How to Manage and Reduce Data Usage on Android

High-speed internet on smartphones has made everything convenient with a few taps. You can watch movies and TV series, chat with friends, and order clothes online. However, it is easy to lose track of time and exceed the daily mobile data usage limits. Thus, learning how to check, manage, and reduce data usage becomes necessary, and this tutorial aims to help you achieve that goal efficiently.

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How to Manage and Reduce Data Usage on Android

This guide is for those who heavily rely on the online world, even for small tasks. Nobody wants to exhaust their data in a single day and be left with nothing during emergencies. Continue reading to learn more about limiting app data usage.

Quick Answer

You can reduce your mobile data usage by following the steps mentioned below for your high-data-consuming apps:

1. Go to Settings on your Android phone.

2. Navigate to the Mobile data or Internet menu (depending on your device).

3. Open your carrier settings.

4. Then, tap on App data usage > desired app.

5. Toggle off the Unrestricted data usage and Background data options.

What is Data Usage? What Does Data Usage Mean?

For the uninformed, data usage refers to the amount of mobile network data your device uses each day or month for various purposes. With unlimited data packs becoming more and more common, you may wonder why you even have to care about something so insignificant. However, you can probably save money on expensive mobile plans if you know how to manage your monthly data usage more efficiently.

How Does Mobile Data Usage Work?

In simple words, mobile data usage refers to the distribution of digital data using wireless networks. This invisible connection connects to a nearby satellite or cell tower, which helps you use social media apps, stream online content, or read blogs. Unlike Wi-Fi, mobile data does not require tethering to a local router.

What’s Using My Data? What Uses Data on My Phone?

Except for a few things, nearly everything on your smartphone constitutes mobile data usage to operate uninterruptedly. Here is a list of things to give you an idea:

You need mobile data to send or receive emails on your device.
An Internet connection is required to chat, video call, or voice call on apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook.
Web browsing also requires data to load complete information as well as ads and pictures.
You need data to stream and watch online content uninterrupted.
You also need an internet connection for online shopping, like ordering groceries, clothes, food, etc.
Paying bills online using a data connection is also quite efficient and convenient.
Meetings, conferences, and workshops are also held online which you can easily attend using a data connection.

Also Read: Mbps vs Gbps: Do You Need Gigabit Internet Speed?

What Uses the Most Internet Data?

Although your smartphone requires internet data to do even the smallest task, there are a few activities that use an unimaginable amount of data. Among these, online audio and video streaming are at the top. This is because apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ require stable and high-speed internet to avoid buffering and maintain crisp audio/video quality. Hence, it consumes most of your mobile data.

What Constitutes Data Usage?

Mobile data usage can be used to conduct multiple activities on your smartphone. This can include using social media apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, online shopping, streaming content on apps like Spotify and YouTube, and creating boards on Pinterest.

How to Check Data Usage on Android?

Here is how you can check data usage on Android for specific apps:

Note: Since Android smartphones do not have the same Settings options, they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hence, ensure the correct settings before changing any on your device.

1. Open Settings on your Android smartphone.

2. Tap on Network & Internet.

3. Select Internet from the menu.

4. Next, tap on the cogwheel icon beside your carrier network.

5. Now, tap on App data usage.

6. Tap on the apps listed in that menu to see the detailed data usage.

Also Read: How to Hide Data Usage Details in T-Mobile

How to Manage Data Usage? How to Reduce Data Usage?

Now that you can check data usage, let us see different ways to manage and reduce data usage:

Use trusted WiFi connections whenever possible
Lower the video quality of YouTube songs and videos
Turn off mobile data connection whenever not in use
Limit your app data usage
Restrict background data on your smartphone
Update mobile apps using Wi-Fi only
Avoid using social media apps all the time

How to Restrict Data Usage for Apps on Android?

As said earlier, it is easy to exceed the limits of your current data plan without actually realizing it. But you can manually restrict data usage for specific apps to avoid such unexpected surprises.

1. Launch Android Settings.

2. Tap on Network & Internet > Internet.

3. Then, tap on the cogwheel icon beside your carrier.

4. Tap on App data usage > desired app to restrict its data usage.

5. Finally, turn off the toggle for the following options:

Background data
Unrestricted data usage

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With this method, you can manage and reduce data usage on your Android device effectively and save money on your mobile plans. Share this guide with your loved ones to help them with the same, and use the comments box below to express your remarks about this topic. We’ll see you in the next guide!