The data saving feature is available in some Android and iPhone (iOS) applications to allow users to reduce mobile data usage if necessary. As Google and Apple operating systems already have this option natively, the feature on apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify seeks to offer even more control of data consumption in the mobile background.
The user interested in using the resource should be aware of the limitations caused by each application. Reducing photo quality, preventing automatic video playback, and increasing the waiting time for loading pages are some of the consequences of using the feature. Check out the following list of how to save mobile data in some popular applications.
1. Facebook
To activate Facebook’s data-saving mode, simply access the menu shown by the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner. Scroll the screen to the end, select “Settings and Privacy” and tap “Data Saver”. Finally, activate the key next to the resource name. This will reduce the size of the application images and will not automatically display the news feed videos.
After enabling data saving, the user can also turn on the option that disables the feature automatically when the smartphone connects to a Wi-Fi network. To disable both options, simply repeat the steps and deselect the required keys.
2. Facebook Messenger
The first step to save data in Messenger is to access the application menu through your profile photo. Then scroll down to the options in the “Preferences” section and tap “Data Saver”. Then tap the key that activates the feature. With the feature enabled, you will need to tap the screen to download media in-app conversations.
3. Instagram
To activate Instagram’s data-saving feature, you must access the “Settings” tab by selecting the option that shows your profile photo in the corner of it. Then touch “Account” and look for “Use of phone data”. Activate the “Use less data” option, which will prevent videos from being uploaded in advance and will only allow high-resolution media to be displayed when the smartphone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
4. TikTok
TikTok also has a data-saving feature. On the “I” tab, touch the three dots representing the menu and select “Settings and Privacy”. In the “General” section, select the “Data saver” option. Turn it on to reduce data usage, which means that some videos may have a lower resolution or take longer to load. The setting does not apply to Wi-Fi connections.
6. Spotify
In Spotify, the first step to enable the data-saving function is to disable the Wi-Fi network, if you are connected to it on your phone. Then, just access the app settings from the gear located in the top right corner of the screen. Now enable the “Data Saving” option, which will set the music quality to low and disable Canvas.
7. Chrome
Chrome’s data saving option is called “Lite Mode”, and can be activated from the app settings. Access the menu represented by the three lines in the upper right corner of the screen and select “Settings”. Finally, scroll the screen to the end and tap to activate “Lite Mode”. With the option enabled, pages will load faster and there will be data savings of up to 60%. The setting does not apply to anonymous tabs.
8. YouTube
To activate YouTube’s data-saving feature, you must touch your profile photo to access the “Account” menu. Then select the “Settings” option, displayed at the bottom of the list. Tap on “General” and look for the “Limit mobile data” option. When you activate it, YouTube will only display high-definition videos when the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
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