It’s a cozy evening, and you just started streaming your favorite show. But, as the plot thickens, your Wi-Fi takes an unexpected hiatus. Annoying, right?
Before you unplug your router, look at your smartphone. The culprit could be apps chowing down on precious bandwidth.
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What’s the big deal?
You’ve probably seen notifications you’re using too much data. Besides getting charged more, why does it really matter? Glad you asked.
How to check
Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of how to detect those sneaky Wi-Fi bandits on your Android or iPhone.
For Android
As I'm constantly reminded, steps vary depending on your phone. If that doesn't work, search your settings for Wi-Fi or Data.
You'll see each app and how much bandwidth it’s used over the last month. Android lets you go up to four months back for an even more detailed overview. Select the dates at the top of the screen, and voila!
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For iPhone
While iOS doesn't have a built-in feature to track Wi-Fi usage, there's a workaround. You can monitor your mobile data usage for a glance as to which apps are most bandwidth-intensive.
You may not use heavier social networking apps or entertainment platforms while on your mobile data, so these might be hidden further below. Spotify, YouTube and Netflix are some of the main culprits!
What to do about it
Of course, you know to close the hungriest apps if they're not in use and eating up too much bandwidth. There's more you can do, too:
While you’re at it, do an app audit
Scroll through your apps and note which ones you rarely use or don’t use. Do you have two or three apps that perform the same function? How about the one you downloaded for a free trial membership years ago?
Your iPhone can help if you’re not sure where to start. To get a detailed view of your app activity and what you use most, go to Settings > Screen Time and select See All Activity.
If you’re on an Android, tap Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Dashboard to view screen times for each app.
My advice: Trim the fat. Your devices work better when they run lean.
Keep your tech-know going
My popular podcast is called "Kim Komando Today." It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.
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