Disable background mobile data usage

Most applications continue to use mobile data when they are active in the background. This can lead to unwanted data consumption and, in some cases, surprises on your bill.

Below, we explain how to disable mobile data usage in the background, allowing you to choose the applications for which you want to disable this feature.

  • Open Settings.
  • Tap on Mobile service.

Here you’ll see a breakdown of mobile data usage per app. A good way to spot the biggest data users.

  • Go back to Settings.
  • Tap on Background App Refresh.
  • Move the switch to the left for the apps you want to stop from using data in the background.

These apps will no longer use mobile data in the background.
Want to reactivate it later? Just move the switch back to the right.

  • Open Settings.
  • Tap on Connections, then on Data usage.
  • Tap on Mobile data usage.

You’ll see an overview of data usage per app, handy to spot the most active ones.

  • Select the apps one by one.
  • Move the Allow background data usage switch to the left.

These apps will no longer use mobile data in the background.
To turn it back on, simply move the switch to the right again.