What uses data? If a device is not connected to WiFi, then apps and the device use LTE data, even when not in use. This guide provides tips to help minimize the cellular data use on an iPad to avoid reaching the monthly data cap and speed throttling. Here is how to reduce your data usage.
Track and Reset Data Usage
The iPad provides statistics on the data used by each app and system settings. To get an accurate usage for the coming month, manually reset data statistics on the 29th to align with the start of the billing cycle. Note that the statistics only show the amount of data that has been sent and received over the cell network. Usage that occurs over WiFi is not included.
To reset the data statistics:
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In the Settings app
select Cellular Data
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Tap Reset Statistics
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On the confirmation popup, tap Reset
Limit Streaming of Audio and Video
Streaming video and audio consumes large amounts of data; one hour of streaming video can consume up to 1GB of data! Some ways to reduce data consumption include:
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Set apps to stream video in lower resolutions.
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Turn off camera (with permission) while in video conference calls.
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Reduce the amount of streaming media for entertainment.
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Set videos to not automatically play on websites.
Close Apps When Not in Use
To close apps you are not using:
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Double-press Home button (to make the app task manager appear).
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Swipe up on the app thumbnails until they go off the screen.
Disable LTE Access
To set whether cellular data is used for apps and services:
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In the Settings app
select Cellular Data.
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Turn Cellular Data on or off for any app that can use cellular data.
Disable Background App Refresh
After you switch to a different app, some apps will continue running for a period of time. Additionally, an iPad can automatically update its operating system and apps in the background.
To prevent apps from using data when not in use:
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In the Settings app
select General.
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Select Background App Refresh.
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Tap Background App Refresh at the top.
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Select Wi-Fi (as opposed to Wi-Fi & Mobile Data) to limit this feature's activities.
Modify Settings for Native Mail App
Enabled by default, the Push function automatically refreshes your configured email account and fetches any new data on the email server. Data usage can be reduced by limiting how often your phone checks for new email. Fetching data manually might be the best option to limit data usage.
To disable email Push:
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In the Settings app
select Passwords & Accounts.
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Tap Fetch New Data.
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Tap the Push toggle to switch it from on
to off
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Scroll down and choose a fetch schedule (options include Automatically, Manually, Hourly, Every 30 Minutes, and Every 15 Minutes).
Fetch schedule set on Automatically will download emails automatically in the background, but only when the iPad is connected to WiFi and power. It's much like Push, in that emails arrive as they reach the email server, but it doesn't use all the battery power or data usage.
Fetch schedule set on Manually means emails are not checked at all. To check for messages manually, open the Mail app and refresh the page by pulling the messages down from the top of the screen.
Disable Loading Remote Images
Another way to cut back on Mail's data usage is by disabling the Load Remote Images feature, which is enabled by default. Remote images are URLs that point to online pictures. When you open the email, those images are downloaded into the message. Disabling the feature will allow emails to load faster, decrease data used by the Mail app, and prevent senders from tracking or gathering personal information.
To disable Load Remote Images:
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In the Settings app
select Mail option
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Scroll to the Messages section
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Deselect Load Remote Images
Turn Wi-Fi Assist Off
When Wi-Fi Assist is enabled, the iPad will automatically switch to cellular when there is a poor Wi-Fi connection.
To disable Wi-Fi Assist:
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In the Settings app
select Cellular Data
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Scroll down to the bottom
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Switch Wi-Fi Assist from on
to off
Turn On Low Data Mode
Turning on Low Data Mode restricts background cellular data usage across the device. In general, Background App Refresh will be disabled, streaming content quality might be reduced, and automatic downloads and backups will be turned off.
To turn Low Data Mode on or off:
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In the Settings app
select Cellular Data
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Select Cellular Data Options
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Switch Low Data Mode to on