How to Stop an App from Using Mobile Data on Android

One app has chewed through the data allowance while nothing was open on screen. Apps keep syncing, refreshing, and uploading in the background whether or not they are in use, and Android has no single switch that puts everything on Wi-Fi only. The restriction goes on one app at a time.

Open the app data usage list

Open Settings, Network & internet, Internet, then tap the gear icon next to the carrier name. Tap App data usage. The list shows every app and how much mobile data it used in the current billing cycle, largest first.

Turn off mobile data for the app

Tap the app, then turn off Mobile data. The app now works only on Wi-Fi and reports a connection error when there is none, which is the point. Nothing about the app's data, logins, or notifications on Wi-Fi changes.

Restrict background use instead

If the app should still work when opened on cellular, leave Mobile data on and turn off Background data. That stops the syncing and uploading it does while it is not on screen, which accounts for most surprise usage. Not every Android version offers a per-app Wi-Fi only option, and turning off background data is the closest equivalent.

Turn on Data Saver for everything else

Open Settings, Network & internet, Data Saver and turn it on. Background data is then restricted across the whole phone, apart from apps added under Unrestricted data. Add messaging and navigation apps there so alerts still arrive.

Restrict the app on Samsung

Open Settings, Connections, Data usage, Mobile data usage, then tap the app. Turn off Allow background data usage to stop it in the background, or Allow mobile data usage to block it on cellular entirely.

The usage list names the culprit. The same screen that holds the switches is the fastest way to find out which app spent the allowance. Set the cycle dates to match the billing period under App data usage so the numbers line up with the bill rather than the calendar month.

Streaming apps carry their own settings. Video and music apps often have a download or streaming quality option set to Wi-Fi only inside the app. Switching that on is usually better than cutting the app off at the system level, because playback still works on cellular at a lower quality.