Android 7.0 Nougat is a new update for Google’s mobile operating system that includes a lot of new features and improvements for phones and tablets. Among the new features, Google is trying to help users reduce data usage with a new feature called “Data saver”.
Data saver on Android Nougat helps to reduce data usage by blocking apps and system services from using mobile data in the background, which translates into better control over the use of your data plan to avoid over charges.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to configure Data saver to reduce your mobile data usage on your phone or tablet running Android Nougat or later version.
How to configure Data saver on Android Nougat
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Open Settings.
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Select Data usage.
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Before turning on Data saver, select Cellular data usage to identify the apps that use the most data, which will help you to decide which apps to block and which ones to let access to your mobile data.
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On Data usage, select Data saver.
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Select Unrestricted data access.
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Turn on the toggle switch for each app that should have unrestricted data access.
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If you want to prevent system services from using your mobile data plan, select the three dot menu button from the top-right corner, and select Show System.
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Turn on the toggle switch for system services you want to access your data plan.
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Go back to Data saver, and turn on the toggle switch to enable the feature.
Once you have configured the feature, you can also turn it on by pulling down the notification center and selecting Data saver (see above image).
While this new feature has been designed to prevent apps from sending and receiving data in the background, apps can still access the internet when you’re using them. Additionally, Data saver is meant to help you reduce data usage on a mobile cellular data plan, not while using a Wi-Fi network.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He's also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ & Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn.