How to save mobile data without giving up the apps you need

Many people buy data more often than they need to, because apps quietly use it. A few settings can make a real difference.

See where your data goes

Open your phone's data usage screen and check which apps use the most. You may be surprised by video apps, social media and automatic updates.

Change settings that matter

• Restrict background data for apps you do not need all the time.
• Turn off auto-play for videos on social media apps.
• Lower the video quality when streaming.
• Update apps on Wi-Fi only and switch off automatic updates over mobile data.
• Use data saver mode if your phone has one.

Download for later

When you are on trusted Wi-Fi, download music, maps, lessons and videos you will need later. Then you can use them offline.

Compress and manage media

Many chat apps let you choose a lower quality for photos and videos, and can stop media from downloading automatically. This saves both data and storage.

Use lighter apps

Lite versions of popular apps often use less data. Using the website in your browser can also be lighter for some services.

Watch for warnings

Set a data limit alert on your phone so you know when you are near your limit. Keep mobile data switched off when you do not need it.

A note on public Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi can help, but avoid banking or entering passwords on open networks.

Written by the EarnNaija team at EarnNaija Digital Technologies.

This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Earnings are never guaranteed. See our fees page for the exact costs.