Best way to limit WiFi Data usage?

[lostngone]

I have googled this a little and most articles are about doing things to save cellular data. Some tips also help for WiFi(disable automatic downloads, Backgroud App Refresh) but the majority are forcing to use WiFi over cellular and I don’t want to use any data(except for a web browser).

The reason I am asking is I am traveling(for just over a week) where there is no AT&T service and this place only has old(and very slow) CDMA based cellular network. So I can’t just pop a sim into my unlocked iPhone. However I did pick up a Mifi device that works on the local network(very expensive, $50 a gigabyte) but the problem is the iPhone is going to be on WiFi so all those webpages are not much help in my case.

I am only going to be using the phone for quick web searches and maybe iMessage because I won’t have have SMS. However that might be out if I disabled iCloud on the phone.

I am going to keep the phone off when I am not using it but I am afraid some background process(mail, iMessage, etc) is going decide it wants to go nuts in the background when I do turn the phone on.

Anyone have any advice to kill all background data usage accept for safari or chrome on port 80/433?

 

[jetsam]

Hopefully the MiFi device you picked up supports Port Filtering (most do). That's your best bet.

I don't think iMessage requires iCloud. If you warn your correspondents not to send pictures, videos, etc., iMessage is pretty light on data use.

You already knew to turn off Background App refresh, right?

 

[lostngone]

Hopefully the MiFi device you picked up supports Port Filtering (most do). That's your best bet.

I don't think iMessage requires iCloud. If you warn your correspondents not to send pictures, videos, etc., iMessage is pretty light on data use.

You already knew to turn off Background App refresh, right?

Yes, I am going to turn off Background App refresh before I go.
Does that also stop iOS from checking for new mail?

 

[NoBoMac]

Does that also stop iOS from checking for new mail?

Go into Mail settings and change fetch on your account(s) to Manual for Fetch.

 

[admwright]

Go into Mail settings and change fetch on your account(s) to Manual for Fetch.

Setting to manual works as long as mail is not running and you do not create a new email. I use this setting but whenever I forward a link from Safari (not going directly into the mail app) mail downloads all waiting emails - very frustrating.

 

[cynics]

First thing I would consider is public wifi. I have a friend that hops around the globe teaching english and has used public wifi exclusively for months at a time. I'm in the US so public wifi is spotty but in many countries (especially asian countries like Korea) I found public wifi to be incredibly fast and available everywhere. Obviously not an adequate solution for you but it could help you minimize data use.

What I would do and suggest you consider is getting an unlocked iPhone so you can use local sims. Keep in mind you could look for an used unlocked iPhone 6. Or just get a local burner, typically an Android devices with a bad skin (can be a problem if its not in your native language though). You can still use your iPhone to take pics and such. Before I had an unlocked phone I had a GSM only phone and like you travelled around a country that was predominately CDMA (India, dont know if thats still the case). I just got a burner and used my iPhone in Airplane mode to takes pics and videos, on public wifi I would sync and use VOIP apps.

Its tough to minimize data on an iPhone though when its connected to wifi (even Apples Instant Hotspot feature annoyingly). Everything is syncing and everything is using data. And its hard to get everything to stop, even on cellular there is minute amounts of data usage from things syncing like contacts, notes, reminders, calendars, and even strange things like DNS services and arbitrarily named things like "General". On cellular for all the iPhone does it does a pretty good job sipping cellular data, but its can be a wifi hog.

If you are using a hotspot regardless I guess I would turn most of your iCloud features off. In messages turn on "Low Quality Image Mode" to reduce image size of sent messages. Mail set to manual fetch intervals. Turn automatic downloads off on everything like Music, apps, books. Turn off iCloud photo library. etc etc... The automatic updates for the App store is a big one though because if you were to turn on your phone there is a chance all your apps might try to update which will kill you data.

Mostly I would keep the phone in airplane mode and look for public wifi. Maybe try to use the Mfi for emergencies only (like a situation where you dont care around 50 dollars). Although its going to require a new phone I would highly consider a contract-less plan (I think I paid 30 bucks for a 3 gb prepaid plan in Japan). The best option though is if you have a friend or family member that is a local that can get you a sim or mfi on their contract and you just reimburse them.

 

[jimmyah]

Low power mode should help you, it seems to stop/slow background apps.

 

[lostngone]

Low power mode should help you, it seems to stop/slow background apps.

I hadn’t thought about that method!

Thanks.

 

[Mousse]

If y'all got root access, then a firewall app is the way to go. But most people don't jailbreak, so you can look at some non-root firewall options. I don't use iOS so, I can't suggest any.

Apple needs to add a firewall feature to iOS.

Anyhow, you can disable automatic syncing.