Quick and Easy Tricks to Make Your Mobile Data Last LONGER

Doesn’t it get frustrating when you suddenly run out of mobile data?

As smartphones have become one of the main ways to access the internet today, knowing a few hacks on how to make your mobile data last longer would help better your overall cellular experience.

According to Hosting Facts, around 63.4% of all mobile phone users access the Internet through their mobile phones this year. The same post showed that there were 3.7 billion mobile Internet users in total last year. The availability of low-cost smartphones and data plans have definitely contributed to the steady increase of mobile data usage worldwide. 

Be Mindful of Your Mobile Data Consumption

In Hootsuite and We Are Social’s Digital 2019 reports, it was found that the number of internet users worldwide surged over the past year. Findings state that there are 5.11 billion mobile internet users— more than 10% increase from last year’s calculations.

Despite its high accessibility, mobile data can come at a hefty price. Depending on which country you’re from, mobile data prices vary. In an analysis run by Cable on mobile data rates, it was found that among 6,313 data plans in 230 countries, India has the cheapest data plans available—costing around $0.26 for 1GB of data. On the other hand,  the country of Zimbabwe pays the heftiest price tag of $75.20 for the same amount of data. 

Therefore, avid mobile users such as yourself should learn a trick or two on how to have better control over their data consumption—and to ultimately save on costs. These quick and easy tips can help you make your mobile data last longer. 

Tip #1: Disable Background App Refresh

 You might not know this, but mobile apps like Facebook and Instagram continue to use up your data— even when you’re not using them. They run in the background, so they can still send notifications to pop up on your screen because of the background app refresh function.

When you first get your phone, the background app refresh function is turned on by default. To reduce data usage, here’s what you should do:

iOS: 

1. Head over to your ‘Settings’ app
2. Click on ‘General’ 
3. Select ‘Background App Refresh’ 
4. From there, you can switch ‘Off’ this function OR even select which apps you want to turn off

Android:

1. Open up your 'Settings' app
2. Click on ‘Data Usage’
3. Select the Menu button
4. Tap on ‘Restrict background data’ 

Tip #2: Disable video auto-play

Compared to last year, the total amount of social media users have increased by 9% according to We Are Social’s 2019 digital trend report. With the continuous surge of people active in social media every year, many can be a victim to the auto-play on social media apps. As a result, many waste their precious mobile data at a drastic and unnoticeable rate. 

Regardless of whether you're watching a specific video or an ad, they will automatically start playing as you scroll through your social feed. By leaving your auto-play function on, you unknowingly drain out your mobile data.

To make your mobile data last longer, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Facebook app
2. Click on ‘More’ on the bottom right of the screen
3. Scroll and select ‘Settings’ and then ‘Account Settings’
4. Tap on ‘Videos’ and then ‘Autoplay’
5. Select the ‘Off’ option 

Tip #3: Disable automatic mobile app updates

Another major mobile data moocher is the automatic app update function on your phone. Always ‘On’ by default, apps spontaneously get updated whenever a new version surfaces. Whether you’re connected through wifi or mobile data, your apps will be updated. 

The automatic app function can get rather frustrating as it can make you feel that you have no control over your mobile data consumption. To take control and make your mobile data last longer, follow along:

Android

1. Go to the ‘Google Play app’
2. Click on the three horizontal lines on the top-left of the screen
3. Click on ‘Settings’
4. Select 'Auto-update apps'
5. To disable automatic app updates, select ‘Do not auto-update apps'
6. Alternatively, you can turn on ‘Only get updates over Wi-Fi’ to avoid unnecessary cellular data charges

iOS

1. Open ‘App Store’
2. Tap the ‘three horizontal dots’ icon on the bottom right of the screen
3. Go to ‘Settings’
4. Tap the switch next to ‘Update apps automatically’ to turn it off
5. Instead, turn on ‘Only get updates over Wi-Fi’ to avoid unnecessary cellular data charges

 
As we become increasingly more reliant on our phones to navigate through today’s digital era, knowing a few hacks to maximise our cellular experience will definitely come in handy. 

Running out of mobile data is inevitable, but it is still possible to make your mobile data last longer with these quick and easy tips. 

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