There may be times when you have to use a Wi-Fi connection with limited bandwidth. This may be the case when you are visiting a friend or if you are using your mobile phone’s hotspot connection with another laptop or phone. How does your phone know that it’s not allowed to consume a lot of bandwidth on the network it’s connected to?
Some laptops automatically detect measured Wi-Fi connections. But, it’s not the same on phones. You will have to manually notify your phone that you are connected to a network with limited bandwidth and cannot consume too much data. Here’s how to set a Wi-Fi network as a metered connection on Android and iPhone.
What is measured connectivity?
For those who don’t know, a traffic connection is where the network you connect to doesn’t have unlimited data, so you need to be careful about your internet usage. For example, you may have a maximum data usage limit of 2GB per day on your mobile data connection. So if you use your phone as a hotspot, you will have to make sure that the data limit is not exceeded.
A good way to do this is to set the Wi-Fi network since the hotspot forms a connection with traffic. This way, your phone will know that the connected network has limited bandwidth, so it shouldn’t take actions like updating apps, downloading system updates, etc.
How to set a Wi-Fi network as a metered connection on Android
If you have connected your Android smartphone to a Wi-Fi network that you want to set as traffic meter, here is the procedure.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
Step 2: Select the Connect options. On some phones, this may be the Wi-Fi option.
Step 3: Next, tap on Wi-Fi.
Step 4: If you are not already connected, connect your phone to the Wi-Fi network that you want to set as meter.
Step 5: Tap the Settings icon next to the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to.
Step 6: Select the See More option next to the small arrow to expand and display additional settings.
Step 7: Select the Metered network option.
Step 8: Now tap on Treat as Measured.
This will ensure that every time your phone connects to this particular Wi-Fi network, it will be treated as a traffic connection.
Additionally, you can also limit background internet usage for certain apps that you think will consume data. If you think an application is consuming too much data when connecting to the Internet, you can temporarily block the application from accessing the Internet connection.
These steps will ensure that your Android phone doesn’t consume too much bandwidth when connecting to a particular Wi-Fi network.
How to set a Wi-Fi network as a metered connection on iPhone
The process of setting a Wi-Fi network as a metered connection is pretty straightforward on iPhone as well. While there’s no specific option for metered connectivity, Low Data Mode on iOS does a similar job. Here’s how you can enable it.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Select the Wi-Fi option.
Step 3: If you are not already connected, connect to the Wi-Fi network that you want to set as the meter.
Step 4: Once connected, tap the ‘i’ button next to the network.
Step 5: Enable the toggle next to Low Data Mode.
Your iPhone will now treat the network as a metered connection.
Additionally, you can turn off background refresh for certain apps that you think will use more background data. This is the way.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and find the app for which you want to disable background refresh. Touch it.
Step 3: Disable the toggle next to Background App Refresh.
Repeat this process for all applications that you think will consume a lot of bandwidth. However, don’t forget to re-enable the option later, as not doing so means you may not receive notifications from those apps.
That’s all you have to do for your iPhone so it doesn’t use up too much bandwidth when connecting to certain Wi-Fi networks.
Use your Hotspot without worry
You may be worried about connecting multiple phones or devices to your mobile hotspot as it can consume a lot of data. However, setting Wi-Fi as the metered connection is a good way to check data usage. You won’t have to worry about your daily limit expiring this way.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/