The Tom’s Guide team has put together a list of tips and apps to help keep data consumption in control. Head over to ‘Tips to Reduce You do not have permission to view the full content of this post.
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1. Keep Bill Shock at Bay!
Low-priced, budget data plans can offer a fairly cheap way to get internet access, but they also mean penny-pinching users have to keep an eye on their data usage. Nobody likes having to deal withbill shock, so here are a few tips and helpful tools forreducing your data usage on Android devices. Happy browsing!
See the full selection of You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.
2. Check Your Data Usage
First of all, you need to be aware of how much data you’re using in a given period in order to properly estimate your data needs. You can use the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. in Android’s Settings>Data usage selection (in the Wireless & Networks section of settings) to display a graph of your data usageover a given period of time, as well as how much data particular apps are using. This should give you a fair idea as to how much you use over a month, as well as which apps are the data hogs.
3. Turn Off Autosync
The Android Power Control widget allows you totweak or switch off battery-guzzling features of anAndroid device when you don’t need them (such as the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. radio and GPS features), but it can also be used to switch off Auto-Sync, which prevents apps from checking for notifications, chat messages, newly received emails, and otherwise syncing (and consuming) new data. You can reduce data consumption by turning off Auto-Sync (the icon just to the left of the Brightness button). Just be aware that you’re sacrificing immediate notification in doing this (you can still turn it on and off intermittently over the day, or manually sync your apps).
4. Google Play Autoupdate Settings
Another potential data guzzler is Google Play’sauto-updating of your apps. While keeping yourapplications updated to the latest versions is generally recommended, updating anddownloading You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (such as graphically intensive games) can require large amounts of data transfer. Depending on the version of Google Play, you can You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., or even turn it off altogether (which is also useful when you want to backup a version of an app in case an update is buggy).
5. Restrict Background Data Use
A more draconian method (and one that is not highly recommended) is to Restrict Background Data Use(which can be done in Settings>Data Usage). This restricts apps from using data in the background, but can also break functionality with a lot of apps and widgets, so use with extreme care.
6. Reduce Cache Dumping
An You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. that’s sometimes bandied about is clearing your application cachesto save space, especially on low storage capacity devices. This can, however, adversely affect yourdata usage with certain applications (such asbrowsers or social networking apps). For example, clearing your Google+ or Facebook You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.might seem like a good idea now, but it will also mean that the next time your social networking app syncs for data (like new posts from friends or circles), it’s very likely that it will need to redownload such things as profile pictures and other connected media files.
7. Avoid ad-supported games
Many ad-supported games are available for free on the Google Play Market, but there are very often hidden costs involved. Even if a game isn’t “freemium,” ad-supported games will still take up a portion of your data cap every time it loads up a new banner ad or promotion. If you’re watching out for your data usage, skip ad-supported games where possible, or game only in a WiFi hotspot. Better yet, you can show the developers of a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. some love and purchase the ad-free versions of games you really love.
8. Avoid Streaming Media (when not on WiFi)
Streaming media services allow users to access their You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. wherever you are on the go. Cloud music services from Amazon andGoogle, as well as video website YøùTùbé and other content providers give you access to tons ofvideos and music anywhere you’ve got a data connection. Of course, because you’redownloading and playing media on the fly, you’re going to eat up a sizable chunk of your data cap if you’re away from a WiFi hotspot. If you really must listen to a particular album or watch a movie during a long commute or train ride, consider uploading a copy to you device, rather than streaming it through your mobile connection.
1. Keep Bill Shock at Bay!
Low-priced, budget data plans can offer a fairly cheap way to get internet access, but they also mean penny-pinching users have to keep an eye on their data usage. Nobody likes having to deal withbill shock, so here are a few tips and helpful tools forreducing your data usage on Android devices. Happy browsing!
See the full selection of You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.
2. Check Your Data Usage
First of all, you need to be aware of how much data you’re using in a given period in order to properly estimate your data needs. You can use the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. in Android’s Settings>Data usage selection (in the Wireless & Networks section of settings) to display a graph of your data usageover a given period of time, as well as how much data particular apps are using. This should give you a fair idea as to how much you use over a month, as well as which apps are the data hogs.
3. Turn Off Autosync
The Android Power Control widget allows you totweak or switch off battery-guzzling features of anAndroid device when you don’t need them (such as the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. radio and GPS features), but it can also be used to switch off Auto-Sync, which prevents apps from checking for notifications, chat messages, newly received emails, and otherwise syncing (and consuming) new data. You can reduce data consumption by turning off Auto-Sync (the icon just to the left of the Brightness button). Just be aware that you’re sacrificing immediate notification in doing this (you can still turn it on and off intermittently over the day, or manually sync your apps).
4. Google Play Autoupdate Settings
Another potential data guzzler is Google Play’sauto-updating of your apps. While keeping yourapplications updated to the latest versions is generally recommended, updating anddownloading You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. (such as graphically intensive games) can require large amounts of data transfer. Depending on the version of Google Play, you can You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., or even turn it off altogether (which is also useful when you want to backup a version of an app in case an update is buggy).
5. Restrict Background Data Use
A more draconian method (and one that is not highly recommended) is to Restrict Background Data Use(which can be done in Settings>Data Usage). This restricts apps from using data in the background, but can also break functionality with a lot of apps and widgets, so use with extreme care.
6. Reduce Cache Dumping
An You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. that’s sometimes bandied about is clearing your application cachesto save space, especially on low storage capacity devices. This can, however, adversely affect yourdata usage with certain applications (such asbrowsers or social networking apps). For example, clearing your Google+ or Facebook You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.might seem like a good idea now, but it will also mean that the next time your social networking app syncs for data (like new posts from friends or circles), it’s very likely that it will need to redownload such things as profile pictures and other connected media files.
7. Avoid ad-supported games
Many ad-supported games are available for free on the Google Play Market, but there are very often hidden costs involved. Even if a game isn’t “freemium,” ad-supported games will still take up a portion of your data cap every time it loads up a new banner ad or promotion. If you’re watching out for your data usage, skip ad-supported games where possible, or game only in a WiFi hotspot. Better yet, you can show the developers of a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. some love and purchase the ad-free versions of games you really love.
8. Avoid Streaming Media (when not on WiFi)
Streaming media services allow users to access their You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. wherever you are on the go. Cloud music services from Amazon andGoogle, as well as video website YøùTùbé and other content providers give you access to tons ofvideos and music anywhere you’ve got a data connection. Of course, because you’redownloading and playing media on the fly, you’re going to eat up a sizable chunk of your data cap if you’re away from a WiFi hotspot. If you really must listen to a particular album or watch a movie during a long commute or train ride, consider uploading a copy to you device, rather than streaming it through your mobile connection.
