“My data finished, but I did nothing” is one of the commonest complaints in Ghana. Usually something did plenty: a WhatsApp group full of videos, an app updating itself, photos backing up, or a video playing in higher quality than anyone needed.

Most of it can be stopped in ten minutes, and the bundle then lasts far longer. Do this before switching networks - the cheapest network still loses to a phone that wastes half of what you buy.

First, find out where it goes

  • Android: Settings → Network (or Connections) → Data usage → Mobile data usage. It lists every app by how much it used.
  • iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data (or Cellular). Scroll down for each app, and switch off any that need not use data.

The answer is usually one or two apps. Start with those.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is the biggest user on most Ghanaian phones, because of what other people send.

  • Settings → Storage and data → Media auto-download. Under “When using mobile data”, untick photos, audio, videos and documents. You still see everything, and download only what you tap.
  • Use less data for calls, in the same menu.
  • Mute or leave the groups that send videos all day.
  • Turn off chat backup over mobile data: Settings → Chats → Chat backup.

Video

Video is the fastest way through a bundle: an hour in high quality can use several times what it uses in low.

  • YouTube: Settings → Video quality preferences → On mobile networks → Data saver.
  • TikTok, Instagram, Facebook: each has a data saver setting that stops videos playing in high quality, or playing on their own.
  • Download films and shows on Wi-Fi or a night bundle, then watch them offline.

— Night bundles

Updates and backups

  • Play Store: Settings → Network preferences → Auto-update apps → Over Wi-Fi only.
  • App Store (iPhone): Settings → App Store → switch off automatic downloads on mobile data.
  • System updates: set them to download on Wi-Fi only, or run them on a night bundle.
  • Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive: set backup to Wi-Fi only. A day of photos can be more than a bundle.

The phone itself

  • Android Data Saver: Settings → Network → Data Saver stops apps using data in the background.
  • iPhone Low Data Mode: Settings → Mobile Data → Mobile Data Options.
  • Lite apps and browser data savers - Facebook Lite, the “lite” mode in Chrome and Opera Mini - load pages compressed.
  • Watch the hotspot. A laptop on your phone’s hotspot behaves as if it is on unlimited Wi-Fi - it will update, sync and back up. Mark the hotspot as a metered connection in the laptop’s settings.

When the data still vanishes

  • Check for subscriptions you did not ask for - “value added services” that bill your airtime. Each network’s menu lists your active services and lets you stop them.
  • Check whether the bundle actually arrived. A purchase from an unknown reseller may never have been data at all.
  • Complain to your network, and if it is not resolved, to the National Communications Authority, which takes complaints about billing.

— Cheapest data bundles, all networks — Cheap data from resellers