Some settings on your WhatsApp account might be the reason why your data gets finished within a short time. You might not know the reason why your data finishes when you’re on WhatsApp. In this article, you will get to know the reason why your data finishes quickly and how you can use less data on WhatsApp saving you the cost of buying more data.
Why your WhatsApp App Consumes More Data
WhatsApp may be light, but consumes your data more than you can think of, this may be due to some settings you may be aware or unconscious about.
Your media files which include photos, videos, audio clips which automatically download uses your data to carry out the downloading process even without your permission. Unlike chatting that uses less data, voice calls and video calls consumes more data. If you’re someone that prioritizes voice notes than text, then you’re more likely to use more data than another user that uses text.
Interestingly, Viewing status, group chats, and backups also uses more data than you can imagine. You might plan to view some status from your friends list and end up viewing a large number if not all the status, some of the group messages may not be off relevance to you but yet, uses your data and for backups—may occur either daily, weekly, or monthly, you might not be aware your chats and media are been backed up by WhatsApp consuming your data leaving you with a balance not convincing. Once you clearly understand the feature that consumes your data, it becomes easier to stop or reduce the consumption.
How to Use Less Data on WhatsApp
There are several ways you can follow that makes you reduce the rate at which you consume data while using the WhatsApp app;
Turn OFF Auto-download
One of the major reasons for high data consumption is automatic download where media files download without your permission. To stop auto download, Go to your WhatsApp’s settings tab and navigate to “Storage and Data”, then “Media and Auto Download”. From here, you should choose which of the media files (video, audio, document) you want to Auto download. From here you are good to go. If you still want to auto download without using your data, use the “WiFi only” option. Media files automatically download when WiFi connections are available.
Reduce Video and Voice Call Data
Video call consumes more data than voice call, so use video call only when it’s necessary to do so, always use the voice call then switch to video call when the need arises.
Reduce WhatsApp Status Viewing
Sometimes, you may decide to view some status from your friend list and end up exhausting your data in the process without even realising how it all happened. Reduce the rate at which you view status.
Clear Old WhatsApp Media
Clear old media files from your WhatsApp group chats, this reduces the rate at which your data is consumed—especially during data back up. Delete messages that aren’t important to you.
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Tips on How to Save Data on WhatsApp
1. Use your smartphones data saving mode that reduce the rate at which mobile data is consumed when turned ON
2. Use WiFi when updating your WhatsApp or during backup to avoid heavy data consumption.
3. WhatsApp groups that share irrelevant files should be disabled; this is done by disabling auto download in your WhatsApp’s settings.
4. Purchase social media bundles to carry out any activity—video or audio calls, back up, or updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is WhatsApp consuming too much data on my phone?
WhatsApp uses a lot of data when photos, videos, voice notes, and status updates download automatically. Video calls and frequent cloud backups also contribute to high data consumption.
How do I stop WhatsApp from using data in the background?
Go to your phone’s Settings and navigate to Apps and select WhatsApp. Go to Mobile Data & Wi-Fi and click on “Restrict Background Data”. This ensures WhatsApp only uses data when you open the app.
How can I stop videos and photos from downloading automatically?
Open WhatsApp and go to WhatsApp’s settings and navigate to Storage and Data, select Media Auto-Download and set everything to “Wi-Fi Only” or “Never” to stop unwanted downloads.
Does WhatsApp video call use more data than audio call?
Yes. Video calls consume far more data than audio calls. If you want to save data, switch to voice calls or only use video calls on Wi-Fi.
What are the best WhatsApp settings for small data plans?
Turn off auto-download, restrict background data, disable video backup, use low data mode for calls, and avoid heavy media group chats. These settings help stretch any small daily or weekly data plan.
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Final Thought
Managing your WhatsApp data doesn’t have to be stressful; by following some simple steps, your data consumption would reduce and you won’t have to be worried about heavy data consumption. Follow the steps mentioned in this article to use less data while using WhatsApp app.