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How much data does TikTok use: Tips to reduce your data usage
Ever wondered how much data TikTok uses? Here's a complete guide to outline TikTok's data consumption and show you how reduce those figures!
Have you ever wondered the question: how much data does TikTok use? Do short, funny videos consume the same amount of data as long ones? Are you spending too much data browsing on TikTok to find food recipes?
No matter what you do on the app, it’s a good idea to monitor your data usage.
Below, we tell you how much data TikTok uses and provide some additional tips to avoid spending too much of your monthly data on doom scrolling through videos and memes.
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How much data does TikTok use?
TikTok consumes 4 MB of data for an average 15-second video. While this doesn’t seem like a lot, you can consume up to 79 MB in just 5 minutes or 948 MB in one hour. This places TikTok among the most used and data-consuming applications, as seen in the research done by Holafly for this type of service.
It’s important to know that once you open TikTok, even though there are different videos loading, your data usage will depend on how much time you spend on the app.
But there are different ways to get better data management, which we’ll talk about just now.
How to check your TikTok data usage
To get an idea of your TikTok data usage, the best approach is to understand the step-by-step process for checking how much data was consumed.
So, let’s discuss how this process is done on iPhone and Android to check mobile data usage.
On iPhone
Here’s the step-by-step process to check how much data you’ve used on your iPhone.
- Go to “Settings”.
- Tap on “Cellular or Settings”.
- Scroll down a bit until you see TikTok.
On Android
The process on Android devices is nearly the same.
- Go to “Settings”.
- Find the “Apps” menu.
- Select “Manage Apps”.
- Scroll down until you find TikTok, or use the “Search Apps” option.
- Click on “Data Usage”. There, you can choose the period on which you want to check the data
- If necessary, you can switch between WiFi and mobile data to check your data consumption by pressing on the current period.
How to reduce your TikTok data usage
If you’re a TikTok lover and want to keep watching short-form videos, there are different ways to reduce your phone’s data usage.
Similar to other apps like Netflix or YouTube, some options are available to reduce TikTok’s data use, so let’s discuss each one.
Enable “Data Saver” mode
Enabling the app’s data saver feature is the best way to reduce TikTok’s data use. There are two ways to do this.
The first one is directly on the TikTok app. You need to do this to activate the “Data Saver” option.
- Open the TikTok app and press on your profile icon.
- Press the menu in the upper right side of the screen and select “Settings and privacy”.
- Scroll down until you find the “Data Saver” option.
- You can read how this option works by reducing the video quality or taking longer for the video section to load.
- This option will remain enabled but won’t affect video quality when using WiFi.
Another option to reduce the mobile data consumed by TikTok is to do this manually on your phone settings.
- Go to your device “Settings”.
- Find the “Apps” menu and choose “Manage Apps”.
- Use the browser to look for TikTok or scroll down until you find the app.
- Select TikTok, and you’ll see an option named “Manage network connection”.
- If you turn off the “Mobile Data” option, TikTok will not work with mobile data. You can also turn off the background data to consume less data.
With this option, since you are disabling the mobile data for TikTok on your mobile settings, the app won’t work unless you enable data usage. Still, you’ll be able to use it with WiFi without issues.
Use TikTok Lite
TikTok Lite is an alternative to the full app. This version takes less space on your phone, at 9 MB, but it’s also ideal for saving more data while watching videos.
TikTok Lite was designed for users with slow connections who want to keep watching their favorite videos on the app. There are also fewer in-app features, as it doesn’t include uploading videos to the app, for example, to allow a better data-saving experience.
Most main features, such as automatic scrolling, video edition, messaging, and much more, are still available, but TikTok will consume 50% less data using its Lite version.
Lastly, keep in mind that the Lite app uses different amounts of data for TikTok videos due to their different resolutions, but it is still enjoyable to have some fun online.
Use WiFi over your data plan
Moving to a WiFi connection is way better if you want to forget about how much data you are using when on TikTok.
While using a WiFi connection, you can forget about the video resolution, the data saver option, or even the Lite app. You’ll also be able to watch live streams and all types of videos without messing with its quality or loading times.
>Pocket WiFi vs. eSIM: Which one is best for data usage?<
Buy an unlimited plan to keep streaming on TikTok
Are you planning on traveling and need to control the amount of data you use while abroad? The best option is to get an unlimited data plan, and this is something you won’t only enjoy while using TikTok.
If you want to watch TikTok without worrying about data, companies like Holafly are the ideal solution. With unlimited data plans, you can stay connected and use other apps, like Google Maps and Apple Music, while watching those short videos on TikTok you love.
Whether you’re planning to visit just one country or organize a trip to different destinations, Holafly offers coverage in over 200 destinations. So, what are you waiting for? Get your unlimited data eSIM to stay connected while traveling!
FAQs
While using TikTok without the “Data Saver” option, you’ll consume 948MB in one hour. With TikTok Lite and the data saving mode on, you’ll consume around 480 MB per hour, but video quality will be lower.
TikTok consumes 948 MB of data per hour, whereas Instagram can consume just 69 MB of data in five minutes, which means you’ll consume 828 MB of data per hour.
This depends on the length of the video. A 38-second video consumes 14.49 MB, so it varies greatly.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
