Using Data Usage Tools on Samsung Galaxy SIII

If you are not on an unlimited data plan you are most likely watching your data amounts on your phone. I love how easy it is for me to track data usage on the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Here is a bit of a walk thru to help you get started using these helpful tools.

UPDATE: This tool is not specific to the Samsung Galaxy SIII. It is part of Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. So if you have a newer phone you should have this.

Go into your settings and simply select Data Usage to get to these controls.

Once you are in you will see your chart. If you want to see a limit, check the box next to “Set mobile data limit”. A box will pop up letting you know that mobile data will disable once you reach your limit. You can slide the red limit and the yellow warning bars up and down to the level you want them to be at. Even if you opt not to disable when a limit is reached, this tool is still handy to keep you under your data plan limits. If you are on a shared data plan it is great for setting boundaries for your device also.

If you tap the menu button (on the base of your Galaxy SIII – the one with the 3 horizontal lines) a menu will pop up with a few other options. You can pick Data Roaming, you can restrict background data, and show Wi-fi usage. Restricting background data can really help you save on your data if you have a low threshold or are approaching it at the end of a billing cycle.

If you turn on the Wi-Fi tracking you will have another tab at the top. This is when you are using a Wi-fi connection, like your home network or at a place with public access. Remember this does NOT count towards your data plan. I think this is interesting that under the chart I can see where the bulk of my usage has been. You can see in my screen shot I spend a lot of time on my phone on Pinterest!

This is just one of the many things I am loving about my new Samsung Galaxy SIII. I am planning to share often about this phone and it’s apps and tools. If you have something specific you want to see let me know!

Disclosure: None.

Tagged as: android, apps, galaxy siii, samsung, tips, tutorial

http://www.redneckrosie.com/ Rose

Isn’t this something you can do with all phones? It sounds pretty basic to check on this phone yet apply similar steps to other phones to keep a check on your “balance”.
- ciaraj
  
  i don’t have anything on my phone that lets me keep a check on my balance. at&t does alert me when i get to about 65% of my usage. i can turn off my background data, and turn my regular data off/on as needed. basically, it’s set to use wifi wherever it’s available.
- http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World
  
  This is actually available on android devices – but only ice cream sandwich or newer. My son and husband have androids a little older and they do not have this function. There are other apps that you can download for older phones though.
  - http://www.redneckrosie.com/ Rose
    
    You know what, I was thinking of what apps are running instead of data usage. Sorry, brain fart.
    - http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World
      
      No need to apologize. There is a lot of different things to know about our mobile devices and it gets confusing for all of us!
      - http://www.redneckrosie.com/ Rose
        
        Thanks Robyn, I just crossed my wires thinking about one thing and reading another. Oops.
ciaraj

i really like that feature. i don’t have that on my atrix, so i can’t ‘tell’ it to shut down the data when it gets close. at&t sends me a text when i get close though, but i think that this feature on the galaxy s3 is going to be useful to me especially since i don’t even have 2g data. i literally only have 200mb lol it’s enough for me, because i don’t need to be constantly connected while i’m out. when i need to check my email, fb, etc., i just turn the data on as needed.
- http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World
  
  Hubby and T don’t have this on their older Androids either – I wish T had it especially!
GlArthy

These details are easy to follow and will definitely be of help to someone. It does not matter that it can apply to other types of phones but to read it at a location you visit regularly gives the feeling of Robyn doing what she can to keep her followers up-to-date! Thanks.
http://twitter.com/rkosully Robin

This looks super helpful. It’s important to stay under your data plan limits to avoid exorbitant charges!
Tiffany Winner

is “Ice Cream Sandwich operating system” the technical term or a Robyn term? thismomwins@gmail.com
- ciaraj
  
  ice cream sandwich is the name of android’s last os. the newest is called jellybean. the real sucky one before these two is called gingerbread. lol
Shannon Whitfield

I have a friend who just got this phone, these posts will be a big help..thanks so much!
ciaraj

i finally just got an s3. it really is a battery suck, and when they turned it on in the store, and i set it up, i was a dummy and forgot that it was using data to put everything onto my phone. duh! i finally remembered when i got out to the car, by that time it had used about 60mb :/ lol i’m at 65% of my 200mb limit now. i have to hold out until the the 20th from using much more data. i know 200mb is very low, but i never go over it. at the most 65%, but sometimes not even 50%. i don’t feel the need to stay connected when i’m out. i do everything that needs to be done so the battery doesn’t drain fast, but using wifi sucks it up, too. i still love the phone so far though lol

Using Data Usage Tools on Samsung Galaxy SIII

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