How to Reduce Data Usage on Your Smartphone

I regularly check my data usage statistics because I hate getting throttled. This obsession with how many gigabytes I've used has made me rather frugal with my Web searching. But there is a simple way to reduce your usage on Chrome in Android and iOS, by turning on Data Saver. 

Data Saver compresses files before they make it to your screen, which saves data and loads pages faster. However, this also means that your bits will be going through Google's services, which can cause a few glitches. For instance, images could look a bit blurry. Also, HTTPS pages and incognito pages are not compressed. As long as you can live with a few hiccups, here's how to activate Data Saver to conserve those precious GBs.

MORE: Best Smartphones on the Market Now

1. Open Chrome browser.

2. Tap the menu option that looks like three dots in a vertical line on the top right.

3. Tap Settings and scroll down.

4. Tap Data Saver.

5. Slide the toggle to On and you'll see how much data you'll be saving.

Anna Attkisson
Anna Attkisson is the editorial director at Tom's IT Pro. After getting infected with the tech bug at Wireless World and Cellular Business magazines as an intern in 1998, Anna Attkisson went on to dabble in a sorts of publications covering everything from children’s fashion to cars. During the last 9 years she’s returned to her roots where she’s been writing and editing for Laptop Mag and Tom’s Guide, before moving on to Tom’s IT Pro. Follow Anna Attkisson at @akattkisson.
Latest in Phones
iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence logo for iOS 18.1
iOS 18.4: All the newest Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone
Split image featuring the Galaxy S25 Edge (left) and Galaxy S25 Ultra (right)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge just tipped for two Galaxy S25 Ultra-level features
Google Pixel 9 with Amazon Spring Sale deal tag
The Google Pixel 9 is at its lowest price ever for Amazon Spring Sale — 30% off now
Amazon Spring Sale Galaxy S25
Amazon’s Spring Sale drops the Samsung Galaxy S25 to $734 — its lowest price ever!
OnePlus 13 back, leaning against blue wall
OnePlus 13T could come with an even bigger battery than OnePlus 13 — this is incredible
Apple maps logo on iPhone screen
I avoided Apple Maps for trip planning — but these iOS 18 features are changing my mind
Latest in How To
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
Gmail logo on iPhone
I used Google Gemini to declutter my Gmail account — here's how you can do it too
An Amazon Echo speaker with ChatGPT logo next to it
I replaced Alexa with ChatGPT on my Amazon Echo — here's how you can do it too
AirPods Pro 2 in hand
Your earbuds are disgusting — here's the right way to clean them
ChatGPT logo on a smartphone screen being held outside
7 biggest ChatGPT mistakes — and how to fix them
a photo of a woman looking at her fitness tracker
Forget the treadmill — I boosted my metabolism and walked 2,000 steps with this 15-minute workout