How to lower data usage on your phone: Quick tips for big results

Running out of data before the end of your billing cycle can be frustrating. Suddenly, your carrier is throttling your speeds, or you’re facing unexpected overage charges. It’s even worse when you’re traveling and worried about expensive roaming fees.

Most data drains happen unnoticed in the background. Streaming apps auto-play in HD, social media refreshes constantly, cloud backups sync over cellular, push notifications update in real time. You usually won’t notice something’s wrong until it’s too late.

The good news? You can cut back on mobile data immediately with a few simple changes. In this guide, we’ll show you the fastest ways to cut back and take control of what’s draining your plan.

What do Low Data Mode and Data Saver do?

Low Data Mode (iPhone) and Data Saver (Android) settings reduce the amount of data your phone uses behind the scenes. It’s one of the quickest ways to reduce your data consumption without changing how you use your apps.

Low Data Mode on iPhone

To restrict background data on an iOS device:

Data Saver on Android

Here’s how to enable this built-in feature on an Android device.

On Samsung

On Google Pixel

On Xiaomi

1. Go to Settings > Connection & sharing (or SIM cards & mobile networks, depending on your OS version).
2. Tap Data usage.
3. Toggle Data saver on.

How to stop apps from using data in the background

Apps can continue consuming data in the background even when you’re not actively using your phone.

Many apps continue using data even when your screen is off. Limiting background activity can significantly reduce how much data your phone consumes.

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Disable background app refresh. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Choose Wi-Fi or turn it off for specific apps.
• Restrict background data per app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps. Select an app and then tap on Mobile Data & Wi-Fi. Toggle Background data off.
• Turn off automatic app updates over cellular. In your App Store or Google Play settings, set updates to Wi-Fi only.
• Pause cloud backups. Ensure photos and file backups happen over Wi-Fi only.

How to reduce streaming and social media data usage

Streaming video is the fastest way to burn through your monthly allowance. One hour of HD video can use up to 3 GB of data, while SD may use around 1 GB or less.

Before you adjust your settings, check how common activities consume data:

What settings to adjust for apps

Dropping video quality is one of the highest-impact changes you can make. Here’s what to update:

• Streaming apps: For Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and the like, set playback quality to SD when using a cellular connection.
• Social media apps: For TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and more, turn off auto-play or enable built-in data saver modes.
• Music streaming: Download playlists over Wi-Fi for Spotify and Apple Music instead of streaming on the go.

Which apps use the most data?

If you’re unsure about what’s draining your plan, your phone can show you exactly which apps are responsible.

On iPhone

Go to Settings > Mobile Service. Scroll down to see data usage by app.

On Samsung

Go to Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data usage.

On Google Pixel

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > Select your carrier > App data usage.

On Xiaomi

Go to Settings > Connection & sharing > Data usage.

Look for apps using multiple gigabytes per month. If an app isn’t essential, turn off cellular data access so it only works over Wi-Fi.

How to clear an app’s cache on Android

If a specific app shows unusually high usage, a glitch may be causing it to continuously download background files. Clearing the app’s cache deletes temporary files (such as images and videos) and can prevent unexpected data leaks. Note that this feature is currently only available on Android.

On Samsung

On Google Pixel

On Xiaomi

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Manage apps.
2. Select the app of your choice and choose Storage.
3. Tap Clear data > Clear cache.

How to save mobile data while traveling

Data management becomes even more important when you’re abroad. International roaming fees can be expensive and prepaid travel data often comes with strict limits.

Here’s how to stay within your limits while traveling:

• Disable data roaming unless you need it.
• Download offline maps before leaving your hotel.
• Use Wi-Fi selectively and avoid unsecure public networks.
• Track daily usage so you don’t run out of data mid-trip.

If you’re a heavy data user, opting for an eSIM can eliminate the need to micromanage your settings. An eSIM like holiday.com offers unlimited data for the duration of your trip, so you can keep using your apps without worrying about hitting a data limit or incurring roaming fees.

Lower your data usage with our simple steps

To reduce data usage without giving up your favorite apps, focus on the changes that make the biggest difference. Turn on Low Data Mode and limit background access first, then adjust your streaming settings as needed.

A little preparation, whether refining your app settings or choosing a holiday.com eSIM with unlimited data, can help you stay connected without the stress of an unexpectedly high phone bill.