Glo High Data Usage Apps and How to Control
Some apps use data quietly and heavily, and the bundle you bought for the week is gone by midweek. Knowing which apps are heavy and how to rein them in is the best way to make any Glo bundle last.
This guide shows you how to find out which apps use most of your data, which kinds of apps tend to be the worst and what controls you can set on Android and iPhone. The aim is not to stop you from using your favourite apps but to let you use them without surprises.
| App type | Typical data use | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Video streaming | Very high | Lower quality, WiFi only |
| Social video feeds | High | Turn off autoplay |
| Video calls | High | Use audio or WiFi |
| Music streaming | Medium | Lower quality, download on WiFi |
| Messaging | Low, higher with media | Turn off auto-download |
| Maps | Low to medium | Download offline maps |
Find your biggest data users
| 1 | Open your phone’s data usage screen. |
| 2 | Choose the current billing or usage period. |
| 3 | Sort the list by data used. |
| 4 | Write down the top five apps. |
| 5 | Open each one and look at its own data settings. |
Video apps
Video apps are the biggest consumers. Switch the default quality to a lower setting for mobile data, and allow higher quality only on WiFi. Turn off autoplay so that videos do not start by themselves, and avoid leaving video apps open in the background.
Social apps
- Turn off video autoplay.
- Choose data saver mode if the app has one.
- Stop automatic downloads of photos and videos.
- Use the lite version of the app where available.
- Clear the app cache from time to time.
Messaging apps
Messaging apps are light until media comes in. Group chats full of videos can use a lot of data. Turn off auto-download of media on mobile data, and let the app download media only on WiFi. For calls, remember that voice and video calls use data by the minute.
Updates and backups
App updates and cloud backups can use large amounts of data. Set the app store to update on WiFi only and limit backups to WiFi. Check these settings after any phone update, because some updates reset them.
Set limits on your phone
- Set a monthly data warning at a level that matches your bundle.
- Use the hard limit option only if you understand it.
- Restrict background data for apps you rarely open.
- Turn on data saver mode in your phone’s settings.
- Review the data usage screen weekly.
Android and iPhone differences
| Phone | Where to look | Useful controls |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Network and internet, then data usage | Data saver, app data restriction, warning and limit |
| iPhone | Cellular settings | Low data mode, per-app cellular switch |
Combine phone controls with your bundle
Check your bundle balance with *323# before you start heavy tasks. If your plan has night data, plan large downloads for that window. Remember that bonus data may have its own rules. The best control is knowing how much you have and what each app costs you.
Questions people ask
Not necessarily. Free apps with video ads can use a lot.
Yes. Both Android and iPhone let you switch off mobile data for single apps.
They save mobile data if you download on WiFi.
Weekly data review in five minutes
Once a week, open your data usage screen and compare it with the week before. Look for any app that jumped. If a new app appears near the top, open its settings and check its autoplay, sync and update options. This quick review keeps small leaks from becoming big ones and teaches you how your own habits use data.
Reset the usage counter on the day you buy a new bundle so that the phone’s numbers match the bundle period.
Habits that keep usage low
- Download playlists and videos on WiFi before you travel.
- Turn off mobile data when you do not need it.
- Close video apps fully when you finish.
- Use text chat in place of video calls when possible.
- Keep an eye on the data balance during the day.
Share this advice with the people who use your hotspot, because one heavy user can empty a bundle that was meant for the whole household. Agree on simple rules, such as WiFi for downloads and mobile data for messages.
Final word
Check your usage screen, trim the heaviest apps, turn off autoplay and auto-download, and put limits in place. A few minutes of setup can double the life of a bundle.