What happens if i turn off mobile data

Anything that needs the internet to function will use up mobile data if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi. 

  • Browsing on search engines like Google
  • Refreshing, sending, and receiving emails 
  • Sending and receiving iMessages on iPhones (you don’t need mobile data to send text messages)
  • Video chat apps such as Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc.
  • Social media messaging apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp
  • Streaming television episodes, videos, or movies on streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube
  • Streaming songs on music apps like Spotify or Apple Music
  • Playing games on your phone

All these activities use up different amounts of mobile data depending on how demanding they are. For example, watching a YouTube video in HD will consume more data than watching it in a lower quality. Learn more about how much data different activities use up. 

For a better idea of how much data these activities eat up, you can check out our data guides and find the right amount for you

Should you leave mobile data on all the time?

You may want to keep your mobile data on all the time so you never miss a notification, but it’s best if you don’t do this. Here’s why. 

Excessive data usage

While having your mobile data on for a couple of hours a day is fine, having your mobile data on constantly could have a negative effect on your phone. 

Mobile data is used in the background by some apps. If you keep it turned on, it will still be consuming your allowance even if you’re not actively doing anything on your phone. 

Things get worse if you allow your apps to update using data. You could accidentally use GBs of extra data, compared to if you just waited till next on Wi-Fi. 

It’s a good idea to monitor your mobile data usage so you can keep an eye on how much you tend to use up per month, so you know when it’s best to have your data turned on or off. This will also allow you to gain a better understanding of the most cost-effective bundle for you. 

It drains your battery

Keeping your mobile data on will drain your battery quicker than if it was off. There’s a few reasons why this happens. 

Firstly, your phone will be constantly searching for signal. If you’re in an area with particularly poor signal, things only get worse, as your phone consumes more power whilst searching. 

Secondly, your apps that use data in the background will drain your battery. When an app sends you a push notification, it needs a bit of battery to do this. Same for if they update in the background - it’s all extra demand on your phone and, therefore, more battery consumption. 

Of course there is plenty more you can do to make your battery last longer, but for starters, turning off your mobile data will help. 

Privacy concerns

If you’re wanting to stay off the grid, you should turn your data off. By having it switched on, your mobile service provider could (theoretically) track your phone’s location. 

You may have previously given apps permission to use your location data too, meaning that you're unwittingly sharing your private information.  

Of course, if none of these are a worry to you, there’s no harm in leaving your data on all the time! 

Why should I turn off mobile data? That is a question we have been asked a few times. Perhaps you have also wondered why some people turn off cellular data and are unreachable online for certain periods. 

Other questions you may be seeking answers to include, Under what circumstances should I turn off cellular data? Why should I should I turn off mobile data when abroad or when travelling internationally? We have answers to help you.

What happens if i turn off mobile data
Why should I turn off mobile data?

What is mobile data? Mobile or cellular data is the Internet service from your network operator or carrier. It can be 2G (GPRS and EDGE), 3G (UMTS, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSPA, etc), 4G (LTE), or 5G. Mobile data works through your SIM card, so you can use it every where you go, so long as your network operator has service or coverage.

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Sections hide

1 1. To Preserve Battery Power

2 2. Money/Cash/Budget Constraints

2.1 Should I turn off mobile data when abroad and roaming?

3 3. To Get Rid Of Distractions

1. To Preserve Battery Power

One of the major reasons why mobile users turn off mobile data is to preserve battery power. Whenever your data is on, your phone does more work to keep the connection alive. This is why sometimes your smartphone gets hot if you browse or chat with it for extended periods.

Cellular data drains the phone’s battery faster than if it is not turned on. So, if you are in a situation where you are away from a charger and your battery is running out, one of the ways to preserve the little battery power you have left is to turn off your mobile data.

iPhone users are familiar with poor battery life. If ever stranded and running out of power, you can turn off your iPhone’s cellular data to preserve the battery and make your smartphone stay alive for longer. If you are expecting an important message in such a situation, it is a good idea to keep the data off and turn it on at intervals to check your messages.

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2. Money/Cash/Budget Constraints

What happens if i turn off mobile data
Why should I turn off mobile data? To cut down your internet bills, perhaps?

Modern smartphones, like Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixels, and others, are designed to be always on. That means when there is a data connection, it is persistently on. As long as that persistent connection is available, your Android smartphone or iPhone is constantly transmitting and receiving data.

Back in the early days of smartphones, phones would stay offline even when mobile data is turned on, and they would only connect to the Internet when you initiate usage e.g. load a webpage, send an email, etc, or at intervals that you set.

Android and iOS devices, however, are designed to be always on – once you turn data on, the device stays connected, synchronising information and backing up data in the background. This often means that your smartphone is burning data even when you are not actively using it.

You will be interested in reading  Use A Mobile Phone Answering Service


As long as cellular data is enabled, your smartphone is burning data, whether you are asleep, or you are awake and have it tucked away in your bag or pocket. Turning off mobile data can help you keep data costs low, especially if you are on a budget.

Should I turn off mobile data when abroad and roaming?

What happens if i turn off mobile data

Speaking of mobile data costs, should you turn off mobile data when travelling internationally? Yes; you should, if you are roaming. Why should I should I turn off mobile data when abroad? This is because roaming costs are much higher than what you pay in your home country.

You don’t want to end up burning holes in your pocket on a trip abroad. You are better off buying and using a local SIM when you arrive at your destination country than roaming data on your line. Please, turn off cellular data when roaming abroad.

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3. To Get Rid Of Distractions

While modern smartphones have a “Do Not Disturb” feature that, when enabled, silences notifications. Still, an effective way to avoid distractions from Internet-based smartphone notifications is to just turn off your cellular data.

Voila! No more pesky notifications from social media, email and instant messaging apps. This is great for when you need alone time to relax, or you are in a meeting, or you are driving.

And it is a wrap

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We hope that we have been able to shed more light on why and when you should turn off cellular data. You are welcome to share your experience, as well as ask any qiestions, in the comments section below.

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InfoDesk

MobilityArena InfoDesk publishes useful tips, tutorials and help articles for mobile users. Follow us on Twitter @MobilityArena, Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Is it better to turn mobile data off?

Tip: You can conserve data by turning off mobile data access. If you do this, you'll only be able to use data when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. To use less data, turn off auto-sync.

Do I need mobile data on all the time?

While having your mobile data on for a couple of hours a day is fine, having your mobile data on constantly could have a negative effect on your phone. Mobile data is used in the background by some apps.

What happens when you turn data off on your phone?

After turning off mobile data, you'll still be able to make and receive phone calls and get text messages. But you won't be able to access the internet until you reconnect to a Wi-Fi network.

Can you receive calls with mobile data off?

Learn more. You should still receive phone calls even with mobile data turned off. Just make sure you actually turn off your mobile data; do NOT try to turn off your data by using airplane mode. Airplane mode will not allow calls to come through.