The
Instagram mobile app is data-hungry. This is probably because much of its content are multimedia (pictures and videos) with minimal text. Few users have had to uninstall the app entirely to reduce the strain on their mobile data. Some restrict their
instagramming to midnights or when they are on public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Data saving
However, Instagram has a data saving option that has been around for a long time now but many users are not aware of this feature. This feature is available on both iOS and Android platforms. If you’re an aggressive instagramer but face connectivity problems, you might want to turn this feature on. By default, data saving is turned off on Instagram.
Here’s how to use data saver on Instagram
- Go to your Instagram profile
- Click the hamburger menu (three dots) on the top right corner of the app
- Scroll down to Cellular Data Use (iOS) or Mobile Date Use (Android)
- Next to Use Less Data, tap to toggle on (iOS) or tap Default/Use Less Data (Android).
If you choose to use less data, videos may take longer to load over a cellular connection. Choosing to use less data won’t affect the way Instagram works when you’re using Wi-Fi.
Also, Instagram now has an
Instagram Lite app for Android that is smaller in size and lighter to use. It allows users who use older phones with less storage space, slower network connections or who can’t afford big data packages, to enjoy Instagram despite their hardware’s shortcomings. Using the lite app will also save you a whole lot of mobile data.
