10 Ways to Limit Cellular Data Usage on iPhone
Parth Shah is an evergreen freelance writer covering how-tos, app guides, comparisons, listicles, and troubleshooting guides on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and smart TV platforms. He has over five years of experience and has covered 1,500+ articles on GuidingTech and Android Police. In his free time, you will see him binge-watching Netflix shows, reading books, and traveling.
Paras is a staff writer and a published Author, creating engaging SEO-friendly articles that resonate well with readers. Additionally, he diligently updates existing explainers to keep you in the loop with the latest tips and features, helping you make the most of your devices. Over the past 3 years, Paras has been featured on GadgetsToUse, before finally helping the readers at Guiding Tech Media.
Method 1: Uninstall Apps Consuming Excessive Cellular Data
iOS offers a detailed breakdown of mobile data consumption to track apps demanding excessive data. Once located, uninstall them from your iPhone or use light app alternatives.
Step 1:Open theSettingsapp > tapMobile Service> review the list of mobile data usage by apps.
Step 2:Once you’ve identified the app consuming excessive data, long-tap theapp iconon your home screen >Remove App.
Method 2: Disable Wi-Fi Assist
When you’re connected to a poor Wi-Fi connection, Wi-Fi Assist triggers toenable cellular datafor browsing, leading to unintended data consumption despite being on Wi-Fi. Disabling the feature should limit it.
Note:If the Wi-Fi Assist toggle is greyed out, enable Mobile Data on your iPhone.
Open the Settings app > tapMobile Service> scroll to the bottom and disableWi-Fi Assist.
Method 3: Disable Mobile Data and Background App Refreshing
Turning off mobile data and background refreshing for apps significantly reduces the cellular data consumption on iPhones.
Method 4: Toggle off Mobile Data for iCloud Photos
The Photos app on iPhone is one of the biggest culprits that automaticallyuploads device media to iCloud servers, devouring your cellular data. Turning it off limits the data consumption.
Open iPhone settings > selectMobile Service> disable the mobile data toggle forPhotos. Additionally, scroll to the bottom and disableiCloud Drive.
Method 5: Fetch Mail Less Quickly
Retrieving emails less frequently is another effective trick that limits cellular data consumption on iPhones. Configure the Mail app settings to disable fetching them automatically.
Step 1:Open the Settings app > tapMail> selectAccounts.
Step 2:TapFetch New Data> set it toManually.
Method 6: Compress Text Message Attachments
If you include plenty of images in your text messages oriMessage, compress image quality to limit cellular data consumption.
OpenMessagesunder iPhone settings > enableLow-Quality Image Mode.
Method 7: Turn Down the Network Quality
Using a speedy cellular tech like 5G or 4G spikes data usage. If you have a limited data plan, reduce the network quality to limit cellular data usage.
Step 1:OpenSettings> tapMobile Service>Mobile Data Options.
Step 2:ChooseVoice & Dataand turn down network quality by switching toLTE(instead of 5G/4G).
Method 8: Disable Automatic App Store Downloads
You can disable automatic downloads on cellular data and save internet bandwidth. iOS also offers an option to disable video autoplay in the App Store on mobile data.
Head to iPhone Settings >App Store> toggle offAutomatic Downloadsunder Cellular Data. Additionally, tapVideo Autoplayand set it toWi-Fi Only.
Method 9: Lower Video Quality on Social Media Apps
Watching high-quality videos on social media apps gobble up cellular data. Thankfully, turning on the data saver mode in these apps rein it in. Let’s take Instagram as an example:
Step 1:Open your Instagram profile > tap thehamburger menuat the top right > selectSettings and privacy.
Step 2:PickMedia qualityand turn onUse less mobile data.
Method 10: Disable Video Auto-Play for Social Media Apps
Auto-playing videos on social media consume more data as they quickly load and play while you scroll. Disable it manually from the app settings to limit cellular data usage on your iPhone. Let’s take Facebook for instance:
Step 1:Open the Facebook profileMenufrom the bottom right and tap theGearicon at the top to open settings.
Step 2:SelectMedia> set Autoplay toNever autoplay videos.
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Last updated on 24 April, 2024
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