Cellular data plans in most places are limited and expensive. Once you exhaust your allowed quota, the additional costs can be significant. The best way to keep these costs under control is to reduce overall cellular data usage on your iPhone.

So, let's look at 13 helpful tips to use less mobile data. But before that, here's how to check how much data you have left.

How to Your Check Data Usage on an iPhone

Most data plans do not carry over to the next cycle. Thus, if you go too extreme on the savings, you may have a poor experience and at the end of the month you may realize that several GBs of unused data will expire in a day and go waste.

Therefore, it is essential to know how to see how much data you have left. Here are four ways to do that on an iPhone.

1. Use Your Carrier's App

The most convenient way to see data usage on iPhone is to download your carrier's app and log in. There you will have all the relevant details, like balance, remaining validity, outstanding bill, and so on.

2. Use Your Carrier's Customer Care or Special Number

Some carriers allow you to check the remaining data allowance by calling their dedicated customer care number, sending a text message, or dialing a special code, like *123#. Contact your carrier or run a quick web search to learn these specific numbers and codes for your service provider.

3. Use the Usage Section in the Settings App

A few carriers can also show the plan details and usage inside your iPhone. Just go to Settings > Cellular > Usage or Cellular Plans.

4. Use the iPhone Settings App

Finally, you can also get an idea of your iPhone data usage inside Settings > Cellular. Here, you will see how much data every app has used. Based on this, you can run a quick calculation. However, if you rely on this method, it is essential to tap Reset Statistics on the first day of every new billing cycle

Now that you know how to look up data usage on iPhone, here are the ways to reduce its consumption.

1. Enable Low Data Mode

Low Data Mode on the iPhone is a one-stop solution to significantly reduce data usage. To enable it from the Settings app, go to Cellular > Cellular Data Option > Low Data Mode. This option turns off automatic updates, syncs, and background tasks over mobile data.

2. Turn Off Mobile Data for Unnecessary Apps

iOS lets you disable cellular data for desired apps to cut down usage. To do this, go to Settings > Cellular and turn off the switches next to the relevant app names. Want to know the best part? If you have an app or game that works offline, turning off its data will stop in-app ads.

Finally, if you make many calls over VoLTE, your carrier might count this against your data plan. To address this, go to Settings > Cellular and see if your network allows using 3G or 4G for calls instead of VoLTE.

Related: What Is VoLTE and How Can You Turn It Off?

3. Stream Video at Lower Quality

The 1080p crisp videos you enjoy consume a lot of data. One of the best ways to reduce iPhone data usage is to play YouTube, Netflix, and other videos at a lower quality. Most apps give you the option to select video quality through the in-app settings.

And if you use mobile data to watch Ted Lasso or other Apple TV shows, open Settings > TV > Cellular and select Automatic to adjust that quality.

4. Cut Down Your Usage of Data-Hogging Apps

Apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat eat up a lot of data. To keep data usage under control, consider using these apps less while on mobile data. Plus, try to find in-app settings that let you limit data usages.

For example, go to your Instagram profile, tap the hamburger icon > Settings > Account > Data Usage and enable Use Less Cellular Data.

5. Turn Off Automatic Downloads, Uploads, and Updates Over Cellular

Updates and syncs can take up significant amount of data and exceed your plan. To stop this, here are a few suggestions.

  • For the App Store: Open Settings > App Store and, under Cellular Data, turn off Automatic Downloads. Next, tap App Downloads and choose Always Ask or Ask If Over 200 MB. Additionally, turn off Video Autoplay or set it to Wi-Fi Only.
  • For Podcasts: Open Settings > Podcasts and enable Block Downloads Over Cellular. You can also tap Cellular Download and set it to Always Ask.
  • For Books: Open Settings > Books and turn off Automatic Downloads. Plus, tap Downloads and choose an option other than Always Allow.
  • For Photos: Open Settings > Photos > Cellular Data and turn off Cellular Data.

6. Turn Off Personal Hotspot

Your other Apple devices (like a MacBook or iPad) with the same Apple ID may connect automatically to your iPhone's hotspot if it's left enabled. To fix this, open Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn it off. If you don't find Personal Hotspot on the first Settings page, look inside Cellular.

7. Disable Wi-Fi Assist and iCloud Drive Updates

Wi-Fi Assist automatically switches you to cellular data when Wi-Fi connectivity is poor. This may increase mobile data consumption. To fix this, open Settings > Cellular, and from the bottom, turn off Wi-Fi Assist. From here, you may also turn off iCloud Drive to stop using it over mobile data.

8. Download Your Favorite Songs Instead of Streaming Them

If you subscribe to the paid plan of music streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music, you have the option to download songs for offline use. To minimize cellular data usage, you should download your favorites over Wi-Fi and limit streaming over cellular.

Related: The Best Music Download Apps for Android and iOS

9. Turn Off Background App Refresh

Turning off Background App Refresh will help reduce cellular data consumption, as apps won't refresh automatically in the background to fetch new data. To do this, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Background App Refresh and choose Off or Wi-Fi.

10. Turn Off Unnecessary Location Services

Disabling location services for irrelevant apps helps to keep data usage under control. Plus, it's also great for battery life and privacy. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and tap the relevant app name. Finally, choose Never. Repeat this with other unnecessary apps as well.

11. Implement Data Saving Practices in Third-Party Apps

Many chat, call, and streaming apps offer a way to use less cellular data or block automatic media downloads when you're not connected to Wi-Fi. If you are on a lower data plan, consider making use of these.

For example, in WhatsApp, open its Settings > Storage and Data option and enable Use Less Data for Calls. You may also turn off media auto-download over cellular connection.

12. Use 3G Instead of 4G or 5G

Another way to limit data usage is to open Settings > Cellular and see if your network allows you to switch to 3G instead of 4G or 5G. This will ensure that, due to lower speeds, less data is loaded automatically.

13. Take Advantage of Wi-Fi Whenever It's Available

Finally, the last suggestion is to take advantage of Wi-Fi as much as possible. Plan where you're going and how to get online there, and when you are on Wi-Fi, download the TV shows, movies, songs, books, podcasts, and Safari reading lists you want to use. This will significantly reduce the burden and dependence on cellular data, thus helping you save it.

Save Data and Money on Your iPhone!

These are the best ways to reduce iPhone data usage. Once you implement the above recommendations, getting through your data cycle becomes easier without buying add-ons or paying extra.

As we spend the most time using Wi-Fi, it is also super helpful to know how to improve its performance for faster browsing and downloads.