As the number of apps and services that rely on cellular data have grown, the need to manage cellular data usage has become increasingly important. With an iPhone, you can choose which apps use cellular data and which don’t.

Here are some strategies to reduce cellular data usage on iPhone, whether you’re in your home country or traveling abroad.

Why Is My Data Usage So High?

It may surprise you by how many data your device is using. When you have a cellular connection, your phone is constantly checking for data, downloading updates and uploading information.

Most of this happens automatically, but it can still lead to high data usage depending on what type of apps you use and how often you use them. 

To save data while using the app, open the Settings app and tap General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions. Next, scroll down to find the list of settings that are available for restrictions (things like In-App Purchases or Location Services). 

Find the setting Cellular Data and turn off the toggle switch to restrict its use in iOS. That way, when you’re out of Wi-Fi range or on a limited data plan, your phone will only access cell network connections when it needs to load webpages or download things over slower networks. 

There’s also an option to disable Data Roaming, which is helpful if you’re outside the US because your carrier may charge significantly more for roaming data than domestic data. 

It’s important to note that this feature restricts all uses of the cellular network on iOS devices – not just individual apps – so if you need continuous internet access for specific tasks then this probably isn’t the best option for you.

What Can I Do About It?

There are a lot of things you can do to reduce your cellular data usage. These include deleting unused apps and turning off the feature that downloads content automatically. If these don’t work, there is always the option of reducing the quality of your video or images, which may not be ideal but will help with your overall data usage. 

Another way is by connecting to Wi-Fi networks where possible. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re connected to mobile data in areas where there’s no Wi-Fi available. And finally, if it all seems like too much work, consider switching over to an unlimited plan from one of the major carriers such as AT&T or Verizon Wireless. 

Unlimited plans have their limitations as well, so take note of what they include and what they exclude before making your decision.

How to Reduce Cellular Data Usage on iPhone

When you’re on a cellular network and not connected to Wi-Fi, your phone is using data. However, there are a few ways that can help you reduce the amount of data your phone uses each month. 

For example, by enabling Data Saver, when enabled, apps will use fewer data while accessing the web or running in the background. Additionally, if you have an LTE connection (as opposed to 3G) set your phone to High Speed. You may also want to check out Cellular Data Use in Settings for more information about how much data has been used by which apps since updating iOS 11. 

If your total monthly usage is over 25GB, then it’s possible that you need a new plan. If not, Apple offers some tools within their settings app for managing cellular data usage.

Manage Background App Refresh

To do this, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Here you can turn off the app from using cellular data if you don’t want it to automatically update in the background. This is especially useful for apps that use a lot of data like social media apps.

 It’s also a good idea to limit these updates only when your phone is plugged into power and connected to Wi-Fi so as not to waste battery life. You can also set the limit amount of space so that the app will delete old unused content. 

For example, if you are running out of storage space because too many videos are stored in your photo album, you could set a rule so that old photos get deleted after 1 month. Or you could choose the manual setting and manually choose which items should be removed.

How To Restrict Background Data On iPhone

To reduce cellular data usage, go into Settings then select General > Background App Refresh. If you only want certain apps refreshing in the background, disable the ones you don’t need.

 To restrict all apps from refreshing while your phone is locked, go into Settings and select General > Restrictions > Enable Restrictions. Next go to General > Background App Refresh and toggle off any app(s) you don’t want refreshing in the background when your phone is locked or screen is turned off.

 The final step is to enable restrictions by going into Settings > General > Restrictions and making sure Don’t Allow Changes is set under Restrictions Passcode.

What Uses Most Cellular Data On iPhone?

The most data-consuming tasks on your phone are usually social media applications and streaming content, like Netflix. If you have an unlimited data plan, it might be worth uninstalling apps like Facebook and Snapchat that use a lot of cellular data. 

You could also set up notifications for when your cellular data is running low, so you can avoid using the app until you get home or to a Wi-Fi network. For example, if you’re about to run out of data during work hours, turn off notifications for Facebook so it won’t use any more of your limited data. 

Just make sure you’re aware of what’s using the most data on your phone in order to keep tabs on how much is left. That way you’ll know when to cut back on streaming videos or other bandwidth-heavy activities. It’s also important to understand which cellular carriers charge differently for different amounts of data. Many carriers offer an unlimited plan with no throttling but charge a higher price per GB than providers who charge by the gigabyte (or GB).

 T-Mobile has both capped plans at a lower price per GB, and an unlimited plan at the same rate as Sprint. AT&T also offers unlimited data plans, although we have known them to throttle speeds after 25GB of usage. 

Sprint has recently increased their prices for all plans in response to AT&T’s price increase, so some people may want to consider T-Mobile or AT&T instead.

How To Reduce Data Usage On iPhone 13

Reducing your data usage is a great way to save money, but it can also help you save battery life and be more productive. Two ways will allow you to reduce your cellular data usage. The first way is by reducing the amount of background activity on your phone.

 To do this, go into Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn off any apps that you don’t need refreshing in the background. The second way is by turning off cellular data when you’re not using it. Go to Settings > Mobile Data and choose Cellular Data. 

From there, toggle the button next to Data Roaming so that it turns grey. Doing these steps should make sure you never get charged for going over your data limit again!

How To Reduce Data Usage On iPhone 12

One way to reduce data usage is by turning off background refresh and notifications. To do this, open the Settings app, select the General tab, then scroll down and select Background App Refresh. 

From here you’ll be able to disable background refresh for all apps or just certain apps as desired. In addition, you can also turn off notifications for individual apps from the Notifications tab in Settings as well as by long pressing on an app in your Notification Center.

 If you’re not using an app often enough, it may be worth going into its settings to disable background updates or push notifications. Turning off these options will reduce cellular data usage while still allowing the app to run properly when opened. 

You can also configure cellular data roaming to use only WiFi connections instead of a mix of both WiFi and cellular connections. 

To do so, go to Settings -> Cellular -> Enable LTE option (this one is only available if your carrier supports LTE) -> Off -> Save Changes. When LTE coverage becomes available, the device will automatically switch over if both a Wi-Fi connection and LTE coverage are available.

Upgrade Your plans If You Need More Data Than What You Have Already Purchased

If you’re using all the data you purchased, you may want to upgrade your plan. You can do this through your carrier or by contacting Apple Support. Some carriers offer discounts when you purchase additional data in bulk. 

A great way to buy an unlimited cellular data plan is with an instalment plan that will help make sure you never run out of internet. 

Your monthly payment will be divided up over two years with no interest and no upfront costs so it’s easier to budget for a more expensive service like unlimited cellular data plans!

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Conclusion

Now you know how you can reduce cellular data usage on an iPhone, let’s get to know whether this works for you in the comment box.