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How to turn mobile data on and off
It’s easier than you think to take control of your data spend and battery power by turning mobile data on and off whenever you choose.
Whether you want to stop notifications popping up overnight or need to save your battery on an afternoon hike, here’s how to make it happen.
iPhone
There are a couple of different ways to turn it on and off on an iPhone
Settings
Open ‘Settings’
Tap ‘Mobile Data’ (or Cellular)
Toggle ‘Mobile Data’ to turn it on or off
Control centre
Swipe down from the top‑right of the screen on newer models. Swipe up from the bottom on older ones.
Tap the mobile data icon to turn it on or off
Android
There are a couple of different ways to turn it on and off on an Android
Settings
Open ‘Settings’
Tap ‘Network & Internet’ or ‘Connections’
Select ‘Mobile Network’ or ‘Data Usage’
Toggle ‘Mobile Data’ to turn it on or off
Quick settings
Swipe down from the top of the screen
Tap the mobile data icon to turn it on or off
When you should turn your mobile data off
When roaming
This prevents unexpected charges abroad – which can be high, especially outside the EU. And remember, apps can still use data in the background without you actively opening them.
To save battery
Mobile data constantly searches for signal, so turning it off can massively boost battery life, especially in low‑signal areas.
To save data allowance
If you’re close to your monthly data limit, you might want to save data for when you really need it.
Overnight or when not needed
Stopping notifications or background syncing will save your data and battery life.
Turn off data for specific apps
iPhone
- Open ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘Mobile Data’
- Scroll down to ‘Mobile Data Usage’
- Turn data off for specific apps
Android
- Open ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘Apps’ or ‘Data usage’
- Select the app you want to control
- Tap ‘Mobile data & Wi‑Fi’
- Turn off data
