Partway through the month, your data is already down.
“But I barely watched any video,” you think. Yeah, you do.
In fact, data is sometimes being used where you aren’t using it yourself.
Bottom line: first look at “which app is using it”
Before you touch any settings, find the cause first.
Your phone’s settings have a screen where you can see data usage per app. On many devices it’s called something like “Mobile data” or “Data usage.”
Check the apps with the highest usage there.
Once you know which app is the cause, your options narrow down a lot.
5 settings worth reviewing
① Lower the video quality
Video tends to use a lot of data. The higher the quality, the more data it uses.
Some video apps have a setting to lower quality when you’re on mobile data.
② Make app auto-updates Wi-Fi only
If app auto-updates run over mobile data, they use data without you knowing.
Setting it to “Update over Wi-Fi only” gives you peace of mind.
③ Stop background data
Apps you aren’t using can still be communicating behind the scenes.
For apps you rarely use, you may be able to restrict background data. Starting with the apps that use the most is effective.
④ Make automatic cloud backup Wi-Fi only
Settings that automatically save photos and videos to the cloud tend to involve large amounts of data.
Set backups to run while you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
⑤ Check that Wi-Fi hasn’t dropped
You might think you’re on Wi-Fi at home, but it has actually dropped and you’re using mobile data.
Get in the habit of checking the Wi-Fi indicator. I explain how to isolate the cause when Wi-Fi feels slow in another article.
Not everyone benefits from “the more you use, the cheaper it is”
How much saving data matters changes depending on your contract.
- A contract where the price changes by data tier: saving data directly saves you money each month
- A contract with close to unlimited data: less need to save. However, each contract has notes, such as how throttling during congestion is handled, so it’s worth checking
It’s important to know which type your contract is.
For unlimited plans, see this other article as well. If you do a lot of video calls every day, the article on unlimited data may also help.
Be especially careful overseas
When you use your phone abroad, the conditions can differ from in Japan.
Things you don’t worry about in Japan can involve extra limits or charges overseas. Check your contract guidance before you leave. There’s also an article on overseas roaming.
Summary
- Before touching settings, check which app is using the data
- The 5 settings to review: video quality, auto-updates on Wi-Fi only, background data, auto backup on Wi-Fi only, and checking that Wi-Fi hasn’t dropped
- How much saving matters depends on whether your contract is “tiered” or “close to unlimited”
Data shrinks without you noticing. Just making a habit of checking your usage once a month can cut the waste.
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