This is why your mobile data is running out
Lisa Du is director of ReadyTechGo, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology.
Data... Something we are becoming heavily reliant on.
Recently we had a client who simply couldn't understand why their prepaid credit was running out!
This client has an iPhone, and uses it at home on Wi-Fi to view YouTube videos, check emails and use other apps. When he leaves his home (and Wi), he is very careful not to use any apps whilst out and about, so he doesn't use data and chew up his prepaid credit.
But credit was mysteriously disappearing!
After some detective work, we found the reason why, and this could be happening to you too.
Wi-fi assist on iPhone
If you are using an iPhone, there is a feature called Wi-Fi Assist. This will automatically allow your iPhone to use cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is poor.
Every time this client walked too far from his modem, he had a weak Wi-Fi signal. His iPhone would automatically use his cellular data for browsing the internet and watching YouTube.
We suggest turning Wi-Fi Assist OFF, to ensure that you don't use your cellular data when wi-fi is poor. You can manually switch to cellular data, but you can control this.
Apps quietly killing your data plan
This is one of the biggest culprits! Data hungry apps that run in the background, chewing up your data plan.
Data hungry apps include apps like: Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube.
Even though you are not actively using those apps, these apps use data - called background data.
Background data allows these apps to receive the latest information and "sync", updating you with the latest forecast, location, new messages and more.
We suggest restricting background data for apps on your devices. Here's how:
Android
- Open Settings on your phone
- Tap Connections
- Select Data Usage
- Tap Mobile Data Usage
- Tap on the App that you which to restrict Data on eg. Facebook
- Tap Allow background data usage to switch it OFF
TIP: If you have a small data plan, we suggest switching Cellular Data off completely if you want to have confidence that apps are not secretly chewing up your cellular data!
Apple
- Open Settings on your phone
- Tap General
- Tap Background App Refresh
- Tap the switch to turn this function OFF
TIP: You do have the choice to switch off Background App Refresh for certain apps only.