WhatsApp: Can it Eat Up All Your Data?

WhatsApp

When it comes to connecting, there is no doubt that WhatsApp is an excellent platform because of its support for media. If you are a new user, you must be aware that WhatsApp can eat up all your data quickly. If you are not mindful, it will consume your monthly quota within a few days.

In the absence of a lightweight version, WhatsApp can quickly gobble mobile data especially when receiving or sending videos, messaging and calling. If you do not want to spend more on data, the easiest solution is to open the app within the WiFi network.

What are other solutions to save data usage when using WhatsApp?
If you do not have access to a WiFi network or you are always on the go, the least that you can do is to reduce WhatsApp data usage by configuring the app. To help you get started, here are some solutions to save mobile data when using WhatsApp:

Change the Auto-Download feature to WiFi
You must know at the onset that WhatsApp will download all media messages automatically – no matter it is in Cellular or WiFi. This auto-download feature consumes a lot of data.

Fortunately, you can do something about this. You simply change this to media only when you are on WiFi network. To do this, you should consider the following steps:

  • Step 1: Go to WhatsApp Settings.
  • Step 2: Choose Chats and Calls
  • Step 3: You have to consider Media Auto-Download
  • Step 4: Then click on Images, Audio, Video
  • Step 5: Finally, choose WiFi.

If you do this successfully, you are significantly cutting the bandwidth used for video downloading. Remember that video downloading is the number one feature that can consume most of your data plan.

Turn off Video Backup
Keep in mind that WhatsApp can backup all data into Google Drive or iCloud, which includes incoming videos. With this, Video Backup can consume more bandwidth and utilise a lot of space from backup storage. If you are not particular about backing up videos, you just turn off the feature.

If you are particular about Video Backup, you should save videos manually. To do this, you should consider the following steps:

  • Step 1: Go to WhatsApp Settings.
  • Step 2: Choose Chats and Calls.
  • Step 3: Look for Chat Backup then Include Videos.
  • Step 4: Make sure to Turn Off Chat Backup.

Turn off the Chat Backup with Cellular Data
WhatsApp provides backup to the cloud, which is an excellent feature for most users. The Chat Backup can help you restore message history in the event that you change phone. Put in mind though that backing up the chat requires data bandwidth.

You should set your phone to backup only on WiFi. To do this, you should consider the following:

  • Step 1: Start to disable cellular data for iCloud by opening iPhone Setting.
  • Step 2: Check for iCloud then navigate through the iCloud Drive.
  • Step 3: The next thing to do is opt for Use Cellular Data then Turn Off.

Stop Auto Saving Incoming Media
There is a feature that automatically saves all incoming videos and photos into the Photo Library or Camera Roll. Though turning this feature off will not really save you a lot of data, you should still consider it.

To do this, you should mind the following:

  • Step 1: Open WhatsApp and then choose Settings.
  • Step 2: You should choose Chats and Calls then Save Incoming Media.
  • Step 3: Finally, you should Turn Off the feature to stop saving video and picture automatically.

Set Low Data Usage on Call Setting
More importantly, you have to set Low Data Usage on Call Setting. You should understand that when you make VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) calls through WhatsApp, it would consume more to transfer voice data. Simply put, WhatsApp voice calls are consuming fewer data but when it comes to video calls, it gobbles more data.

If you are a heavy user of WhatsApp video call, the least that you can do is to switch calls to voice calls. To set Low Data Usage, you should consider the following:

  • Step 1: If you are wondering the amount of data WhatsApp is using on voice calls, you should go to Settings then Account and finally Network Usage. You will see here all the data usage information. It will even show you the amount of data in bytes received and sent on WhatsApp Calls.
  • Step 2: To lower data usage, navigate through the Settings then Chats and Calls. Following this, you should go to Under Call Settings.
  • Step 3: Choose Low Data Usage then finally pick Turn On.

Final thoughts
If a WiFi network is not available and you are using cellular data, you should be mindful with your limit. It is easy to track limit if you have a mobile data plan but you have to be wary because there is a price for every megabyte that you use in excess. If you do not want it to get more expensive at the end of the month, you should learn how to tweak your WhatsApp and other apps that gobble data.