What is mobile data & how do I turn it on or off

Mobile data is the internet connectivity provided by your mobile network provider. While your phone will automatically switch to Wi-Fi if a network is available, you can manually control your mobile data use by enabling and disabling it. You can also enable Data saver to prevent mobile data usage by apps that are running in the background.

If you have disabled mobile data and would like to activate Wifi calling, you can find out more here.

Please note: If after trying the steps below you are unable to activate your mobile data you should contact your network provider.

There are two ways to activate or deactivate mobile data. The quickest way is via the Quick panel or alternatively you can access the Mobile data options via the Settings menu.

Via the Quick panel

1 Swipe down from the screen to reveal the Quick panel.
Swipe down to reveal the Quick panel
2 Tap the Mobile data icon to activate or deactivate. When the icon is highlighted in blue, mobile data is enabled. When the icon is grey, mobile data is deactivated.
Mobile data icon

Through the Settings menu

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Connections".
Connections is selected in the Settings menu
2 Tap "Data usage".
Data usage is selected in the Connections menu
3 Tap the switch to activate or deactivate "Mobile data".
Mobile data is activated

Some apps depend on the use of mobile data to transfer information when they are running in the background. Follow the steps below if you prefer to restrict an app's background data usage:

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Apps".
Tap Apps in settings
2 Tap the app that would you would like to restrict, the example below restricts Facebook.
Tap the app you would like to restrict
3 Tap "Mobile data".
Tap mobile data
4 Tap the switch to activate or deactivate "Allow background data usage".
Allow background data usage is activated

Data saver helps cut down your data usage by preventing apps from using data in the background. You can select which apps you would like to continue using mobile data while Data saver is enabled.

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Connections".
Connections is selected in the Settings menu
2 Tap "Data usage".
Data usage is selected in the Connections menu
3 Tap "Data saver".
Data saver is selected
4 Tap the switch “Turn on now” to activate Data saver.
Data saver is activated
5 If you would like to give apps permission to use mobile data in the background even when Data saver is enabled, tap "Allowed to use data while Data saver is on", then tap the switch next to the app(s).
Switches are activated to enable mobile data for selected apps while Data saver is enabled

Alternatively, you can access these options using the following steps:

1 Go to "Settings", then tap "Apps".
2 Tap the app.
3 Tap "Mobile data".
4 Tap the switch to activate or deactivate "Allow app while Data saver on".
Allow app while Data saver on is activated

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