How to save data on your iPhone in 8 ways

Are you worried about using too much data on your iPhone? If so, you've come to the right place. In this guide, you’ll find tips on how to save data on your iPhone and steer clear of overage charges. We'll explore eight effective ways to reduce your iPhone's data usage, along with some travel-savvy tips to keep your phone bills low while on the go.

original tiktok svg
original x svg
original facebook svg
original instagram svg
original youtube svg

10 min read

How to save data on your iPhone in 8 ways

How to reduce mobile data usage on an iPhone

By tweaking a few settings, you can use your cellular data more efficiently and make your data plan last longer. Here’s how to use less data on an iPhone in eight ways.

Enable low data mode

Low data mode is a handy feature that helps you save cellular data by reducing background activity, automatic downloads, and streaming quality. Think of it as low power mode but for your mobile data. Apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat use a lot of data, so enabling low data mode is an easy way to limit their data usage.

Note that “Low data mode” isn’t the same as “Low data SIM mode.” That’s a separate setting your iPhone uses when it can’t connect to a cellular signal.

How to save data on an iPhone using low data mode:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”).

    How to enable low data mode: step 1
  2. Tap “Cellular data options” (or “Mobile data options”).

    How to enable low data mode: step 2
  3. Tap “Data mode.”

    How to enable low data mode: step 3
  4. Select “Low data mode.”

    How to enable low data mode: step 4

Alternatively, if you can’t find the settings above, try this:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Mobile service.”

    How to enable low data mode: step 1
  2. Select your primary SIM.

    How to enable low data mode: step 2
  3. Tap “Data mode.”

    How to enable low data mode: step 3
  4. Select “Low data mode.”

    How to enable low data mode: step 4

Once you turn on low data mode, iCloud Photos will pause updates, FaceTime will lower video quality, and automatic downloads and backups will stop. Music and Podcasts will wait for Wi-Fi to download new content, streaming quality will drop to lower resolutions, and the App Store will turn off video autoplay and updates — all to help you save cellular data.

Limit or turn off background app refresh

Another way to save data on your iPhone is to limit background app refresh. Background app refresh is an iOS feature that updates your apps in the background so they’re ready to go when you open them. While this feature is convenient, it can use a lot of data and battery.

Low data mode automatically turns off background app refresh to save data. However, if you think turning off background app refresh alone is enough to reduce your data usage, you can skip low data mode and either limit background app refresh to certain apps or disable it entirely.

How to turn off background app refresh for all apps:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “General.”

    How to limit or turn off background app refresh: step 1
  2. Scroll down and select “Background app refresh.”

    How to limit or turn off background app refresh: step 2
  3. Tap “Background app refresh” again.

    How to limit or turn off background app refresh: step 3
  4. Choose “Off” or “Wi-Fi.”

    How to limit or turn off background app refresh: step 4

If you’ve selected “Wi-Fi & mobile data,” you can control which apps refresh in the background using your mobile data. Simply toggle off background app refresh for apps you rarely use and leave it on for those you’re okay with using mobile data.

How to limit or turn off background app refresh: step 5

Turn off Wi-Fi assist

Yet another way to reduce cellular data usage on an iPhone is to turn off Wi-Fi assist. This iOS feature (available on devices running iOS 9 or later) automatically switches to cellular data when your Wi-Fi signal is weak. It ensures uninterrupted browsing, streaming, and app use but can consume a lot of data. To take control of your data usage, consider disabling it.

How to disable Wi-Fi assist:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”).

    How to turn off Wi-Fi assist: step 1
  2. Scroll down and toggle off “Wi-Fi assist.”

    How to turn off Wi-Fi assist: step 2

When you turn off Wi-Fi assist, your iPhone will stick to the Wi-Fi network, even in weak spots, instead of switching to cellular data automatically. Turning off this feature can help you avoid unexpected data usage but may result in slower connections in areas with poor Wi-Fi connectivity.

Turn off automatic downloads and updates

Automatic downloads and updates can use a lot of data, especially if you’re not on Wi-Fi. Limit these settings to save data and avoid surprise charges.

How to turn off automatic downloads and updates:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “iTunes & app store” (or “App store”).

    How to turn off automatic downloads and updates: step 1
  2. Toggle off “App downloads” and “App updates.” While you’re at it, consider toggling off “In-app content.” This setting works similarly to background app refresh — it allows apps to pre-load content like images, videos, or updates before you open them for the first time.

    How to turn off automatic downloads and updates: step 2
  3. To stop all automatic downloads over mobile data, turn off the “Automatic downloads” toggle.

    How to turn off automatic downloads and updates: step 3

Adjust mail fetch schedule

Your Mail app could be using a lot of data if it’s set to check for new messages frequently. To save data, adjust the fetch schedule to check for updates less often.

