If you’re on a monthly plan with your cell phone carrier, you probably want to keep track of how much data you’re using so that you don’t go over your limit and start getting charged extra by your carrier. Luckily, it’s easy to monitor data usage on an iPhone as long as you know where to look.
This article will introduce 3 quick and easy ways to check data usage on your iPhone, regardless of whether you have iOS 8 or iOS 9 running on your device. Let’s get started!
1) Use the Calculator App
The Calculator app is an easy way to check your data usage. To get started, open the Calculator app in your phone. In the calculator mode, tap the square root button (in the upper left corner). The number that pops up next is your data usage so far for this billing cycle. You can also calculate an estimate of how much data you have left by multiplying this number by .01 or .02. For example, if your current usage is at 3GB then you have about 6-7GB left.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all types of files will be counted as data usage. All music files will be saved offline once downloaded from iTunes store. Videos from iTunes are stored locally on device until deleted; even when streamed with WiFi or cellular connection these files won’t count towards your monthly cap unless they are downloaded instead. Other than media content downloads and browsing the internet, apps account for a majority of mobile data use and typically use more as well.
If you’re concerned about using too much mobile data and want to monitor it more closely, try one of these apps: My Data Manager Lite, Datally by Google Wifi, Verizon’s Smart Family Management App: parental controls & tools.
2) Access Settings > Cellular
The best way to view data usage is by accessing your cellular settings in the Settings app. The only drawback is that you need a cellular service provider. To access these settings, tap Cellular under the Settings app. Here, you’ll be able to see how much of your monthly data limit has been used in detail (e.g., 1GB) as well as an overview of your total usage (e.g., 5GB).
If you have an unlimited data plan, then this section will show how much data you’ve used in the current billing period and how much of your monthly allowance remains.
Tap Use Mobile Data for a quick check of your remaining mobile data. Note: if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, then iOS won’t use any mobile data. You can also swipe up from the bottom of your screen and select Settings from the Control Center at any time for instant access to these same controls without having to navigate through multiple screens.
3) Ask Siri
Siri can do a lot for you, like send a text or set a timer. She can also keep track of your data usage! If you’re wondering how much data your phone is using, just ask Siri. You can say Hey Siri, how much data have I used?
Alternatively, you can tap Settings > Cellular > scroll down to View Details and tap the arrow next to the name of your carrier. These two options will show your current data usage in terms of kilobytes (KB) or gigabytes (GB).
