11 ways to trick Android into using less data
Apps are moving to the cloud. Streaming services like Netflix and
Spotify are big. And just about every one of us is addicted to social
networking.
There's just one thing standing in the way: your data plan.
With unlimited plans dwindling, most smartphone users are stuck with
tiered options that sometimes make data usage more stressful than fun.
(Anyone who's been hit with an exorbitant overage charge knows this
feeling.)
But if you're on
Android,
you've got a little more wiggle room, thanks to plenty of
data-restricting settings. With the proper configurations, you'll find
yourself using data at a much slower rate -- so much so, perhaps, that
you could even step down a tier.
Tame hungry apps
Whether you're actively using them or not, apps love to eat up data.
They're checking for updates, running ads, and refreshing your user
content in the background. The good intentions are there, but most
times, the conveniences these practices bring don't outweigh the
depleted data reserves. It's time to tame those apps.
Update apps on Wi-Fi only
Head to the Google Play store and tap Menu > Settings >
Auto-update apps. Here, be sure that "Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only"
is selected. You also have the option to choose "Do not auto-update
apps," but it's less preferable, since you'll have to remember to update
apps manually.
(Credit:
Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET)
Configure in-app data settings
To give you a fluid experience, many apps ping servers in the background
to keep their content updated. For instance, Google+ backs up your
photos and videos as they're captured, while Mint can be configured to
refresh banking data.
These conveniences are great, but they come at a cost, so dive into
the app settings and disable the data-sucking options you don't
absolutely need.
Restrict background data
Even apps that don't allow you to fine-tune data settings could still be
loading background data. In Ice Cream Sandwich and later versions of
Android, one way to find out which ones are guilty is to go to Settings
> Data Usage, and scroll down to reveal a list of apps with
accompanying data usage stats.
Then, tap an app to view its usage data, and take a look at the two
numbers next to the pie chart. "Foreground" refers to the data used when
you're actively using the app, while "Background" reflects the data
used when the app is running in the background.
If you notice an app is using too much background data, scroll down
to the bottom and check "Restrict background data." Just note that this
setting overrides any conflicting app behavior (like an app that would
otherwise update your bank account info every few hours).
Take advantage of preloading and caching
As data constraints become a reality for most smartphone owners,
developers are including options that make their apps less demanding.
Don't let these options go unnoticed -- they'll save you heaps.
Preload streaming-app content
As we become increasingly frugal about cellular data usage, more apps
offer caching (or preloading), letting you download content on Wi-Fi and
view it at any later time. Spotify, for example, lets users download
playlists. Similarly, YouTube preloads subscriptions and videos on your
Watch Later list.
The majority of apps that offer preloading are the ones that need it
most. So use it. Head into the settings menu of any app (especially
streaming-media apps), to see if the option is available. Alternatively,
you might find that an app allows you to lower streaming quality while
on a cellular data connection.
Download files on Wi-Fi only
Unless you absolutely have to, refrain from downloading songs, movies,
or large files while using a cellular data connection. It's common
sense, but be sure to do any downloading while you're on Wi-Fi.
Cache maps before traveling
With its new offline feature, Google Maps now allows you to cache maps.
It takes some time to download them, and does require a chunk of storage
space, but once a map is downloaded, you'll be able to view and
navigate it without using your data connection.
Check sync settings
With automated syncing, Google makes sure your accounts are updated
any time a change is made. Unfortunately for your data plan (and battery
life) that means your phone is constantly pinging the server to find
out if new content needs to be downloaded (or uploaded.) There are a
couple ways to temper this.
Fine-tune sync settings
During the initial phone configuration, you probably opted into account
syncing. By default, everything is set to sync, including things like
photos, the Play Store, and other Google apps. You don't necessarily
need all these items syncing -- especially data-heavy ones like photos.
To adjust sync options, head to Settings > Accounts > Google,
and select an account. Here, uncheck the boxes next to the items that
don't absolutely need to be synced. Repeat the same process for other
accounts.
After that, you can manually sync accounts by visiting their respective apps.
Temporarily switch off sync
Going out for the night? Sitting at your desk? Prevent your phone from
unnecessarily syncing data by disabling syncing, either from the
notification bar, or by going to Settings > Data Usage > Menu >
uncheck "Auto-sync data."
Minimize browser data usage
If Web browsing is the data-hogging culprit, it's no surprise. Some
Web sites have yet to be optimized for mobile, while others eat into
data with bulky advertisements.
The simple answer to these woes is data compression. With it, a
Web page is first compressed in the cloud before being sent to your
phone, significantly reducing the download size.
There are some drawbacks, however. First, even though your data is
encrypted and anonymized, the browser must still process your activity
while it compresses it. Not everyone is comfortable with that.
Secondly, sometimes compression means sacrificing quality, leaving you with slightly altered Web pages.
Even so, the option can be worthwhile for anyone on a tiered plan (or
times when you're on a slow connection). Opera, a much-loved browser,
is one such app that offers compression. Just head to the Settings menu
to enable it. After some use, Opera will tell you just how much data you
saved.
Alternatively, Chrome Beta includes a handy new data compression feature,
but you'll have to enable it. To do so, head to Settings > Bandwidth
Management > Reduce data usage. Going forward, you can revisit that
settings window to see how much data you're saving.
Call in for help
If you've given it all you got and you're still breaching your data limits, it's time to call in for help.
Monitor data usage
One of the most useful Android features is the Data Usage tool. With it,
you can view your monthly activity, see which apps demand the most
megabytes, and configure usage warnings. Find out how to use it with our
step-by-step guide.
Alternatively, Onavo Count offers a similar solution, but steps it up
by including a widget, letting you keep an eye on real-time data usage
at any moment. Read our guide to using Onavo Count.
Compress all data activity
As an absolute last resort, Onavo Extend
takes its Count app a step further by actively compressing almost all
incoming data. For instance, e-mails are simplified, Web pages are
compressed server-side, and photos are optimized.
Keep this option in your app drawer, should you find yourself running low on data.
It's time to decide if you want the data usage information
shown in the notification shade, in a widget on your Home screen, or
both. The widget has sizing options (from micro to large), unit of
measure options, and even text color choices so you can read it on your
wallpaper. If you're using the widget, you can disable the notification
shade information from the app's menu.