How to change the Mail app fetch schedule:

  1. Open “Settings” and scroll down to “Apps.” Tap it.

    How to adjust mail fetch schedule: step 1
  2. Find “Mail.” Tap it.

    How to adjust mail fetch schedule: step 2
  3. Tap “Mail accounts.”

    How to adjust mail fetch schedule: step 3
  4. Tap “Fetch new data.”

    How to adjust mail fetch schedule: step 4
  5. Choose a less frequent schedule, such as “Hourly,” or set it to “Manually” to save even more cellular data.

    How to adjust mail fetch schedule: step 5

Now your Mail app will check for new messages less often and use less data as a result.

Limit location services

Some apps use your iPhone's location services for features like weather updates and traffic alerts. But if you’re not connected to a Wi-Fi network, these features can eat up your data. To reduce data usage, you can limit location services for apps that don’t really need it.

How to limit location services:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Privacy (or “Privacy & security”).

    How to limit location services: step 1
  2. Tap “Location services.”

    How to limit location services: step 2
  3. Scroll down and select an app you don’t want to track your location.

    How to limit location services: step 3
  4. Change the location access to “Never.” Repeat this process for any other apps you want to adjust.

    How to limit location services: step 4

Stream music and videos wisely

Streaming music and videos can consume your data. To save some, download your favorite songs, TV shows, or movies while connected to Wi-Fi. Many apps, such as Spotify and YouTube, allow you to save content for offline access, so you can enjoy it without using up your data.

For example, Spotify’s data usage depends on the streaming quality you choose — higher quality uses a lot of data, while lower quality uses less. If you prefer high-quality music (and who doesn’t?), it’s best to download it over Wi-Fi in advance.

To download high or very high-quality music from Spotify for offline listening, follow these steps:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Audio quality.”

    How to download Spotify music for offline listening: step 1
  2. Scroll to the bottom and select “High” or “Very high.” Make sure that the toggle for “Download using mobile data” is off.

    How to download Spotify music for offline listening: step 2

In the “Audio quality” settings, you can also select different audio quality options for Wi-Fi streaming and mobile streaming. Choose a lower audio quality for mobile streaming to save data.

YouTube’s data usage, on the other hand, depends on the video resolution you select. Streaming in HD (like 1080p) uses significantly more data than lower resolutions, such as 480p or 360p. To save data, lower the video quality in the settings or download videos for offline viewing over Wi-Fi.

To lower YouTube video quality on mobile networks, follow these steps:

  1. In “Settings,” select “Video quality preferences.”

    How to reduce YouTube video quality to reduce data usage: step 1
  2. Tap “On mobile networks.”

    How to reduce YouTube video quality to reduce data usage: step 2
  3. Select “Data saver” under "Video quality on mobile networks."

    How to reduce YouTube video quality to reduce data usage: step 3

Monitor cellular data usage

The last piece of advice on how to conserve data on an iPhone is to monitor your cellular data usage. If you want to know which apps are eating up your data, follow these steps:

  1. Open “Settings” and tap “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”).

    How to monitor cellular data usage: step 1
  2. Check your data usage for each app and disable mobile data for apps you don’t want using it. The apps listed at the top drain the most data.

    How to monitor cellular data usage: step 2

It's a good idea to reset your data statistics regularly to keep track of your usage. If you use a dual-SIM iPhone, monitor both lines to avoid surprises.

Now that you’ve learned how to save data on your iPhone, you can also use this knowledge to avoid roaming charges while traveling, with a couple of additional tips below.

Tips to avoid roaming charges while traveling

When you're traveling, avoid using data roaming — those steep charges can quickly drain your budget. It’s easy to lose track of how much data you’re using, especially when navigating unfamiliar places or staying connected with loved ones. But staying online abroad doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you manage your data smartly and plan ahead.

Start by turning off international roaming and disabling your mobile data to prevent surprise fees. Instead, consider using an eSIM. With an eSIM, you can activate local plans without the hassle of swapping your SIM card. Try Saily — an eSIM service that helps you stay connected, enjoy affordable data, and keep your primary number active, all while avoiding high roaming fees.

saily blog featured how to save data on iPhone

Say goodbye to roaming fees with a travel eSIM

Affordable mobile data plans for every journey.

FAQ

  • original tiktok svg
    original x svg
    original facebook svg
    original instagram svg
    original youtube svg

    saily blog author violeta lyskoit
    Violeta Lyskoit

    Violeta grabs life by the passport, with her phone always ready to snap pictures, and instant internet access keeping her connected. She believes the best buys are plane tickets and an eSIM, which allows her to stay connected wherever her adventures take her.