How to Check and Reduce Data Usage on Android Phone

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Android provides a number of excellent utilities to check, and even help limit your cellular data usage, keeping the cost of owning your smart phone low, but still providing a great experience.

Tools You'll Need:

• An Android device

-->

Supplies You'll Need:

• Zip ties
• Any other consumable supplies
• Comment out supplies section if no supplies are necessary

-->

Before You Begin:

• You must have access to a computer with iTunes installed.
• You must have that thing for the other thing so you can do the thing.

You must have this thing before you whatever.

• Title of GP User Should Do First
• Title of GP User Should Do First
• Each individual prereq should have its own box like this. Not all will contain multiple links.
• Comment out prerequisites section if no prereqs are necessary

-->

2. Check Data Usage

1. Open Settings on your phone or tablet.
   

1. Select Data usage.
   

1. Right at the top, you'll see how much data you've used this month.
   

3. Enable Data Saver

Data saver provides compression for pages and images, making things not only load faster, but use less data when you're browsing on cellular.

Enable Data Saver

1. Open Settings on your phone or tablet.
   

1. Select Data usage.
   

1. Select Data saver.
   

1. Select the toggle switch in the corner to turn Data saver on.
   

When data saver is on, many apps will be prevented from sending data, or won't send data as often, in the background. In addition, most images and text in the browser will be compressed before being sent to you, further saving data.

4. Managing Cellular Data Use

Setting limits on your data in Android will alert you when you get close to your total data allotment, so you can better limit your usage to avoid fees.

Limiting Data

1. Open Settings on your phone or tablet.
   

1. Select Data usage.
   

1. Select Data saver.
   

1. Select Billing cycle.
   

1. Make sure the proper first day of the month is set. Check the bill from your cellular provider to find out when your billing cycle starts. Select the proper date, then select Set.
   

1. Select Cellular data usage.
   

1. Here you'll see a detailed break down of every app, and how much cellular data it has used. Select the gear icon in the top-right corner.
   

1. Make sure Set data warning is turned on. Then, select Data warning.
   

1. Enter the amount of data you have purchased from your provider per month, then select Set. Check your bill or contact your cellular provider if you are not sure what your data allotment is.