Managing your internet usage
Did you know some apps can use data even when you’re not actively using them? Here’s some tips for how to manage your internet data usage. Use this information to help prevent unexpected usage on your network.
Use our Usage report tool to monitor your usage and stay on top of how much data you’re using throughout the month. If you're on an internet plan with a fixed monthly data allowance, sign up for email notifications to be notified when you’re approaching your monthly usage limit.
Turn your computer and devices off when you're not using them. Leaving your computer and devices on can generate excess usage. Devices in sleep mode may still generate usage if they are set to auto update.
Password-protect your Wi-Fi network to prevent people from accessing your internet connection without your knowledge.
If your Northwestel modem includes a built-in router, you can log in to your modem to set or change your password. To learn more, see:
- How to view and change Wi-Fi settings on your SmartRG or Cisco 3825 wireless modem
- How to view and change Wi-Fi settings on your Hitron wireless modem
- How to view and change Wi-Fi settings on your Pulse media gateway
If you’re using your own router, see your router’s documentation to learn how to set a password for your Wi-Fi network.
Some peer-to-peer file sharing apps (for example, Bit Torrent, U Torrent) will upload shared files to other internet users, by default, which drives up usage. This activity is often invisible to you. Check the settings in the app to limit or turn off file sharing, where possible. Usage is calculated by both download and upload activity.
Turn off streaming video and music apps while you're away from your computer or device. Leaving the apps running can generate usage you might not be aware of.
Usage from streaming videos and streaming video games can vary greatly depending on the quality (resolution). The higher the video quality, the higher the usage. Websites such as YouTube and Netflix stream videos anywhere from 144p (lowest) to 1080p, 4k and higher. In most cases, you can reduce your usage by choosing a lower video quality setting.
Learn more about how to control how much data Netflix uses.
Downloading movies and videos can generate a lot of usage. For example, downloading a full-length movie can consume up to 3 gigabytes (GB).
Be aware of what your devices are doing. Some websites and devices may automatically upload and download data and updates by default unless you change the settings. There may also be some settings turned on that you don’t need or want.
For example, some Facebook pages may automatically play videos. If you’re unaware that a page has a video, you may end up streaming that video. Learn how to stop videos from automatically playing in your News Feed in Facebook.
Most iOS devices back up to the cloud automatically, often in the middle of the night. You can adjust the settings on your device to control how often your data is backed up.
Streaming video devices such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick and Smart TVs may revert to their default video quality setting after an update, so you may need to check them regularly to ensure you're streaming in the quality you prefer.
You may want to install and regularly update your antivirus and antispyware software.
You may want to install software and use tools to help stop spam.
Before you attach a large file to an email, compress the file to reduce its size. Your operating system might have a built-in file compression tool. If not, you can get a file compression app.
There are numerous online sites, such as Netflix, Spotify and Apple Music, where you can stream or download movies, TV, and music for a fee. Keep in mind that even though you paid for that service, you still access that content through your internet connection. This applies whether you do so from your computer, game console, TV, or mobile device. Even when the content is advertised as free, it still counts towards your usage.
