matter where you are. To do this,

    • Go to the "Data Saver" page (see above)
    • Tap on "Unrestricted data"
    • Scroll down to any apps that you want to enable for background data use even when Data Saver mode is on. Toggle them on.

Set a data limit

You can set your phone to issue a warning if you’re nearing your data limit before the end of your monthly billing cycle. You can even set a limit beyond which your phone will not use any data. To do this,

  • Go to Settings
  • Go to "Network & internet" > "Data usage" > "Data warning & limit"
  • Tap on "App data usage cycle." This will let you set the day that your account starts it’s monthly cycle.
  • Back up and toggle "Set data warning" on. You can then enter the data limit — say, 4GB — that you want for your phone.

How do I Limit Data Usage on Apps?

  • YouTube:
    • Open the YouTube App.
    • Tap on the profile icon at the top right corner
    • Select Settings.
    • Click on General.
    • Turn on "Limit Mobile Data Usage".
  • Play Store (Android):
    • Go to the Google Play store.
    • Click on Menu & go to Settings.
    • Click on Auto-update apps.
    • Select "Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only".
    • You also have the option to choose "Do not auto-update apps
  • IOS (Apple: I-Phone) :
    • Go to settings on the I-phone
    • Click on iTunes and App Store
    • Got to Mobile Data Option
    • Turn off ‘Automatic Updates’
    • Or you can turn off the apps that you don’t want automatic updates.
    • You can also click on App downloads and select the preferred option in regards to app downloads.
  • Instagram:
    • Open Instagram options.
    • Go to Accounts.
    • Go to Settings.
    • Select Cellular Data Use.
    • Then tick Use Less Data
  • WhatsApp – Deactivate Auto-download
    • Go to the "settings" section in your WhatsApp APP.
    • Click on "Data and Storage Usage".
    • Select Media Auto Download option.
    • Deselect all options under "When Using Mobile Data".
    • You can also enable low data usage for WhatsApp Calls
  • Facebook – Switch Off Auto Play
    • Go to your Facebook option icon (the three horizontal bars at the top right corner).
    • Click on App Settings (Under help & settings).
    • Click on AutoPlay.
    • Select never auto play videos.
    • In addition, you can activate the "Data Saver" option.
    • Navigate to the option icon.
    • Then go to settings & Privacy.
    • Select Data Saver.
    • Toggle the data saver on.
Category
Internet Data Usage
Last Updated