In recent years, telecom companies in India have offered unlimited data plans, giving users a lot of flexibility without the constant worry of data consumption. However, frequent internet users know that even with “unlimited” data, high-speed internet is only available up to a certain limit, after which speeds drop significantly. To avoid experiencing this slowdown, there are some simple settings and habits you can adopt to save your mobile data. Here’s a guide on how to manage and save data on your Android smartphone.
Setting a Data Limit on Android
One of the first steps to take is setting a data limit on your phone. This will help you track and manage your daily or monthly data usage. To set a data limit, follow these steps:
- Open Settings: Go to the Settings menu on your Android phone.
- Select Network & Internet: Tap on "Network & Internet" (or "SIM" in some phones).
- Choose Your Service Provider: Select the name of your telecom service provider.
- Set Data Warning and Limit: Scroll down until you see the option for "Data warning and limit." Tap on this to access data control settings.
- Set Your Data Cycle: Tap on "Mobile data usage cycle" to adjust your data cycle duration, whether monthly or weekly, based on your plan.
- Enable Data Limit: Set a specific data limit based on your plan. When this limit is reached, you’ll be notified, helping you manage data before running into slower speeds.
Enabling Data Saver Mode
Data Saver is a built-in Android feature that restricts background apps from using data unnecessarily. Here’s how to turn it on:
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet: Under Settings, open "Network & Internet."
- Find Data Saver: Look for the "Data Saver" option and toggle it on if it’s not already activated. This will restrict apps from using data in the background, conserving your data for more important tasks.
Disable Dual-Channel Network Acceleration
Some Android phones have a feature called "Dual-channel network acceleration," which lets your phone use both Wi-Fi and mobile data simultaneously to improve speed. However, this feature consumes more mobile data quickly. To save data, it’s best to turn this feature off in your settings under "Network & Internet."
Adjusting App Update Settings
Auto-updating apps can also consume a large portion of your data. Heavy app updates like those for games or media-heavy apps can drain your data allowance for the day in just one go. To avoid this, set your app updates to only happen over Wi-Fi:
- Open the Play Store: Go to the Google Play Store.
- Tap on Profile Icon > Settings > Network Preferences: Open your profile, then go to settings, and tap on “Network preferences.”
- Select Auto-update apps > Over Wi-Fi only: Choose “Over Wi-Fi only” to prevent apps from updating with mobile data.
Use Lite Versions of Apps
Another easy way to save data is by using “Lite” versions of popular apps. These are designed to work well with low data usage. For example, instead of using Instagram, try Instagram Lite, which consumes significantly less data while still providing essential features.
By following these steps, you can manage and save data effectively on your Android smartphone, ensuring that you have high-speed data when you need it the most. With these small changes, you can avoid hitting your data limit too quickly and enjoy a more consistent internet experience.