6 iPhone and Android Settings That Can Reduce Data Usage
Simple settings that can stop background apps, videos and automatic downloads from quietly eating through your data.
Your phone can use mobile data even when you are not actively browsing. Apps may refresh content, back up photos, download updates or load videos in the background.
Changing a few settings can give you more control over where that data goes.
Turn on Data Saver
On many Android phones, Data Saver limits how much data apps can use in the background. You can usually find it under Settings → Network & internet → Data Saver, although the exact name can vary by phone.
On iPhone, Low Data Mode performs a similar job. Go to Settings → Mobile Service/Cellular → Mobile Data Options and look for Low Data Mode.
These modes are especially useful when you are close to your monthly data limit.
Stop apps from using data in the background
Some apps do not need mobile data when you are not using them.
On iPhone, you can go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh and decide which apps can refresh automatically.
Android also lets you restrict background data for individual apps on many devices.
Think of it like leaving several taps running in your house. You may not be actively using the water, but it is still being used. Background data works in a similar way.
Make videos use less data
Video apps are often responsible for heavy data consumption because streaming high-quality video requires more data.
When using mobile data, lower the video quality where the app provides that option. You can also download videos or music over Wi-Fi when offline playback is supported.
Stop automatic downloads on mobile data
App updates, cloud backups and media downloads can quietly consume a connection.
Check your phone and individual apps for options that allow downloads and backups to happen only over Wi-Fi.
Check which apps are actually using your data
Both iPhone and Android provide ways to see mobile-data usage by app. Check this occasionally.
If one app is using far more data than expected, you can restrict its mobile-data access instead of blaming your entire phone.
The goal is not to stop using mobile data. It is to make sure your data is being spent on things you actually chose to do.
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