What actually uses up data

steve392 · May 24, 2014

I swear i searched, but found nothing related to my question. It may sound dumb but i figured i'de ask.

I just got the GS5 yesterday and only turned it on hours ago. I didn't use it for anything other then getting apps moved around and disabled. I got an alert saying i've reached my prorated limit for the 6gb plan that verizon enrolled me. Obviously i must've been over 5gb while on my LG and thats what put me at my prorated limit, which btw sucks now cause basically can't do anything on phone till new billing cycle.

Anyway, so what exactly on the phone uses up data? Obviously the internet but what else? This way i can keep an eye on it and not get close to my limit.

jack58 · May 24, 2014

Click the settings gear, then Data usage
Scroll to see what is being used.

AZgl1500 · May 24, 2014

In your case especially now, it would be very helpful to monitor DATA and keep it turned OFF.

Battery Doctor is an app that has a non-active widget that simply switches features of the phone on/off. I suggest that you install it and then create the two Widgets that it provides. One of the widgets is the switcher window, the 2nd is a background process clearing app.

I'm a confirmed believer in this app. There are many apps that can perform the same thing, but they don't offer the KISS principle of an easy popup window to just turn off/on DATA, SYNC, WIFI, GPS, BLUETOOTH and other stuff in one place.

* Battery Doctor (Battery Saver) - Android Apps on Google Play

It has several Modes of operation and menus for a whitelist in each mode. Be sure they match your requirements. ( I made all the modes exactly the same whitelist )

jack58 · May 24, 2014

AZgl1500 said:
In your case especially now, it would be very helpful to monitor DATA and keep it turned OFF.

Battery Doctor is an app that has a non-active widget that simply switches features of the phone on/off. I suggest that you install it and then create the two Widgets that it provides. One of the widgets is the switcher window, the 2nd is a background process clearing app.

I'm a confirmed believer in this app. There are many apps that can perform the same thing, but they don't offer the KISS principle of an easy popup window to just turn off/on DATA, SYNC, WIFI, GPS, BLUETOOTH and other stuff in one place.

* Battery Doctor (Battery Saver) - Android Apps on Google Play

It has several Modes of operation and menus for a whitelist in each mode. Be sure they match your requirements. ( I made all the modes exactly the same whitelist )

I use Battery Doctor as well.
Just remember Steve if you do get the apps, it takes a bit of time, hit & miss to set up Battery Doctor, but once you do, it works great.

EWyatt · May 24, 2014

Steve, this may not be the case, but after you got your S5, you may have unknowingly downloaded a bunch of phone/software updates. When my wife got her S5, she used up almost 500 MB in hours due to updates (and after NOT remembering to set up her Wi-Fi in our home).

steve392 · May 24, 2014

Thanks for the tips. I had shut off google plays auto update but the dam thing kept autoupdating every single app in the phone and hte ones that imported ot the phone from the sim card. It would not stop. I then noticed that google play was using background data and ate up a 1/4 of a g/b and thats what threw me over the limit as i was high on my data usage before losing the unlimited.

I will download the battery doctor now and start using it and figuring it out. I've disabled whatever I could disable that i did not use and also uninstalled stuff from my old phone that i saved on the sim card. So hopefully this helps also.

I tell ya though,l wow this phone kicks ass. So much more responsive compared to the lg spectrum that i had to wait for it to respond to me typing or scrolling.

steve392 · May 24, 2014

downloaded/installed. Where are these 2 widgets? unless im blind i dont see anything about setting up widgets.

steve392 · May 24, 2014

ok i think i got the 2 widgets setup.

AZgl1500 · May 24, 2014

steve392 said:
downloaded/installed. Where are these 2 widgets? unless im blind i dont see anything about setting up widgets.

On the main screen click 3 dots.
Settings
now scroll down to Add Widget: ADD
below that Add Save Power Shortcut: ADD

Whitelist only the apps you have to keep running when phone is asleep.

Turn Sounds on/off your preference

exit to Main Screen, click on Mode:

Go to Each Mode and set them to your preference. I leave mine on "Your Mode"

There is a Schedule if you want to get into that.

Battery Doctor is a nice app, very programmable.

What actually uses up data

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