4 Best Ways to Limit Mobile Data Usage on Android

You connect your Android phone to a Wi-Fi network for most of your internet needs. A Wi-Fi network helps install large files and apps and updates them faster. Sometimes, when your Android phone fails to connect with the Wi-Fi network, you’ll need to switch to your Mobile Data.

However, using Mobile Data is not always possible for everyone, as Mobile Carriers set daily data limits. Plus, with the advent of 5G, there’s a high chance to exhaust your daily data limit quickly. This post will share some effective ways to limit your mobile data usage on your Android phone.

1. Set Data Limit

The first best way to limit mobile data usage on your Android phone is by setting a data limit. This feature is helpful in almost all Android phones, especially for regular mobile data users. You can set a data limit even using a Dual-SIM Android phone. Here’s how to set the data limit.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Tap on Network and Internet.

Step 3: Select Mobile Network.

Step 4: Tap on Data Warning & Limit.

Step 5: Tap the toggle next to Set Data Limit.

Step 6: Tap on Ok.

Step 7: Tap on Data Limit.

Step 8: On the prompt, type the data limit you want to set. You can also choose between MB and GB in terms of data usage.

Step 9: Tap on Set to confirm.

2. Use Data Saver

As the name suggests, Data Saver on your Android phone helps in reducing mobile data usage while you browse the web or use any apps like YouTube. Data Saver prevents some apps from sending or receiving data in the background. This also applies to your connected Wi-Fi network. Here’s how to use this second effective method of limiting mobile data usage on your Android phone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Tap on Network and Internet.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap on Data Saver.

Step 4: Tap the toggle next to Use Data Saver to enable it.

You will also see a Data Saver icon at the top-right on the status bar.

Step 5: To avoid restricting data usage on certain apps, tap on Unrestricted Apps.

Step 6: Tap the toggle next to the app of your choice that should be allowed unrestricted data usage.

3. Disable Background Data Usage

As the name suggests, Data Saver on your Android phone helps reduce mobile data usage while browsing the web or using any apps like YouTube. Data Saver prevents some apps from sending or receiving data in the background. This also applies to your connected Wi-Fi network. Here’s how to use this second effective method of limiting mobile data usage on your Android phone.

Step 1: Long-press on an app icon on your Android phone.

Step 2: Tap on ‘i’ App Info icon.

Step 3: From the App Info menu, scroll down and tap on Mobile Data & Wi-Fi.

Step 4: Tap the toggle next to Background Data to disable it.

If you are using Data Saver, you can enable Unrestricted Data Usage for certain apps on your Android phone.

4. Disable Automatic App Updates

Lastly, we suggest you disable automatic updates for software and apps on your Android phone. Checking for multiple app and software updates can potentially eat a significant portion of your mobile data. Since it happens in the background, these update checks happen without your knowledge.

Disable Automatic Software Update

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on System Updates.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to Smart Updates to enable the feature.

This will ensure software updates checks will happen only on when you connect your Android to a Wi-Fi network and not on mobile data.

Disable Automatic App Updates

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone.

Step 2: Tap on your profile icon at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Settings from the list of options.

Step 4: Tap on Network Preferences.

Step 5: Tap on Auto Update Apps.

Step 6: Select Over Wi-Fi Only or Don’t Auto-Update Apps. We recommend choosing – Over Wi-Fi Only to ensure that the apps are always updated whenever you connect your Android phone to a Wi-Fi network.

You can also choose to avoid App Downloads and Auto-Play Videos on your Android phone to save your mobile data.

Limit Mobile Data Usage

These solutions will help you to limit your mobile data usage on your Android phone. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, mobile data becomes your only option to use your apps, browse the web and make video calls to your contacts. You can restrict mobile data usage, especially to avoid roaming charges. But has it ever occurred that mobile data stopped working altogether on your Android phone? If this sounds familiar, refer our post to fix mobile data not working on Android.