Simple ways to reduce mobile data use without giving up your favourite apps, videos or streaming on the go
If you’re trying to stretch your gigabytes a little further each month, you’re probably wondering how to save mobile data.
Thankfully, reducing your mobile data use doesn’t have to mean cutting back on everything you enjoy online. With a few smart tweaks, you can use your mobile data more efficiently while still streaming, scrolling and staying connected.
Here are some practical tips for how to save mobile data on iOS devices and Android.
Quick links:
- Use Wi-Fi whenever possible
- Limit background data
- Set data usage limits or alerts
- Download content ahead of time
- Adjust video streaming quality
- Turn off auto-play on social media
- Use a data-saving browser
- Keep an eye on app updates
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Find out more1. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible
It sounds obvious, but it’s worth repeating: use Wi-Fi when you can. Whether you’re at home, in the office or at a café, connecting to Wi-Fi instead of mobile data saves gigs.
Tip: Check whether your phone is set to switch to mobile data when Wi-Fi is weak.
- On iPhone, check whether Connectivity Assist is turned on. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and scroll down to Connectivity Assist. When it’s on, your iPhone can use mobile data when Wi-Fi is slow or unusable, so turn it off if you want to avoid this. On iOS 26 and earlier, the same setting is called Wi-Fi Assist and sits at the bottom of Settings > Mobile Service.
- On Android, look in Settings for an option such as Switch to mobile data, usually in the Wi-Fi or network settings. Menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version.
2. Limit background data
Many apps use data in the background, even when you’re not actively using them. This can include checking for updates, refreshing feeds or syncing content.
Both iPhone and Android have a built-in setting that cuts background data. iPhones call it Low Data Mode and Android phones call it Data Saver.
How to save mobile data on iPhone
- Go to Settings > Mobile Service, then scroll down to see how much data each app is using.
- Turn off mobile data for any app you don’t need away from Wi-Fi.
- Turn on Low Data Mode to reduce background data use. On 4G/LTE, go to Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Options > Low Data Mode. On 5G, go to Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Options > Data Mode > Low Data Mode.
How to save mobile data on Android
- On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, then tap App data usage. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > Connections > Data usage. Menu names vary by phone, so search “data usage” in Settings if you can’t find it.
- Tap an app to restrict its background data.
3. Set data usage limits or alerts
Most smartphones allow you to monitor or limit your data use each month. Setting alerts or limits helps prevent accidental overuse.
On iPhone
While there’s no built-in data limit, you can tap Reset Statistics at the bottom of Settings > Mobile Service when your plan renews each month to track your usage. Keep in mind your iPhone’s count may not exactly match your provider’s records.
If you’re with Swoop, the Swoop Mobile app shows your usage for the month.
On a Samsung Galaxy
Open Settings and tap Connections, then Data usage. Tap Billing cycle and data warning, set the start date to the day your plan renews, then set a data warning to get an alert before you reach it.
On a Google Pixel
Open Settings and tap Network & internet, then SIMs. Tap Data warning & limit to set a warning, or a limit that turns off mobile data when you reach it.
Menu names vary by phone and Android version. If you can’t find the setting, search for data usage in your Settings app.
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4. Download content ahead of time
Streaming music, videos or podcasts while on the go can chew through data fast. Instead, take advantage of Wi-Fi to download content before you leave home.
Apps like Spotify, Netflix and YouTube all offer offline download options. A few episodes or playlists downloaded over Wi-Fi can save hundreds of megabytes.
Lower your Spotify quality when you’re out and about. In Spotify’s audio quality settings, choose a lower quality for mobile data. Normal uses about 43MB an hour, compared with about 72MB on High.
How to save mobile data when you’re travelling: download Google Maps of specific areas on Wi-Fi before you head out.
Home Wi-Fi not giving you the range you want? Here’s how to fix it. >
5. Adjust video streaming quality
Watching videos in high definition can use more than 1GB of data per hour. Most streaming apps let you change the default quality.
- YouTube: Tap your profile picture > Settings > Video quality preferences > select Data saver for mobile networks.
- Netflix: Tap My Netflix > App Settings, then under Video Playback tap Mobile Data Usage and choose Save Data. You’ll get about 6 hours of viewing per GB, instead of about 4 on the Automatic setting
6. Turn off auto-play on social media
Auto-playing videos on social apps can drain data quickly. Fortunately, most platforms allow you to disable auto-play when using mobile data.
- Facebook: Tap Menu > Settings & privacy > Settings > Media, then under Autoplay choose Never Autoplay Videos or On Wi-Fi Only.
- Instagram: Go to your profile, tap the menu in the top right, tap Data usage and media quality, then turn on Use less mobile data. This stops Instagram preloading videos over mobile data.
As well as reducing data use, this can also improve battery life.
7. Use a data-saving browser
Some browsers, such as Opera Mini, offer data-saving or compression modes that can reduce the amount of data used when browsing.
8. Keep an eye on app updates
App updates can be large, especially for games and media-heavy apps. Make sure your phone is set to update apps only over Wi-Fi.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > App Store and, under Mobile Data, turn off Automatic Downloads.
- On Android: Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon > Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps, and select Over Wi-Fi only.
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Need more? Upgrade your plan
If you’ve tried all the data saving tips and still find you’re barely making it through the month, you might want to upgrade your plan.
