To minimize mobile data usage while roaming, it’s important to adjust your smartphone settings. On both iPhone and Android, you can limit background data usage for apps and configure automatic backups (such as photos, videos, and other large files) to occur only when connected to Wi-Fi. It’s also helpful to check the settings for each app on your phone to ensure that data is used only when necessary.
Tips for Reducing Data Usage on iPhone
Turn off mobile data for specific apps and reduce data usage for apps like maps, social networks, email, streaming video, and others. Go to Settings > Mobile Service > Mobile Data. Scroll down to find the apps that use cellular data. If you don’t want a particular app to use mobile data, you can turn off data roaming for it. When mobile data transmission is turned off, apps will only use Wi-Fi for data.
Turn off automatic image downloads in messaging apps like Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Open WhatsApp or a similar app. Go to Settings > Data and Storage. Find the option related to auto-download settings and select Wi-Fi or Never for auto-download.
Turn off auto-updates for the App Store or, at the very least, set auto-updates to occur only over Wi-Fi. Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Use Mobile Data - Turn off cellular data usage.
Turn off the Wi-Fi Assist feature. Go to Settings > Mobile Services > Mobile Data. Then scroll down and tap the Wi-Fi Assist slider.
Turn off mobile data for iCloud Drive synchronization. Go to Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive. Then scroll down and disable Use Mobile Data.
Turn off background app refresh. Go to Settings > Background App Refresh and either turn it off completely or allow it only for specific apps. This setting will prevent apps from sending and receiving data in the background while using international roaming.
Tips for Reducing Data Usage on Android
User interface elements or menu item locations may vary on different devices.
Turn off auto-updates for the Play Store or at least set auto-updates to occur only over Wi-Fi. Disable app updates over mobile data. Go to Apps > Play Store > Settings > Auto-update apps > Set auto-update apps to Wi-Fi only.
Turn off automatic image downloads in messaging apps like Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Open WhatsApp or a similar app. Go to Settings > Data and Storage. Find the auto-download option and select Wi-Fi or Never for auto-download. Limit background data usage. Go to Settings > Data Usage > Background Data. Disable it completely or for specific apps.
Enable data saving mode. Go to Settings > Connections > Data Usage. Tap on Data Saver to access the data-saving settings.
Turn off account auto-sync. Go to Settings > Accounts > ... > Disable Auto-Sync.
Disable the Smart Network Switch. This option allows your smartphone to automatically switch to mobile data if Wi-Fi becomes unstable. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Advanced and turn off this option.