Windows Phone 8: How to use Data Sense to track data usage
Cellular data helps keep your phone connected to rest of the world when you’re not using Wi-Fi, but you can burn through your data allowance quickly if you aren’t careful. Data Sense can help you conserve cellular data by monitoring your phone’s data usage and saving some tasks until you have a Wi-Fi connection again.
You can pin the Data Sense app to Start, and the Live Tile will automatically update to tell you how much cellular and Wi-Fi data your phone has used. If you open the app, you can see a breakdown of which apps and features are using the most data.
To start tracking your data usage, all you need to do is set up a personal data limit on your phone.
To set or change a data limit
-
In the App list, tap Data Sense
. -
Tap Settings
, and then tap the Set limit button. -
Tap the Limit type list.
-
Choose one of the following:
- If you have a preset amount of data to use and the data will expire at a specific date, tap One time.
- If you have a limited amount of data you can use each month before incurring overage charges, tap Monthly.
- If you have unlimited data but still want to track your usage, tap Unlimited.
-
If you chose One time or Monthly, tap the available lists to enter values and dates that match your data plan.
-
Tap Done
.
Restricting background data
Many apps and features use a data connection to update at regular intervals without requiring you to take action. For example, a mail app may check a mail server every few minutes to see if you have new messages in your inbox. Any data used in this way is called background data.
These helpful updates can suddenly become unhelpful if you’re trying to conserve cellular data.
Data Sense can reduce the amount of background data you use when you are near your data limit. That means your phone will restrict the use of cellular data unless you perform a task manually, and wait for a Wi-Fi connection for everything else.
Note
When background data is restricted, it may prevent tasks that usually happen automatically, including voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) incoming call notifications, email syncing, background uploads and downloads, and Live Tile updates.
To restrict background data automatically
-
In the App list, tap Data Sense
. -
Tap Settings
, and then select the Restrict background data when I’m near my limit check box.
Note
Data Sense is not currently available for all mobile operators.
Via Windowsphone
