How to Monitor (and Reduce) Your Data Usage on the iPhone
Here are some tips on how to monitor and reduce data usage on your iPhone.
1. Reset your data usage statistics
Start by resetting your iPhone’s data usage statistics at the beginning of your billing cycle so that you have a fresh count of your monthly data usage. To do this, go to Settings > Cellular > Reset Statistics. This will provide a clear picture of how much data you’re using over the course of your billing cycle.
2. Identify data-hungry apps
Check which apps are using the most data on your iPhone. To do this, go to Settings > Cellular and scroll down the list to see which apps are consuming the most data. If you see any apps that you’re not actively using, consider disabling their cellular data access. You can do this by turning off the toggle switch next to the app’s name. For apps that you want to keep using but use a lot of data, consider restricting their ability to use data in the background. This will prevent them from consuming data when you’re not actively using them.
3. Enable Wi-Fi Assist
By default, your iPhone will automatically switch to using a Wi-Fi connection when available to conserve cellular data. However, if the Wi-Fi connection is weak, your phone may switch back to cellular data without you realizing it. To prevent this, enable Wi-Fi Assist by going to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Assist, and toggle the switch to on. This will ensure that you stay on Wi-Fi whenever possible, even if the connection is weak.
4. Disable automatic downloads and updates
By default, your iPhone will automatically download app updates and new content like podcasts and TV shows which can consume a lot of data. To prevent this, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and disable the options for automatic downloads and updates. This way, you’ll have more control over what gets downloaded and when.
5. Set a data usage limit
Another way to keep your data usage in check is to set a limit. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage and turn on the toggle switch for “Set Data Usage Limit.” From there, you can enter your monthly data limit and set a warning threshold to alert you when you’re close to hitting that limit.
By following these tips, you can monitor and reduce your data usage on your iPhone so that you stay within your monthly limit and avoid unexpected charges.