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How to Stop Greedy Apps from Gobbling Data

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How to Stop Greedy Apps from Gobbling Data

Have you ever been watching something on Netflix with your iPhone or iPad only to realize the app was using cellular data instead of Wi-Fi? Most of us do not have unlimited data available, so that can be an expensive mistake. To avoid using data when you don't have to, it's a good idea to prevent data-gobbling apps from accessing data as their default setting. You can do this by turning off cellular data for specific apps, like video and music streaming apps, and changing the frequency with which apps like Mail fetch new data.

To turn off data for specific apps go to Settings>Cellular and scroll down to Use Cellular Data For. Toggle off any app that is a heavy data user or that you don't need to access when away from Wi-Fi. You can always turn cellular data back on if you want to make an exception.

To change the frequency that Mail and other apps fetch data wirelessly, go to Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars>Fetch New Data and scroll down to Fetch. There you can set the frequency to 15, 30, and Hourly intervals. Or you can choose to fetch manually. The greater the interval, the less data you will be using. And you'll save battery power too!

Top image courtesy of Twin Design / Shutterstock.com

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