This article covers how to ensure you're not using more mobile data than you intend to, with suggestions of things to check on and monitor.
Data Usage
If your device is connected to the internet it may use data without you realising it.
Use the following tips to better manage what data your device is.
Auto backup or file transfers
If you use a file transfer app or service such as iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive, you need to make the following changes to save data:
- Change settings to use only Wi-Fi for document uploads or downloads
- Change the frequency of backups from automatic to manual
- Choose which content you want to back up instead of backing up all of it
About turning off automatic backups to iCloud .
App updates
If your apps are set to auto-update, they will begin updating using your mobile data. To prevent this,
Set your apps to update automatically only when you're connected to a Wi-Fi network
You can also set your apps to download updates manually. This way you can be sure your apps don't accidentally use your mobile data for updates
Block ads
Pop-up advertisements on websites and even within certain free apps use your mobile data to play their content
- You should block these ads using an ad-blocker or close them before they start playing to minimise the loss of data.
Download large files over WiFi
Larger files like songs, games, OS updates, PowerPoint presentations, Apps and other software should only be downloaded over WiFi, if you want to avoid mobile-data use.
Be sure to check the size of the download and ensure you're properly connected to the WiFi network before downloading. This is because, if your phone drops out of WiFi range during the download, your phone may continue the download using your mobile data.
We also urge you to be careful while downloading content to your phone. Email attachments and software downloads are prone to be infected with viruses which could damage your phone and in some cases, even steal your phone's data.
We recommend downloading attachments only from trusted sources.
How do video downloads work?
Video downloads are stored in your phone's memory. You pay for the video once (the data used to download it), and can watch it as many times are you like, in or out of network coverage, because it 'lives' in your phone's memory.
How does streaming videos work?
Streamed videos don't get stored on your phone - it's like streaming a video on the internet - you watch it on the spot. You can only watch it when you're in network coverage.
What happens if I get an incoming call while I'm watching a streamed video?
You can answer a call while streaming, but to hang up you will need to select "More" and "End Call". When you answer a call your video stream is abandoned.
You can ignore a call by Selecting "No" from the options. This results in a 5-10 second pause, after which you will be returned to your video stream.
Switch off your phone's Personal Hotspot feature
Your smartphone or tablet connects to our network using 3G, 4G or 5G. It can then broadcast this signal over WiFi so that you can connect other devices to the same data connection.
We recommend being careful when using this feature. You should only turn on your Personal Hotspot when you're sure no other phone or mobile device can connect to your phone's data connection without your permission.
To do this, we recommend using a strong password for your Personal Hotspot and only giving out the password to people you trust. This is because other devices connected to your Personal Hotspot can use your data to download large files or update their apps.
Switch mobile data off
In extreme cases, you can even switch off your mobile data completely.
We recommend looking at plans with more data instead of using this option, simply because most smartphones rely quite a bit on data for several key functions.
If you share your data via a Red Plan, you have the option of switching off data for specific users on your shared account.
- Learn how turn off data for specific connections on Red Share >
- Monitor multiple users (applies to Red Share) >