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Should You Keep Your Cellular Data On Or Off?
Reaching the data limit in the middle of the month could be a big problem. Of course, we can have Wi-Fi at home, at the office, and in many public places. However, in the occasions where we do not have Wi-Fi within our reach, we will be using cellular data.
The problem comes when we use the internet as if we were in a Wi-Fi zone, which is common because we are used to that.
So, should we have our cellular data on or off? Continue reading and find more about this topic:
How To Turn Your Cellular Data Off & On
It is easy to learn how to enable and disable your mobile data; however, if you are somewhat new to this world and need some help, here are some tips:
For Android & iPhone
- First, go to the settings menu on your phone.
- Click Data or Data Usage (the name could change depending on the model).
- Move the Cellular Data switch off or on depending on your preferences.
Another way to turn your mobile data off or on is to swipe down the notification bar, then look for the mobile data icon and click to enable or disable. If you turn on your data, you will immediately see the internet speed next or above your signal icon (3G, 4G, or 5G). It can vary depending on the phone, the mobile service, and the area in which you are located.
When To Turn Your Cellular Data Off
There are several reasons and occasions where it could be beneficial for you (and your pocket) to turn off your data. Let’s look through these reasons:
A good reason to stop using your mobile data is when your battery is running low, and there is no possibility of charging your phone at the moment. When we have the data on, we tend to use all kinds of battery-hungry apps, and if you are below 15%, you cannot afford that. It would be better to save battery life and enable your data just if you need it.
Second, let’s face it. Use the cell phone is becoming an addiction for many people. It means that sometimes we can become little aware of the moments in which we use it. We all know that using our cell phones while driving is not correct. If you find it difficult to put your cell phone aside even when driving, a good way to start forgetting about it is by turning off your data. You will not receive any notifications and will not be tempted to check your phone.
The same advice applies when walking down the street. It could be dangerous to cross the streets with a cell phone in hand because all your attention will be on it and not on approaching cars.
Finally, the most important reason to turn off your data: take care of your pocket. How easy it is to consume data and balance without realizing it. Of course that the cellular data is used when we are not in a Wi-Fi zone, but if you use the data for watching videos and download apps, you will have an unexpected bill at the end of the month.
One thing you can do to avoid this problem is to turn off your cellular data. However, there is another option that most of the time works better.
Before, we need to understand the two main types of data usage: background data and foreground data. The first refers to the data that apps use to check for any new notification, and the second is the data consumed when you are actively using the app (sending a message or posting a photo).
You could disable apps from using background data. It means that for those data-hungry apps, the data will be off, and they will not consume it unless you open them.
How To Restrict Background Data Usage On Your Smartphone
For Android & iPhone
- First, go to the settings menu on your phone.
- Click on Data or Data Usage (the name could change depending on the model).
- Click on Cellular Data Usage, there you will find a list of all the apps that require data to function.
- Click on the app that you want to enable.
- Move the Background Data switch off.
Another important thing you need to do to save data is to configure the store (App Store or Google Play), to disable automatic downloads and updates. It is much better and affordable to do this under a Wi-Fi connection.
Let’s show you how to do this:
For Android:
- Open the Google Play Store App on your phone.
- Open the menu (click on the three lines on the left).
- Click on the option that says “Settings”.
- Find the option “App download preference”.
- Choose the option “Over Wi-Fi only”.
- Do the same with the option “Auto-update apps”.
For iPhone:
- Go to “Settings” and then select “iTunes & App Store”.
- Scroll down and find the option “Automatic Downloads”
- To disable the options just move the sliders to turn them off.
A Wi-Fi signal will connect automatically if you entered the password before, which is excellent if we need to download apps or watch videos. However, if you are out of the range, your phone will switch to mobile data. Because of this, it is important to keep an eye on the notification bar to see if your Wi-Fi icon is there.
Although if you have the mobile data or the background data off, you still can do a lot with your phone. You can make calls, send text messages or take photos. Some apps (like maps apps and translation apps) give you the chance to load content and then use it without data.
So, there are several reasons to turn off your data on some occasions, it is up to you to choose when is the proper moment to turn it on and use it.
