Reduce your Android data usage: Tips you should know about

Reduce your Android data usage: Tips you should know about

With the ever-growing prevalence of video streaming services and social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram incorporating video content into their core services, reducing data usage on Android devices has become difficult to achieve. To help you get the most out of your Android device, we've compiled some of the best ways to reduce data usage.

Monitor your apps’ data usage

To effectively reduce data consumption on your Android device, it is essential to identify the source of the issue. A great first step in this process is reviewing your current data usage.

If you're running an older version of Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIM card & mobile network > Data usage to see your current data usage.

For newer Android versions all the way up to 2021's Android 12, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile network > App data usage.

Carefully examine the details and identify data-hungry apps on your device. Social media apps and streaming services are likely the ones that are consuming too much mobile data.

Disable background data usage

Apps such as Facebook, Skype, and other similar services tend to continually keep in touch with their parent servers to refresh data at regular intervals. Even if you aren't actively using these apps, they continue to run in the background and can use a huge amount of data.

You can easily prevent these apps from draining your cellular data by disabling background data use. Here are the steps to do it.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps.
  2. Select the appropriate app from the displayed list.
  3. Under App info, go to Mobile data and deactivate the Background data option.

Use Wi-Fi

By regularly connecting to Wi-Fi networks, you can reduce your use of costly cellular data. To make sure you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, go to Settings > Network & internet and turn on the Wi-Fi option.

If you’re outside and want to connect to a public Wi-Fi network, make sure you’re using a virtual private network. This prevents hackers from spying on your online activities.

Limit the use of streaming apps

When using your device's mobile data, it's best to avoid streaming music and videos. Instead, opt for storing them locally or downloading them when you are connected to Wi-Fi to minimize data consumption.

For more Android tips and tricks, give our experts a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

Shawn Meyer

Shawn Meyer

Shawn has over 20 years experience in utilizing various technologies for implementation, management, and administration of Fortune 100 Enterprise Level distributed environments. As part of the management team, Shawn oversees Enterprise IT and Consulting engagements for RJ2 Technologies’s clients. Prior to RJ2 Technologies, Shawn was the regional IT manager for a large entertainment corporation and was recognized for his change management leadership during a complex system-wide conversion to digital media. In addition, Shawn has worked with various clients throughout the Chicagoland area. Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife and three energetic kids and volunteers for a variety of nonprofit organizations in the Chicagoland area.