How to Save Data on Smartphone While Traveling

Knowing how to save data on smartphone while traveling helps especially when you have a limited amount of data to use. For instance, when you are using prepaid SIM cards or rental pocket wi-fi while traveling, you may want to control the data usage to avoid the speed getting reduced, or the network being terminated due to reaching the data usage limit of your plan.

So here are some of the things you can try to avoid using unnecessary data.

1. Make the best use of free wi-fi

The easiest way to control the data usage is to limit the cellular network usage and instead use free wi-fi, especially when you want to do things that use a lot of data.

Things better done over wi-fi:

– Upload/download photos and videos
– Stream videos
– Video chat
– Online game

While we recommend taking the advantage of free wi-fi, we also want to remind you that free public wi-fi is not safe. We recommend you only use free wi-fi that requires Log-in/Password, and to keep your smartphone’s wi-fi setting off when not in use. Don’t enter sensitive personal information when you are using free wi-fi, and instead do that using cellular network or wi-fi at home.

Where to Get Free Wi-Fi When Traveling in Japan?

2. Find out what apps use more data than others

Before changing the settings of your apps or device, you may want check what apps are consuming more data than others on your device. Discovering ways to conserve data on your smartphone by identifying apps that consume more data than others. Learn how to optimize your data usage and efficiently manage your mobile data with our tips to save data on smartphone.

How to check the data usage of apps:

Android
Settings > Data usage > Cellular data usage

iPhone
Settings > Cellular > Scroll down to Use Cellular Data For:

If there is any app that you think is not necessary but is consuming too much data, consider deleting it. If the apps consuming a lot of data were actually the ones you need, check if there’s any option to save data in the app and also try to use less when on cellular network.

3. Change the Apps settings

For the popular apps listed here, there are ways to save data as below.

Google Map
Download the map, so that you can check offline
Menu > Offline maps > Select your own map > Download

Instagram
Your page in the Instagram app
Options > Settings > Cellular Data Use > Use Less Data

Facebook
Your page in the Facebook app
More > Settings > Account Settings > Videos and Photos > Autoplay > Choose either “On Wi-fi Connections Only” or “Never Autoplay Videos”

X/Twitter
Your page in the X/Twitter app
Settings and privacy > General > Data usage > Video > Video autoplay > Choose either “Wi-Fi only” or “Never”
Settings and privacy > General > Data usage > Video > High-quality video > Choose either “Wi-Fi only” or “Never”

Snapchat
Your page in the Snapchat app > Settings > Manage Preferences > Travel Mode > On

We don’t recommend you watch videos if you want to save data but if you need to, adjust the data usage settings to reduce the amount of data used while watching Youtube and Netflix.

Youtube
Your page in the Youtube app
Settings > General > Limit mobile data usage > On
Settings > General > Uploads > Only when on Wi-Fi

Netflix
Your page in the Netflix app > Menu > App Settings > Cellular Data Usage >Select your preferred setting

4. Change the device settings

You can control the auto updates of apps and background data by changing the settings on your smartphone.

A. Allow auto updates of apps over Wi-Fi only

Android
Play Store > Settings > Auto-update apps > Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only

iPhone
Settings > iTunes & App Store > Turn off “Mobile data” or “Use Cellular Data”

B. Restrict background data

Android
To change the setting for specific apps
Settings > Apps > Choose the Apps > Data usage > Turn off background data

To change the setting for all apps
Settings > Data Usage > Data Saver > On

iPhone
To change the setting for all apps
Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Off

To change the setting for specific apps
Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Turn off the switch only of the apps you want to disable

5. Messaging apps: Don’t send too many photos/videos

Messaging applications like WhatsApp, LINE, and Facebook Messenger operate efficiently with data-only SIM cards. When utilized solely for text messaging, these apps consume minimal data, contributing to your efforts to save data on smartphone.

However, engaging in activities such as sending photos, videos, or video chatting will utilize additional data. To manage your data usage effectively, exercise control over your interactions with messaging apps when accessing cellular data. This approach can help you optimize your data consumption and contribute to your efforts to save data on smartphone.

6. Use browsers that have data saver feature

There are browsers that have an option to save data.

Chrome
Open Chrome browser > Settings > Data Saver > On

Opera Mini
Open Opera Mini > Settings > Select the mode suitable for your usage

There are many things you can do to save data on smartphone. We hope you found some practical tips you can try!

Need Additional Data?

Finally, for those in Japan who are finding their highspeed data to be constantly maxed out, we’d like to introduce our parent company, CDJapan Rental, which provides high quality unlimited data pocket wifi rentals. We’ve recently started providing support for telework, so make sure to see our pages for incredible low rates. Check it out here for CDJapan Rental plans.

Also, convenience of buying a prepaid SIM card when traveling to Japan. When traveling to Japan, there are many benefits to buying a prepaid SIM card, especially for trips of 30 days or less.