You will agree with me that your smartphone gulps data the way some people gulp water or beer. When you don’t have enough knowledge about mobile data management you end up spending more than your budget on only Data subscription.
This tutorial will open you to ways you can conserve
your smartphone data plan. So let’s get to it immediately.
1. Put off your Mobile Data When Not in Use
Definitely while driving or sleeping or in a meeting
we don’t use our devices so now is a good time to put off your internet data connection.
Just go to the notification panel and put the mobile data option off.
2. Use Wi-Fi (if
available) to Update Apps
Go to the Play Store app on your phone then visit
the Settings option; check the Auto-update
apps option. Always ensure that your Auto-update
apps on Wi-Fi only option is selected.
3. Always Restrict
Background Data
Certain apps run in the phone background by default and
they consume mobile data without your knowledge. Recent versions of Android have
made it possible to check the apps running and the impact they create.
You can decide to click on the Apps and check the
stats for individual apps. If you see that a particular app consumes more data
than you want while its running in the background, simply go to ‘Restrict background data’ and tick the
box that applies.
4. Preload Heavy Content
Some apps offer
caching your browser therefore allowing you download data over Wi-Fi at an
earlier time making it available later when you are offline or running on
mobile data. Two of such apps include Spotify
and YouTube allows you to download
playlists or videos on a watch it later list. Such apps are recommended.
5. Keep an
eye on Your Data Usage
Android OS offers its users an option to track your
mobile data usage. Through the Data
Usage option, you get to see apps that use your data and how much data they
use individually. Also, it allows you to set a limit on your data usage and
warn you when the data usage reaches a certain pre-determined stage thus giving
you freedom to customize it as you want. Basically, it gives you the option of
being aware of your data usage like the name implies.
6. Download your
Large Files over Wi-Fi
If possible, you should always download large files
like songs and videos using WiFi. Rather than doing so with your mobile data. Such
large files can be saved to download at a later time when a Wi-Fi network is
available.
7. Prepare your
Maps for Offline Use
On your Android phone, Google maps now permits it’s
users to cache maps. Although this takes time and data to do so, but once you
get it, it is available for continued offline
usage and navigation. It is advised to download the maps while you a Wi-Fi network
is available to save data usage when travelling. All you need to do when online
is zoom in to the area of map you will need and type "ok maps" in the available search bar and automatically, the
map will be cached for later (offline) usage.
Also, navigation apps that run offline such as Sygic and save the trouble of using
your mobile data connection always for navigation while on the move.
To save a map for offline use, two options avail:
• Type
OK Maps in the search bar and press enter (or use voice activation). OR
• Tap
the search bar and scroll to the bottom of the page. Select “Make this map area
available offline.”
8. Adjust
Account Sync Settings
Visit your account Sync settings because probably
you set it to auto. Ensure that this Auto-Sync should be disabled for apps like
Facebook and Google+ because they are used to sync heavy files like photos and
videos.
Indirectly, they become data guzzlers, which in turn
will take its toll on your mobile data. Thus it is only wise to disable apps
that don’t really need the sync on.
9. Configure
your Phone Browser
Enabling this feature will help you reduce data consumption.
Browsers such as Opera mini and UC browser have made name for themselves in
this sector. However, Google chrome a browser redesigned to help save data
without reducing image and picture quality while surfing the net.
Certain modifications were made to the browser by Google
to achieve this. According to Google, your data usage can be reduced by up to
50%! While using Google chrome browser.
To use the “Reduce data usage” setting, go to:
Chrome menu > Settings > (Advanced) Bandwidth
management > Reduce data usage
10. Use a
good App to manage your Data
Also, you can install apps that help you monitor and
reduce your mobile data consumption. Onavo extend is one of such App. It is a
free app that runs in the background continuously and directs your mobile data
traffic through its servers.
This compression technology it offers significantly decreases
the amount of data sent across to the mobile network, giving you the same
experience at a reduced cost (just the way it is done on Blackberry phones). Therefore
get Onavo Extend on Google Play Store right now!
Now you can save your data better than before. Drop your
questions below and kindly share with your friends.
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