How to Enjoy YouTube while Saving Your Data

Thu, Aug 20, 2020 5:57 AM cheap internet deals mobile phone plans

YouTube is one of the top data drainer apps next to Spotify and Netflix. No big deal if you have unlimited data right? Wrong, cause no unlimited plan is truly unlimited.

But don’t fret if you’re not on an unlimited plan, you wise wireless spender, you. We’ve got a few ways to optimize your streaming that won’t affect your obsession with calorie challenge videos.

Change Your YouTube Settings

The first thing you should do is modify your YouTube settings with the Play HD on Wifi only setting in the app. This setting makes YouTube stream in standard quality, saving you big time on data usage. This will also help it load faster. If you’re an HD quality snob, just turn it back on when you’re on WiFi.

Here’s How To Optimize Your YouTube Data Usage:

Step 1: Open the YouTube app, tap your profile image in the top right corner, then tap Settings.

youtube setting step 2

Step 2: Tap General and enable Play HD on Wi-Fi only and Upload over Wi-Fi only. Disable Autoplay next video.

play over wifi

Also Read: The Best Streaming Services 2020

Download Your Videos For Later

If you’re a YouTube Red user, take advantage of your subscription and download full videos and playlists to avoid using mobile data altogether and get more value for your money.

Saving data on YouTube will allow you to save it for those other desperate times, like when you just have to stream the latest dropped album from your fav Kpop Artist.

Watch on Wifi

To make sure you are only watching YouTube videos on WiFi, you can turn off cellular data for the YouTube app in your phone settings. Instructions vary by phone.

Reduce the Streaming Quality

Step 1: Click the 3 dots in the top right corner of the video you want to download.

3 dots