Is your phone wasting mobile data? Stop wondering, and find out. This step-by-step data detox programme will help to break your bad habits, make the most of your data, and save money with easy, daily fixes.
Identify the Leaks
Start by figuring out which mobile apps are chowing the most data. On Android, tap "Settings," then select "Network and Internet." From there, choose SIMs or Mobile Network and tap App Data Usage.
On iPhone, this function is in settings under the Mobile Service tab. If you scroll all the way down in this menu, you'll find each app on your phone and the amount of data it has used so far. This way, you can identify the guilty party.
If it’s WhatsApp (and it’s probably WhatsApp), consider toggling video and photo downloads to Wi-Fi Only. This saves your data budget by stopping the app from automatically downloading video clips from your chats.
Use Work WiFi
When you're in the office, be sure to disable your mobile data and use Wi-Fi only. Using your company’s WiFi is a great way to save your mobile data during the day. Just remember to respect company WiFi policies and to switch your mobile data on again for your commute home!
Set Limits
The above changes should already be saving you data! Your next task: setting data usage alerts so that your mobile data doesn’t disappear without you knowing.
On Android, go to Settings, Network & Internet and SIMs or Mobile Data Usage. Then tap Billing Cycle, followed by Data Warning, where you can set up your data warning.
Apple doesn’t do built-in data alerts, but you can reset statistics by accessing the Mobile Service tab in the settings menu. This will allow you to track your app usage from zero and manage which ones.
Choose a reasonable data limit (say, 1GB), and your phone will automatically stop using your mobile data when it hits that number.
Disable the Automatic Updates
You’d be amazed by how much of your data is being spent behind the scenes. Find the leaks by using your phone’s data management settings to avoid automatic app updates, and instead use Wi-Fi to update your apps manually.
Manage Your Background Apps
To save even more, you can disable your background data. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps. Tap "See All Apps" and select the app you want to restrict. Tap Mobile Data & Wi-Fi, and toggle off Background Data to block the app from using your mobile data when it’s not actively in use.
On iOS, you tap Settings, General and then Background App Refresh. Here you can turn off background refresh entirely, or set it to happen on WiFi only. You can also set it per app depending on your needs.
Stream via WiFi
Do yourself and your data a favour, and make sure you’re only streaming via Wi-Fi. This should happen automatically, but just in case something has gone haywire, go into your phone settings and select Wi-Fi Only for YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and all your other streaming services.
Read Your Report
Apple automatically sends weekly screen time reports on Sunday mornings. On Android, you can set this up via Digital Wellbeing. When the report lands, use it as a prompt to check your weekly data usage. Keep track of that data usage (and your screen time) over the course of the next few weeks, and look for more ways to optimise your mobile phone use.
Congratulations! You've taken control of your mobile data usage. By identifying data-hungry apps, leveraging Wi-Fi connections, setting smart limits, and managing background processes, you'll not only save money but also develop healthier phone habits. The best part? These aren't one-time fixes—they're sustainable habits that will keep working for you long after this week is over. For more data-saving tips, click here.
