How to Save Mobile Data on iPhone: 5 Easy Tips for Travelers
Worried about burning through your data allowance while abroad? These quick tips will show you how to save data on iPhone and stretch your mobile plan without changing your online habits.
Summary: How to Easily Decrease Your Cellular Data Usage
Stop iCloud from uploading photos over mobile data
Use offline mode with Google Maps or Apple Maps
Turn off automatic app updates
Disable background app refresh
Lower streaming quality in Spotify
💡 Each tip explained below comes with simple step-by-step instructions. No tech expertise needed. You'll know exactly where to tap to make the most of your data plan.
1. Don't Allow Your Photos to Upload Over Mobile Data
When you're exploring a new destination, you'll probably take tons of photos. Let's admit it, we all do! Beautiful streets, jaw-dropping views, maybe even that incredible dessert.
But if iCloud starts uploading your memories from the camera roll over mobile data, your data consumption may skyrocket in minutes.
➡️ You can prevent this in your device's settings:
Go to Settings > Apps > Photos
Scroll down and tap Mobile Data
Turn off the Mobile Data toggle
Make sure to turn off Unlimited Updates
ℹ️ What changes? Now, your photos and videos will only upload when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, for example when you're back at the hotel.
2. Download Maps Before You Need Them
Google Maps can consume a lot of data while loading photos and videos uploaded by users. Of course, this adds to the overall experience of navigating through an unknown city, but if you want to reduce mobile data usage, you can use the maps offline mode.
Download the maps of a selected area in advance - for example, at home before you travel, or at the hotel when connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Google Maps:
Open the app and search for a destination or drop a pin (tap and hold)
Once you see your destination on the map, tap "X" to remove its name from the search bar, so you can see your profile picture again
Tap your profile picture > Offline maps > Select your own map
Choose the area and tap Download
Apple Maps:
Open the Maps app and search for a place or drop a pin (tap and hold)
Tap Download on the bottom sheet
Select the area you want to cover and confirm
How to use offline maps?
Option 1: Use airplane mode
When you need navigation, turn on airplane mode and open the maps app. It will automatically use the offline maps you saved.
Option 2: Turn off mobile data for maps only
If you want to keep using mobile data for other apps while navigating, airplane mode won't work for you since it blocks all internet access. Instead, you can stop just the maps app from using mobile data:
Go to Settings > Tap Mobile Service (or Cellular)
Scroll to Mobile Data section and tap Show All
Find Google Maps or Apple Maps and turn off mobile data
This way, the maps app will only work with your downloaded offline maps and won't use any mobile data, but your other apps can still access the internet.
Important note: When using offline maps, some features won't be available, including:
Real-time traffic updates
Live public transportation schedules
Current business hours and phone numbers
Recent reviews and photos
Turn-by-turn voice navigation may be limited
Basic navigation and directions will still work perfectly for getting around the city.
3. Turn Off Automatic Updates
If you've never checked these settings, your phone is probably updating all your apps without asking. Imagine how much cellular data you may lose on updates of apps you haven't used in a while.
That's helpful when you're at home and connected to Wi-Fi, but when using a limited data plan abroad, you want to control which apps you update and when.
Go to Settings > Apps > App Store
In the Automatic Downloads section, turn off App Updates. Your iPhone will still let you update apps. It will just ask first, giving you the chance to wait for a Wi-Fi connection.
Under Cellular Data, turn off Automatic Downloads and select Always Ask. Now, if you want to download an app when you're not connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone will ask for your permission before proceeding.
4. Disable Background App Refresh
Even when you're not using apps, many of them stay busy behind the scenes. They're constantly checking for updates, syncing content, and using your data quietly in the background. Data usage varies depending on app type, but very often all of them combined are to blame for your data plan shrinking too fast.
In your phone settings, you can select individual apps that should update in the background and turn off the less important ones.
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
Choose Off to stop all background data refresh, or customize by toggling it off for specific apps
You can always re-enable background refresh later.
🔋 Additional perk: turning off background app refresh saves your battery life!
5. Lower Your Streaming Quality in Spotify
Exploring a new city with your favorite soundtrack playing through headphones is one of life's simple pleasures. But streaming music can burn through more data than you'd expect.
Spotify now includes videos, short clips, and story-like content that uses significant data to load. Fortunately, they've introduced a Data Saver feature that helps reduce your data plan consumption.
Open the app > Tap your profile picture
Go to Settings and privacy > Data saving and offline
Turn on Data Saver
⬇️ Consider downloading your travel playlist while still on Wi-Fi, so it's ready when you take off.
✈️ Stay Connected With Peace of Mind
Seeing a "No data" message while you're trying to book a ride or translate a menu? That's the kind of travel stress no one needs.
The good news? These five easy changes in settings take just a few minutes and could save you from using up your data plan too fast.
If you're planning your next trip, consider using a travel eSIM, like the one from WonderConnect. Most eSIM providers allow you to track data usage in their apps. At WonderConnect, we want to make sure you stay informed about how much data you have left. We'll let you know when you hit 50% and 80% of your data plan. This will give you a chance to top up in advance, so you're never left without connection!
See if WonderConnect has a travel eSIM for your next destination!
Looking for tips on how to save data on Android devices? Here are 5 tips for your Android phone.
