Support for Windows Phone 8.1 has ended Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 on July 11, 2017. This change has affected your software updates and security options.
If you don't have an unlimited data plan—and these days most of us don't—it's important to know how much data you're using and how to minimize data usage on your Windows Phone.
Use Data Sense
Data Sense helps you track your data usage, find out which apps are using the most data, and reduce your cellular data consumption. To learn more, see Use Data Sense to manage data usage.
-
To set it up, swipe over to the App list, then tap Data Sense
.
Conserve data while web browsing
Data Sense can help you save data when you're browsing the web by doing things like reducing the size of webpage images or blocking some ads. To take advantage of this option, do the following.
-
In the App list, tap Data Sense
. -
Tap Settings
. -
Under Browser data savings, choose standard, high, or automatic. (We recommend automatic, which lets your phone decide the best setting.)
Some mobile operators let you browse certain websites without counting it against your data limit, but that benefit may be limited on certain networks if you use the Browser data savings option. When you browse other sites, Data Sense will often save you data. (Not all mobile operators offer Data Sense.)
Connect to a Wi-Fi network
Probably the biggest way you cut down on your cellular data usage is to connect to a Wi-Fi network whenever possible. That way, your phone can use Wi-Fi to send and receive data.
-
To turn on Wi-Fi, in the App list, tap Settings
> Wi-Fi, and then turn on Wi-Fi networking.
Wi-Fi Sense can automatically connect you to nearby Wi-Fi networks. To find Wi-Fi Sense and change your settings, tap Settings
Turn off background tasks
Some apps may continue to use cellular data even when they're not open. You can reduce your data usage by turning off any background tasks you don't need.
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Battery saver, and then swipe over to Usage. -
Tap any apps running background tasks, and then turn off Allow app to run in the background
.
Turn on Battery Saver
Battery Saver turns off some, but not all, of the features that require a data connection. You can turn it on whenever you want or set it to turn on automatically when your battery is low.
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Battery saver. -
Turn on Battery Saver
. -
Under Conserve battery life, tap the option you want to use to conserve battery.
Change email sync settings
You can choose how often your phone automatically syncs email, or you can sync it manually just when you want.
-
In the App list, tap the email account whose settings you want to change.
-
Tap More
> Settings, and then tap Sync settings. -
Under Download new content (or Download new email in some accounts), choose an option. If you don't want your phone to sync email from this account automatically, tap Manually (if this option is available).
Prevent cellular data usage when Wi-Fi connectivity is limited
If your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and can't complete a data-intensive task like downloading an app because of limited connectivity, you can prevent your phone from finishing the operation using cellular data. (This setting may not appear on your phone, depending on how your phone is set up by the manufacturer or your mobile operator.)
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Cellular+SIM. -
Tap For limited Wi-Fi connectivity, and then tap Don't use cellular data.
Turn off your cellular data connection
The most thorough way to make sure you're not using cellular data is to turn it off altogether.
-
In the App list, tap Settings
> Cellular+SIM. -
Turn off Data connection
.