How to Track Data Usage on Your Android Device

Avoid extra fees and extend your phone's battery life

By
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
    Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology editor and writer for over a dozen years. She runs product reviews for Lifewire, overseeing the process from hands-on testing to publishing.
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    Updated on October 14, 2021
    Reviewed by
    Michael Barton Heine Jr
    Michael Heine headshot
    Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr
      Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
      lifewire's editorial guidelines
      Android

      What to Know

      • Go to Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data usage and tap any app for usage info.
      • Tap the toggle at Data usage > Data saver to turn it on.
      • Or, try a third-party app, such as one offered by your carrier.

      This article demonstrates how to track your data consumption and offers ways to cut down on your data usage without much inconvenience.

      Instructions in this article apply to smartphones with Android 10, 9, 8, or 7, with minor variations among manufacturers.

      How to Check Data Usage on Android

      The instructions below should get you information about your data use.

      1. Open the Settings app.

      2. Tap Connections.

      3. Tap Data usage.

        Tap Settings > Connections > Data usage on Android.

      4. Tap Mobile data usage.

      5. The top of the screen displays your data usage for the current month (as determined by your billing cycle). Tap the date to see previous periods.

      6. Scroll down and tap any app to find out how much data it uses and to control whether it can use mobile data, Wi-Fi, or both.

        Tap Mobile data usage, tap the date, and tap any app to see how much data it uses.

      7. Go back to Data usage and tap Billing cycle to set the date when your plan resets the monthly billing cycle.

      8. Go to Data usage > Data saver.

      9. Tap the toggle to turn on Data Saver.

        Tap Billing cycle or Data Saver and the toggle switch.

      Depending on the carrier, phone manufacturer, and Android version, some phones may have additional options for checking data usage.

      Third-Party Apps for Tracking Data Usage

      There are also third-party apps for monitoring data usage. The four major carriers offer apps (myAT&T, T-Mobile My Account, Sprint Zone, and My Verizon Mobile) that sync with your account.

      Other popular data management apps include My Data Manager and Data Usage. Each app can set up limits and alerts, and My Data Manager tracks data usage in shared or family plans and across multiple devices. Data Usage tracks Wi-Fi usage and predicts when you might go over your data allotment based on daily use. You can set daily, weekly, and monthly data limits too.

      Tips for Reducing Data Usage

      If your plan has a data limit, upgrading it is not the only way to control overages. Here are a few strategies:

      • Most carriers offer shared plans, so team up with your partner, a trusted friend, or family members to save some money.
      • Go to the data usage section of the smartphone settings to restrict background data on apps, either one by one or all at once. This way, apps don't consume data when you're not using the phone, although it may affect how they work.
      • Use Wi-Fi rather than mobile data whenever possible, such as when you're at home or work.

      Beware of unsecured Wi-Fi networks, such as those at coffee shops and other public locations where your privacy could be compromised. If you use public Wi-Fi, consider investing in a hotspot device.

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