Thread: Stopping phone apps using mobile data

Originally Posted by DiscoDB

Other than blocking background data Android doesn’t allow you to block individual apps if they are running in the foreground. (Without turning all data off across all apps).

So you will need to run another app to act as a firewall to block data usage on an app by app basis - like NetGuard.

Being Android you will need to do your own research if you want to use another app to control your device.

Well that answers that.
Had a look for info on NetGuard, most of it went straight over my head ☹️
I'll be more diligent on stuff running jn the background, and see how I go.

Thanks for the very useful reply.

Tony

Originally Posted by RobMichelle

I’m confused to what advice your after.

So am I.

I think I understand. On the iPhone, one can allow/prevent individual apps from using mobile data. I have a number of apps set up like that.

Originally Posted by p38arover

I think I understand. On the iPhone, one can allow/prevent individual apps from using mobile data. I have a number of apps set up like that.

Surprising to see how many are set to on by default.. All. iPhone tells you how much they use. Never worries me. I have a PAYG plan that rolls data over. I currently have around 150GB saved up, so I guess they aren't using much.

Hi All,

Maybe why might explain it better.

I have a small data quota o my mobile plan, that's fine I don't need much mobile data.

My phone is connected to a wifi network 90% of the time.

But there are more and more apps using data that I don't think need to.

As an example,

Instagram, I look at it a couple of times a week,at home on a good wifi network, if I have mobile data on or off it works the same, but if mobile data is on it regularly top's my mobile date use.

Spotify, I use at home on the wifi, or in the car using saved play lists, if mobile data is off it works OK sometimes it just stops, if mobile data is on, it will be up need the top of the data use list.

Torque Light, is an OBD II reader all it does is Bluetooth to the dongle and show numbers, yet it uses mobile data.

Facebook, I don't use Facebook, to the best of my knowledge I've never opened the app on my phone,yet it uses mobile data.

Samsung Cloud, What's app, Gmail, YouTube, Google Meet, One Drive, Google Drive, Google TV, all are using mobile data and I don't use any of them.

The iPhone users clearly use the ability to block mobile data from same apps, but the Android solution seems to be purchase more data.

Giving Instagram the flick and going back to CDs in the car is looking attractive.

I feel this should have been in the grumpy old buggers thread 😁.

Thanks to all.

Tony

I have an iPhone. Aside from the obvious of restricting apps from phoning home constantly, the other thing I find advantageous is for apps that display obnoxious advertising.
If they have no access to data, they can't download the adds to display them.

Originally Posted by TonyC

The iPhone users clearly use the ability to block mobile data from same apps, but the Android solution seems to be purchase more data.

Trouble with helping out Android users is that there are so many flavours of it, and then the phone makers all add their own skins over the top. Then people insist on customizing it ( admittedly that last is often why people have Android in the first place). iOS is iOS. It only has some changes based on market. Don't make it better, but it do make it easier.

Originally Posted by TonyC

I feel this should have been in the grumpy old buggers thread 😁.

Pretty much any topic that has "sides" fits that description.

Without going off topic and turning this into an Apple vs Android debate (my household uses both), I would give NetGuard by Marcel Bokhorst a go.

It is open source software, the developer looks legit, and can’t be any riskier than using Android in the first place

With 5 million downloads and a 4.6 star rating it looks to fill the gap with Androids data usage set up. Probably better than the iOS solution.

And best of all it is free.