Many times I’ve found that my limited (but adequate) cellular data bandwidth falls well short of the deadline. Often times, data hungry features such as background app refresh, location tracking and automatic downloads have been found to be the main culprits behind unexpected data consumption. That said, on some occasions, I’d be scratching my head wondering what had suddenly eaten up the entire data packet. So, a system-wide feature to reduce data usage has been on my iOS wishlist for a long time. Better than nothing, Apple finally listened to this long-awaited request by offering the option to enable Low Data Mode in iOS 13 on iPhone and iPad.
How to Turn On Low Data Mode in iOS 13 on iPhone and iPad
To me the best part about this feature is that it works not only for Cellular Data but also for Wi-Fi network. By taking control of many data-hungry features, it saves a lot of data. Before turning on Low Data Mode on your iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 devices, take a quick look at some of the side effects.
- Turns off Background App Refresh
- Apps are not allowed to use network data when you are not using them.
- Stops automatic downloads and backups
- Lowers the quality of streaming content
- Stops automatic video playback, automatic downloads of applications/music and automatic application updates
- Limits the frequency of feed updates
- The video bitrate in FaceTime is set to lower bandwidth.
- Disables prefetching articles in the Apple News app
- iCloud pauses updates and automatic backups
- iCloud Photos turns off updates
Now that you know the impact and the areas where you need to make some compromises, let’s get to the steps!
Use Low Data Mode for Cellular Data in iOS 13 and iPadOS
Note: One thing worth noting at first is that the steps are the same for both iPadOS 13 and iOS 13. That’s why we only used screenshots of the iPhone.
1. Start Settings application on your device.
2. Now, tap on Cellular/Mobile Data and then tap on Cellular/Mobile Data Options.
3. Then turn on the switch right next to it. Low Data Mode.
Note that if you are using Dual SIM on your iPhone, you can also turn on Low Data Mode separately.
Enable Low Data Mode for Network Data Usage in iOS13
- Hungry Settings Tap the app on your device and tap on it. Wireless Internet.
2. Tap now. information Which network data usage do you want to reduce using the “i” button next to the Wi-Fi network?
3. Next, Low Data Mode change.
You can repeat the same steps for each Wi-Fi network to reduce network data usage. Now Low Data Mode preferences for each Wi-Fi network will sync across your iCloud devices and stay up to date. Therefore, you do not need to configure it on your other devices.
SEE ALSO: Top 10 iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max Camera Tips
Avoid Unnecessary Data Consumption on Your iOS 13 Device
So, this is how you can take control of the data usage on your device. While it does involve some compromises, it seems worth the compromise, especially when your priority is to reduce all unnecessary data consumption. Anyway, share your thoughts about this brand new iOS 13 feature and how useful it can be for you.