App News and Data (2024)

FAQs

Why is my phone all of a sudden using so much data? ›

App syncing, updates, notifications, and autoplay

These functions, while convenient, can use data in the background. For example, videos often play automatically as you scroll through your newsfeed on social media apps. You may want to disable cellular data for video autoplay within each app's settings on your device.

If your data is turned on, then you may be charged for background data. Background data is data that your apps are constantly using, it could be when your phone is in your pocket or even when you are asleep! Some apps - such as MyDigicel - do not incur a charge for this background data. However, most apps are not free.

Smartphones ship with default settings, some of which are over-reliant on cellular data. Left unchanged, those settings can cause your phone to slurp up all of your plan's allowed data even if you're swiping and tapping conservatively.

To see how much cellular data you've used, go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. If you're using an iPad, you might see Settings > Cellular Data instead. Scroll down to find which apps are using cellular data. If you don't want an app to use cellular data, you can turn it off for that app.

Check Data Usage in Settings

Check to see which apps are using data. On many newer Android devices, you can go to “Settings” > “Data Usage” > “Cellular data usage“, then scroll down to see which apps are using the most data.

Apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat eat up a lot of data. To keep data usage under control, consider using these apps less while on mobile data. Plus, try to find in-app settings that let you limit data usages.

Some third-party apps are designed to consume mobile data even with Wi-Fi connected. Some third-party apps, such as online banking apps, may still consume mobile data even if they are connected to a Wi-Fi network. This issue occurs on all Android phones and cannot be resolved by changing the settings on your phone.

The only time you might be using data when you're connected to Wi-Fi is if you have the “Wi-Fi Assist” feature turned on. Basically, if your Wi-Fi signal is weak, Wi-Fi Assist will automatically prompt your phone to use cellular data to help speed up your internet connection.

Why is my phone using data when I am on Wi-Fi? ›

Though your phone might be using data when at home on WiFi if you allow it, it probably isn't. Check your phone settings, make sure WiFi assist is turned off. You can also restrict which apps are even allowed to use data. Your phone also keeps track of what apps are using data.

Open your Settings app. Device plans. To check your plan: At the top, see your current data plan status.

By default, your iPhone switches between Wi-Fi and cellular automatically. Here's how to stop this behavior on your Apple smartphone.

Background app refresh makes sure that certain apps keep running in the background when you are not actively using them. It can refresh the content and notify you the newest messages when you turn on Wifi or mobile data. So it can cause iPhone using too much data.

We found 3 possible causes: Automatic mobile data usage is turned on. Automatic update of apps via mobile network is turned on. Notifications are turned on.