Reduce & manage mobile data usage

Data usage is how much data your phone uploads or downloads using mobile data. To make sure that you're not using too much data on your data plan, you can check and change your data usage.

Use less data with data saver mode

On Android 7.0 and up, to help automatically use less mobile data on a limited data plan, learn to use data saver mode.

Learn how to use Data Saver with a step-by-step guide.

Check your mobile data usage

Set mobile data usage warning or limit

Set limit & automatically turn off mobile data

Important: Some features won't work when mobile data is turned off.

When you reach your limit and your data automatically turns off:

  • You'll get a notification.
  • To turn mobile data back on, follow the steps above and turn offSet data limit.

Change your settings to save data

Turn mobile data on or off

Tip:You can conserve data by turning off mobile data access. If you do this, you'll only be able to use data when you connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Allow or restrict background data usage by app

Use less data with data saver mode (Android 7.0 & up)

To help use less mobile data on a limited data plan, learn to use data saver mode.

Restrict background data usage by app (Android 7.0 & lower)

Important: Restricting background data usage can affect an app's performance. For example, you could get no messages from an app until you next open that app.

Before restricting data usage from your phone's Settings app, check whether you can restrict data usage from the app's own settings menu.

To view and restrict background data usage by app:

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Tap Network & internet and thenData usage.
  3. TapMobile data usage.
  4. To find the app, scroll down.
  5. To see more details and options, tap the app's name.
    • "Total" is this app's data usage for the cycle.
    • "Foreground" is how much data the app has used while you're using it.
    • "Background" is how much data the app has used while you're not using it.
  6. Change background mobile data usage.
    • To restrict background data usage for this app, turn offBackground data.
    • To allow unrestricted mobile data usage when data saver is on, turn onUnrestricted data usage.

Turn data roaming on or off

Important: Data roaming may be the only way to connect to the internet in some places. Some carriers charge extra for data roaming.

Troubleshoot mobile data usage settings

Important: Your phone measures the data usage shown in your phone's Settings app. Some carriers measure usage differently. We recommend checking with your carrier for its measurements and your plan limits.

Related resources

  • Use less mobile data with data saver mode
  • Change mobile network settings
  • Connect to Wi-Fi networks

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