5 Smart Smartphone Hacks to Save Data and Spend Less on the Internet

5 Smart Smartphone Hacks to Save Data and Spend Less on the Internet

Discover 5 effective smartphone hacks to save mobile data, reduce internet costs, and make your data last longer on Android or iPhone.

The Struggle with Rising Data Costs in Nigeria

Let’s be honest — staying online in Nigeria is becoming expensive. Between streaming, social media, and app updates, mobile data seems to vanish faster than ever. According to the Global Broadband Pricing League Table 2024 by Cable.co.uk, Nigeria ranks 51st globally for broadband costs, with an average monthly price of $21.89.

But you don’t need to give up your favorite apps or online activities. With a few smart adjustments, you can stretch your data plan and reduce unnecessary consumption. Below are five easy and effective smartphone hacks to save mobile data and make it last longer.

1. Turn Off Video Auto-Play on Social Media

Apps like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) automatically play videos as you scroll — consuming data even if you don’t watch them fully.
To stop this:

• Go to your app settings.
• Find “Data usage” or “Auto-play” settings.
• Set it to Wi-Fi only or Never auto-play.

This simple change can save hundreds of megabytes per day. You’ll still enjoy your feed, but you’ll be in control of what loads.

Learn how to manage your Facebook app settings efficiently via Facebook Help Center.

2. Use Built-in Data Saver Mode

Both Android and iPhone devices have built-in data saver features. Enabling this mode prevents background apps from using data and reduces video or image quality when browsing.

For instance, Google Chrome has a “Lite Mode” (now called Data Saver) that compresses web pages before loading. This can significantly reduce your browsing data usage.

How to activate:

• On Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver.
• On iPhone: Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Low Data Mode.

You can also use third-party data management apps like Datally or GlassWire (available on the Google Play Store) to monitor and control usage.

3. Download Instead of Streaming

Streaming music, movies, or tutorials consumes large chunks of your data. Instead, download your favorite content while on Wi-Fi and enjoy it offline.

Here’s how to do it smartly:

• YouTube: Use YouTube Premium to download videos for offline viewing.
• Spotify or Boomplay: Save playlists offline when connected to Wi-Fi.
• Netflix: Download your shows and watch without data.

By doing this, you avoid repeated streaming of the same content and preserve your mobile data.

Visit the YouTube Premium official page for more on offline downloads.

4. Monitor Your Data Usage Regularly

You might be surprised to learn which apps drain most of your data. Thankfully, both Android and iPhone have tools to help track this.

How to check your usage:

• Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage.
• iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data, then scroll to view usage per app.

Once you identify high-consuming apps, you can either limit their background data or switch to Wi-Fi for heavy downloads.

It’s also helpful to install apps like My Data Manager from the Play Store to set custom usage alerts and track your spending.

5. Disable Background App Data

Even when you’re not actively using them, many apps silently consume data — refreshing content, syncing emails, or checking for notifications.

To stop this:

• Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Data Usage and turn off background data for non-essential apps.
• iPhone: Navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it for selected apps.

Keep background data on only for vital apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, or your banking apps.

Bonus Tip: Update Apps Over Wi-Fi Only

Automatic app updates can drain both your data and battery. Make sure updates only happen when connected to Wi-Fi:

• Android: Play Store > Settings > Network Preferences > Auto-update apps > Over Wi-Fi only.
• iPhone: Settings > App Store > App Updates > Off (use Wi-Fi manually).

This ensures that large updates won’t eat up your mobile data unexpectedly.

Control Your Data, Control Your Budget

With Nigeria’s rising internet costs, every megabyte counts. These simple but effective smartphone data-saving hacks help you take charge of your mobile data — without missing out on what matters.

By disabling auto-play, enabling data saver mode, downloading content, and monitoring your usage, you can stretch your plan further and spend less every month.

Take charge of your data today! Visit Google Play Store or Apple App Store to explore data-saving apps and tools that make life easier.