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You are here: Home / Smart Phone Tips / How to control your mobile data usage when watching Netflix on your mobile device

How to control your mobile data usage when watching Netflix on your mobile device

Posted on May 13, 2016

Netflix-logoThe folks at Netflix recently changed the way they stream content to mobile devices over cellular data networks.

After spending considerable time testing various data rates, Netflix determined that a streaming rate of 600 Kbps per second provides the user with good video quality while consuming a smaller portion of your cellular plan’s monthly data allotment.

But what if Netflix’s interpretation of “good video quality” differs from yours?

Luckily, you can easily increase the video quality of the shows and movies you watch on your mobile device by increasing the streaming rate from Netflix’s new default rate of 600 Kbps per second. 

Caveat: Increasing your device’s Netflix data rate could cause you to exceed your cellular plan’s monthly data allotment and/or cause you to incur overage fees. It’s important to take that fact into consideration if you don’t have an unlimited data plan.

After considering the caveat mentioned above, you can follow the steps listed below to increase the data rate on your Netflix mobile app:

1 – Open the Netflix app on your mobile device.

2 – Tap on the Menu icon located in the top-left corner of the screen.

3 – Scroll down and tap App Settings.

4 – Tap Cellular Data Usage.

5 – Change the default setting to one that you are comfortable with (the options range from Low to Unlimited, with Unlimited offering the highest video quality while using the most data).

That’s all there is to it. From now on Netflix will stream content to your device at the data rate you selected via the above procedure.

Note 1: If you don’t have an unlimited data plan you might want to carefully monitor your data usage for a while and adjust the Netfix data rate again if you see that you’re using too much data for your plan.

Note 2: You also have the option to set your Netflix data usage to Wi-Fi Only, which would restrict your Netflix viewing to those times when your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network. When set to Wi-Fi only your device won’t use any cellular data at all.

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