Excessive data usage or running out of data is a common concern among mobile users. High-definition streaming and leaving apps running in the background, these are just some of the culprits. Here are some super easy ways to manage your data usage and save big. 

It’s never been easier to make the most of your mobile data! Here are 8 practical tips for managing mobile data usage and saving big. Let’s dive in.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, determining how much data you are using is a good starting point. Using an Android? To check your data usage, go to your Settings App, then select Network & Internet. Go to Internet. Where you see your carrier, go to Settings, and you’ll see your total data usage at the top. Using an Apple device? You can check how much data you’ve used by going to your Settings, then Mobile Data or Settings, and choosing Cellular. If you’re using an iPad, it may be Settings and then Mobile Data. It’s that easy!

This is a common culprit when it comes to mobile data usage. Many people don’t realise their apps are constantly running in the background, even if they are not in use. Yes, really! If the background refresh feature is not switched off, your device will automatically download updates and sync new information, often consuming up to 150 MB per app. As you can imagine, this uses up a lot of data, so it’s a great idea to turn this feature off on your phone. Find it under your Settings.

Always be mindful of your data usage and the data roaming options when travelling. Data roaming is when your phone disconnects from your normal carrier's network and jumps on another network, when you’re travelling to another country which can result in using a lot of data. You can turn off data roaming to avoid the charges or you can also explore the roaming options available to you before you travel. Did you know that Telkom has partnered with over 300 operators in 135 countries for an efficient roaming experience? To stay connected, check out our roaming rates on the self-service portal or the MyTelkom App, or dial *180*13# and follow the prompts.

This is such a great feature, but it can be costly! If enabled, WiFi Assist will automatically connect to your phone’s data if the WiFi connection is poor. To save on data costs, go to your Settings and turn off the WiFi Assist feature.

Most websites have two versions – a desktop and a mobile one. The desktop version is usually designed for bigger screens and requires more data to serve large images, files, etc. To save on data, always make sure you are browsing on the mobile version of the site, as this has been designed specifically for smaller screens. There are fewer images, they are lighter, and the site opens fast.

Limiting streaming on your phone is a good idea, as this tends to use a lot of data. This includes music streaming on sites like Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Deezer. But don’t worry, the most popular of these platforms have options to allow for offline listening and reducing sound quality. Check the settings on your music app, download your music when connected to WiFi, and enjoy offline. This is perfect for not only saving data, but also when you’re on the go.

This is for those times when you stream movies on your phone. To save data on Netflix, change the video quality setting on your Android phone or tablet, iPhone, or iPad by first opening the app. In the lower right, select My Netflix. Then, in the upper right, tap the Menu option. Go to App Settings, tap Download or Video Quality, and choose a much lower quality. The same applies to Showmax and DStv mobile apps. If your phone still uses more data than you can afford – download, don’t stream.

You’d think autoplay videos are so old-school, but they are still a thing – a very costly thing! To save on data usage, switch off autoplaying videos on social media, for example, on Facebook. Luckily, it’s quite easy to disable this feature, and it’s never too late to do so. Simply click on your profile picture in the top right on Facebook, then go to Settings and Privacy, and select Settings. Scroll down to Preferences and click Media. Then click next to Autoplay Videos and select Off. And you’re sorted!

What’s awesome is that X has a similar feature. By going to Settings, Accessibility and then tapping on Data Usage, you have the option to either use less network data, or completely limit autoplay to WiFi or cellular!

While Instagram doesn’t yet have a dedicated feature to stop autoplaying features due to the app experience, you can go to Settings, and reduce the media quality to “Use less mobile data”.

Regularly using these practical tips is a great way to reduce mobile data usage and save big.

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