Leave Data On or Off?

[brokenbuyer]

So it seems that I need to have Cellular Data ON in order to send/receive MMS. However, because I don't want to go over my 2GB plan, I tend to keep it off unless I need to use data.

I also keep data/wifi off to preserve battery life.

I'm not sure what to do, or what everyone else does. If I leave data on, wouldn't Facebook updates, emails, etc start using data?

 

[gsugolfer]

Yes, they would.

However, having it on is the only way to receive MMS.

 

[jimmy575]

Under Settings > General > Cellular, you can decide to turn cellular off for certain applications (iOS 6 only).

It says "Use cellular data for:" and it has on/off switches for iTunes, iCloud documents, passbook, etc.

I would look in this section for the apps you mentioned such as facebook, if they're there, you can just turn them off so they only use wifi.


Hope this helps.

 

[brokenbuyer]

Under Settings > General > Cellular, you can decide to turn cellular off for certain applications (iOS 6 only).

It says "Use cellular data for:" and it has on/off switches for iTunes, iCloud documents, passbook, etc.

I would look in this section for the apps you mentioned such as facebook, if they're there, you can just turn them off so they only use wifi.


Hope this helps.

Yep, I just noticed that! Thanks.
Keeping it on doesn't use that much battery right? That was also a concern of mine.

If so, then I might as well keep it on and turn off some toggles for certain apps.
Is there a way to prevent accidental use? Like if I hit Safari/email on accident?

 

[jimmy575]

Keeping cellular data on should not take much more battery (unless you are using it to download a lot more) as the phone is always getting the connection, this just tells it whether to use it or not.


I do not use an iPhone, but if I were you, I would toggle it off for every app I wanted, and leave the actual "cellular data" switch on.

I would only change this and turn it off when needed if I noticed my data usage going up too much.

 

[nutmac]

I also keep data/wifi off to preserve battery life.

Assuming you are not downloading data, turning the data off does not preserve battery life.

If you have iPhone 5, turning LTE off can in theory save battery life, but since downloading via LTE is typically much faster, if you do decent amount of data access, you can actually come ahead.

As for WiFi, it uses very little battery at idle. I have done several tests with iPhone charged 100%, leaving it unplugged overnight (unused from 11 pm to 8 am). Turning WiFi off made no difference.

 

[brokenbuyer]

Thanks for clearing up these misconceptions! Feel free to post anymore!

Conclusion:

• Keep Cellular Data On; toggle off for apps not needed
• Keep WiFi on
• Battery is pretty much irrelevant w. idle WiFi/Cellular Data
• If I'm hitting my data plan close, then turn off Cellular Data/watch it closely

Sounds good! Thanks guys
Battery life right now is: Usage - 8 hrs Standby - 1 day, 20 hrs. At 16% now. Only charged once, battery not broken in. Seems decent to me now!

 

[jimmy575]

Very nice battery life, I wouldn't worry about things much, sounds like you've got it.

 

[brokenbuyer]

So a new question popped up.

I have unlimited texting so obv I'd prefer using texting over iMessage when I don't have WiFi.

When I leave Cellular Data on, it automatically goes to iMessage, thus using my data; however, i'd rather it be using my texting at this time.

Otherwise when I have WiFi, then I don't care if its texting or iMessage.

Any ideas?

 

[gsugolfer]

Settings > General > Messages > iMessages (off)

 

[JoyceLambir]

I would look in this section for the apps you mentioned such as facebook

 

[brokenbuyer]

So basically when I don't have WiFi, I turn off iMessage. When I do have WiFi I turn on iMessage.

Or just don't use iMessage at all.

 

[Ntombi]

Are you really anticipating using so much data that you have to worry about a few kb iMessage? I mean, 95% of users never hit 2GB. I've had unlimited data with AT&T since 2007, and I think I've gone over 2GB only a handful of times, usually because I was tethering my MBP for weeks on end.

If you're sure you'll be close, then yes, all those precautions make sense, but if you're just being paranoid, I'd calm down about it.

 

[zhenya]

I agree. This sounds like an awful lot of stressing over nothing.

If you have had an account for a while, go online and look at your past data history. That will give you an idea of how much data you use in a month.

If this is new to you, go to settings, usage, cellular and reset your data counter (works best if you do this at the beginning of your billing period). This will allow you to keep track of how much data is being used. I bet that it's a lot less than you think. I use this when I travel internationally and buy data in chunks like 50, 125, or 200MB at a time. I've found that even leaving data roaming on and letting the phone act as usual, if I'm careful and don't do excessive web browsing or streaming, 200MB is enough for a month of mail, updates, light web browsing etc.

Not to mention that you will be automatically notified at various thresholds of use to help you prevent going over, and if you do go over, it's something like $10 for another 1GB!

Stop worrying!

 

[gsugolfer]

If this is new to you, go to settings, usage, cellular and reset your data counter (works best if you do this at the beginning of your billing period). This will allow you to keep track of how much data is being used. I bet that it's a lot less than you think. I use this when I travel internationally and buy data in chunks like 50, 125, or 200MB at a time.

It's been noted this counts wifi data as well on the 5.