Despite the arrival of new unlimited data rates in many telephone companies, the truth is that it is still common to have a data consumption limit on mobile phones. Therefore, especially if you have a somewhat reduced rate, it is important that you control the most fundamental aspects of consumption of your iPhone so as not to run out of GB. Surely if that happens you will continue to have a connection, although at a considerably slower speed that could make you despair. In this article we will tell you all the keys that you must take into account to avoid reaching that point.
Watch your connection when you get home
This is probably one of the most important points. If you usually have the Wi-Fi deactivated when you leave the house, it is possible that when you arrive you will not remember to activate it again and continue with mobile data. In fact, it is usually something common to be calmly browsing the internet or enjoying videos and suddenly realize that it is being done through data and not WiFi.
What you can do if you can’t always remember it is to create an automation so that the WiFi is activated only when you get home or any other place where the WiFi is already memorized in your iPhone. To do this, you must follow these steps:
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Go to the “Automation” tab and choose the “Create personal automation” option.
- Click on “Arrive”.
- In the location part, choose the exact location of the place where you want the WiFi to be activated.
- Select “Anytime” and click on “Next”.
- Click on “Add action”.
- In the search engine, find and select the option “Define WiFi network”.
- Verify that the option that appears on the screen now is “Activate Wi-Fi”. If “Deactivate Wi-Fi” appears, just click on it to change it.
- Click on “Next”.
- Finally click on “ok” to create the automation.
Don’t download apps with mobile data
As simple as it may seem, there are applications that have a considerable weight that can increase the consumption of mobile data on your iPhone. Unless necessary, always try to download them with WiFi. The same happens with updates , which can also have an important weight and end up weighing down consumption. If you also want to prevent these updates from being done automatically, go to Settings> App Store and deactivate the option of these downloads using mobile data.
Also check Apple Music settings
If you go to Settings> Music> Mobile data, you can verify what options are allowed through this connection. It may pay you to listen to music in a quality other than the highest, as well as to disable streaming or the ability to download songs. Keep in mind that perhaps a song does not affect too much, but if you download several and even entire albums you could end up with your contracted data rate.
Turn off syncing of photos and videos
Apple‘s native Photos application is excellent for syncing through iCloud with all devices, although doing so without being connected to a WiFi network can be decisive in ending the data rate. If you go to Settings> Photos> Mobile data you can deactivate it. It will not cause you to lose sync as it will continue to do so when connected to WiFi.
iCloud Drive also consumes data
Following the paths of iCloud, we find that its own cloud storage service is also another cause of data consumption. To prevent files from the iCloud Drive library from being uploaded when you are connected to the internet through mobile data you must go to Settings> Mobile data, go down to where it says “iCloud Drive” and uncheck this box.
Background updates
The so-called background updates refer to the loading of data in the applications while we are not using them so that, when we open them, we can find all the updated content and without the need for slower loading times. This with WiFi is fine, but since you have it activated with mobile data, you could see it reflected in consumption. If you go to Settings> General> Background update you will see that you can change those options so that they are updated only through the WiFi network.
Are you sure all your apps need internet?
Today there are many applications that require an internet connection to function. In fact, we could say that these are the majority, although the truth is that not all of them need it. You may have an application installed on your iPhone that does not require it at all, such as an app that you simply use to add notes or reminders, calculators … Others, however, may need it, as is the case with some video games, but may nevertheless be expendable at any given time.
If you go to Settings> Mobile data and scroll down you can see the entire list of applications you have. If they appear with the switch in green, it means that they have permission to work through mobile data, while otherwise they will not be able to connect to the internet when you are in this connection mode. Our recommendation is that you review them one by one and deactivate those that you consider should not use this connection.
Beware of sending files
Either by email or any other tool that allows it, the sending and / or downloading of files with considerable weight can be another of the main reasons for data consumption. This is especially prominent when it comes to high-quality videos, which can have a really high weight. You may be on the street and you have just filmed a spectacular video that you want to share as soon as possible, but perhaps it will be a better idea to share it at a time when you can have a WiFi connection. Except in cases where it is necessary, it is advisable not to send files of any kind if they are of considerable weight.
What is iOS Reduced Data Mode?
This is a functionality present within Settings> Mobile data> Options> Data mode. It allows some of the actions mentioned in previous points to be deactivated at the same time and automatically. These are the system actions that it deactivates:
- Disable all kinds of automatic downloads (podcast, apps, etc.)
- Background updates are disabled.
- It does not allow backups to be made to iCloud.
- ICloud sync for Photos and other apps is not activated either.
- Video quality is reduced in some streaming applications.
- Autoplay of videos from the App Store is disabled.
- The FaceTime bit rate is optimized to use lower bandwidth, which can affect image and sound quality.
If you use GPS, try to use it like this
Using a GPS application in the car can be very useful to avoid getting lost, however it can also be a headache later because your mobile data consumption can be high. To counteract this point, there are numerous applications of this type that allow you to download maps to be able to use them later without using the internet, being also very interesting for areas where there is not good coverage. Some of the best known are Google Maps or Waze, while Apple Maps also allows it but with a series of limitations.
Always have your data consumption in view
A good way to know when to put the brake on internet consumption with data is precisely to know how much of the tariff has been consumed. Practically all telephone operators have an application in the App Store where you can check this consumption and some even have widgets for iOS that allow you to set this information on your screen. Therefore, to the extent possible, check this information regularly.
Be careful if you go over and have to pay an extra bonus
Another aspect to take into account regarding your data rate is that many companies offer extra GB bonuses when the ones you have contracted run out and sometimes you may even have already defined by default that these bonuses are activated when you run out. Therefore it is important that you consult your operator about this and deactivate it. You will be able to contract these bonuses manually whenever you want, while if you leave them automatic you will be able to have extra money on your invoice that may not always compensate you, especially if the bonus has been activated when you had little left to finish the month and get new GB.
If you have an iPhone with 5G
In the end, regardless of whether you have a 3G, 4G or 5G connection, you can consume the same amount of data, only that depending on the network you will do it with a more or less fast connection. However, there is a point to take into account and that in a way it can worry you in the same way as running out of mobile data and that is that you run out of battery. The latest iPhones that incorporate 5G connectivity also tend to consume more resources with this connection and if we take into account that, in addition, speeds greater than 4G are not always offered, it is even advisable to have it deactivated depending on the occasions.
You can check what type of networks you allow your iPhone to connect to from Settings> Mobile data> Options> Voice and data. In this section you will see the following options:
- 5G enabled: your iPhone will always connect to these networks when they are available.
- Automatic 5G: This is the option we recommend, as iOS will try to connect to these networks only when this does not cause excessive battery consumption.
- 4G: with this option the possibility of connecting to 5G networks will be completely canceled.
