I’m certain, like me, you have wondered how your internet data gets exhausted before the expiration date of your subscription, especially with an android, apple or java phone. Hence the question:

How come my internet data on my mobile phone finishes so fast?

This question prompted my thinking of the things that consume internet data and the ways to save internet data on mobile devices.

In order to answer this question we need to know the causes of internet data consumption. They are as follows:

Browsing the Internet or Mobile App:

Website browsing, especially sites with videos, graphics, pictures etc. tend to consume data on a faster rate than normal site with low volume of videos, graphics, pictures. This is because when you watch a video via the internet, depending on the size and length of the video, data is transferred and taken from the available data in your subscription. Hence, sometimes, when you want to watch a video you are prompted that you may be charged by your telecommunication company. This usually is charged on your data.

Likewise graphics and pictures. The size of the graphics or pictures you view with your mobile phone on the internet determine how much data will be consumed.

Also the longer you are on the net, whether active or not, data consumes. What I mean about active or not is when you are physically browsing and when your phone is on standby but with a website page(s) open in the background.

Solution:

Reduce the amount of videos, graphics and pictures you view on the internet with your mobile phone. Sites such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter etc. are certain to consume more of your internet data, so reduce time on such sites.

Close pages when you are done browsing so that, even when your phone is on standby, data is not consumed because of graphics. For instance, when leave your phone with a facebook or twitter page or app open, continuous updates of feeds and tweets are still going on, even though you are not using your phone, so data is transferred.

Lastly, when you are not available to use your phone, you can switch off your internet data. For instance, when you are sleeping, working, in a meeting, driving etc. This can help to save data.

Updates:

App and mobile phone updates consume data, which depends on the size of the updates. Android phones are known for updates of different applications and if not careful the updates can start automatically, consuming a lot of data.

Solution:
If your internet data is limited you can switch off automatic updates and wait till you can connect your phone to a wifi for the updates.

Uploading of content or images via the internet:

There may be times you need to compose a long article probably on a webpage, which requires your phone being connected to the internet. The time spent while composing consumes data.

Also uploading images on websites or apps consume data based on the size of the image.

Solution:

You can use a note app which does not require the internet to compose your article. After which you can copy and paste it in the website. Thereby saving time and data spent on the website.

Most people take pictures with their phones, especially those who like to tell stories on everything they do, using pictures (Selfies). What most people do not know is that, by default, phones take high quality pictures which are also high in size. You can also that good quality pictures which are not high in size and are suitable for uploading on the web. So if you go to the camera settings of your phone you can select the picture category like VGA or something similar, probably under resolution, for pictures which are of the right size and quality to be uploaded on the web. This will save considerable amount of data because some pictures can be as high as 8mb.

Also some mobile screenshot apps save pictures in png format, which are of higher quality and size than jpeg or jpg, which are the formats to be used if trying to save data while uploading images on the web.

No wonder it takes some time when uploading pictures and imagine having to upload multiple pictures that size, it can consume a lot of data.

If all these procedures can be followed, you will be able to save a considerable amount of internet data while using your mobile phone.

You can also monitor data usage as well as know which app consumes the most data under the Data Usage section of your device.

I will be delighted to hear your views and contributions by replying