Data Saver function - where is it on Android 8.1 ?

[whacker]

Not to argue, but terms like whitelisting and blacklisting are general use terms, and can be applied to just about anything capable of being gathered into a list.

On the forums here there has been a lot of use of the term whitelisting to describe a cell carrier's allowing (or not) of this or that model of device onto their network. And that's an apt use of the term, but it's not used exclusively for that.

As far as anyone determining on their device what collection or subset of apps they want to allow to do something, which in turn disallows others, whitelisting using a feature in Android called Data Saver is an acceptable way to describe it.

[melman]

As far as anyone determining on their device what collection or subset of apps they want to allow to do something, which in turn disallows others, whitelisting using a feature in Android called Data Saver is an acceptable way to describe it.

And to be extra clear, I had an Android 8.1 phone for over 4 years, Data Saver was always on. Data was off by default. In the Settings page Settings - Apps & Notifications - Special access - Unrestricted data access "Select apps to allow usage of mobile data even when mobile data is restricted", which has an on/off switch for each app, all the switches are currently off. When I turned on data, everything behaved as I expected. This phone is currently deactivated so I can't turn the data on to see if the settings change, but I don't think they would.

[hpham]

And to be extra clear, I had an Android 8.1 phone for over 4 years, Data Saver was always on. This phone is currently deactivated so I can't turn the data on to see if the settings change, but I don't think they would.

Here's an Article on Data Saver . Android 8.0 is when Data Saver became available . It's still available on my phones running Android 12 and later. So, if you want to test with your phones with Android 8.0 and later, test away.

[PaulCrawhorne]

Whitelisting refers to the cellular provider allowing approved phones/devices to be usable on their cellular network. It isn't something that consumers do themselves.

No, whitelisting is not just used for that context, nor telephony industry in general.

It's just a general English term to signify the inverse of blacklisting.

For example a local country club could keep a whitelist of families eligible to apply.

Most commonly used nowadays for computer security and email processing

https://www.makeuseof.com/whitelisti...vs-greylisting

[loboheeler]

Here's an Article on Data Saver . Android 8.0 is when Data Saver became available . It's still available on my phones running Android 12 and later. So, if you want to test with your phones with Android 8.0 and later, test away.

Thanks, I was curious when Data Saver became available. It is on my phones running on Android 8.1 and 11.0. Before that I was only aware of being able to selectively restrict data in the Applications section of Settings. Gives me something new to play with! I found a number unrelated types of settings while following this discussion. Some are hidden from easy view. The factory default settings had been working well, so I never looked to change anything.

[andyk88]

Normally, an app is allowed to use metered data even in the background, when you are not actively using the app in the foreground.

You can individually disallow an app from using metered data in the background (by turning off Background data for the app under Settings > Apps).

Starting in Android 7, to disallow all apps from using metered data in the background, instead of going through each app one by one, you can turn on Data Saver.

LG Phoenix 2 running 7.0: Settings > Data Manager > Menu (3 dots) > Data Saver
LG Xpression Plus running 9.0: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Manager > Menu > Data Saver
Nord N200 running 12.0: Settings > Mobile network > Data usage > Data saving

Then under "Unrestricted data access" (or "Unrestricted apps"), you can see all the apps whether they are excepted from Data Saver. (When an app is excepted from Data Saver, the app is allowed to use metered data in the background even when Data Saver is on).

Usually at least "Google Play services" is excepted. I believe apps like Gmail and (Google) Voice use "Google Play services", so that Gmail and Voice do not need to be excepted, and you can still be notified of new emails or incoming calls, when you are on metered data and not actively using Gmail or Voice in the foreground.

If you have an app that should but does not send out or receive incoming data, when you are on metered data and not actively using the app in the foreground, then have the app excepted from Data Saver (either from the list of all apps such as under "Unrestricted data access", or the individual app under Settings > Apps).

https://source.android.com/docs/core/data/data-saver
https://developer.android.com/traini...ops/data-saver

[rpz1]

...... The factory default settings had been working well, so I never looked to change anything.

IMHO as far as cell phones as well as carriers, that's the best course of action. If it works don't fix it.

[whacker]

Normally, an app is allowed to use metered data even in the background, when you are not actively using the app in the foreground.

You can individually disallow an app from using metered data in the background (by turning off Background data for the app under Settings > Apps).

Starting in Android 7, to disallow all apps from using metered data in the background, instead of going through each app one by one, you can turn on Data Saver.

LG Phoenix 2 running 7.0: Settings > Data Manager > Menu (3 dots) > Data Saver
LG Xpression Plus running 9.0: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Manager > Menu > Data Saver
Nord N200 running 12.0: Settings > Mobile network > Data usage > Data saving

Then under "Unrestricted data access" (or "Unrestricted apps"), you can see all the apps whether they are excepted from Data Saver. (When an app is excepted from Data Saver, the app is allowed to use metered data in the background even when Data Saver is on).

Usually at least "Google Play services" is excepted. I believe apps like Gmail and (Google) Voice use "Google Play services", so that Gmail and Voice do not need to be excepted, and you can still be notified of new emails or incoming calls, when you are on metered data and not actively using Gmail or Voice in the foreground.

If you have an app that should but does not send out or receive incoming data, when you are on metered data and not actively using the app in the foreground, then have the app excepted from Data Saver (either from the list of all apps such as under "Unrestricted data access", or the individual app under Settings > Apps).

https://source.android.com/docs/core/data/data-saver
https://developer.android.com/traini...ops/data-saver

Very good and informative post! This gets back to the idea of the whitelist/blacklist concept.

Use of Data Saver (when you actually select apps) builds a whitelist of apps allowed to use background data, while others are disallowed. And makes it convenient to engage that whitelist when you see fit, based on your own operating criteria.

In a default scenario (phone just out of the box), when using mobile data (which for the majority is the default use case), Data Saver is off and all apps are allowed, but separate from Data Saver you can blacklist ones to disallow them from use of background data, by using the toggle available in each app to restrict it from that use (and this pertains to mobile data use, NOT Wi-Fi).

These are extra fine-tuning techniques that Android users can utilize when they get familiar with Android's capabilities to help them fit their use into whatever their phone plan data allowance is, which in some cases may help save them money or the inconvenience of running out data during a plan period or a bucket allowance.

My personal setup is, I run my phones with a PAYGO, single-bucket plan (Page Plus Cellular), but my "public phone identity" is provided by Google Voice, for over a decade. So when I leave a Wi-Fi covered area, if I want to keep my calling/texting on the VoIP side and off the cellular side, I turn on mobile data, which has Data Saver already engaged and configured. For me the allowed apps in the Data Saver list (my whitelist) are Google Play Services (essential for communications apps) and Google Voice. That's it. This allows my calls and texts to work over the mobile network, which is roughly equal to or slightly less than what it costs for calls forwarded via cellular (and there's no more GV text forwarding over cellular for a couple of years now).

If I felt it was important I would allow my email client app onto the list, and maybe Facebook Messenger (I use the Lite version). And also maybe Google Chat, which I use to communicate with one family member. But I can generally wait to be notified of activity on those platforms. Calls and SMS texts are a definite priority.

For me it's a pretty good setup, and I'm operating and spending within my means, which Data Saver helps facilitate.

[StymiedToo]

Thanks everyone for the information -

My Maps data from April 29 to May 28 shows 51.94 MB Foreground and 8.76 MB Background or 60.70 MB Total. The Background data seems pretty high & makes me wonder if this is somehow being used for the whole 30 day period. However I usually keep mobile data turned of, and my phone is usually turned off.

I've been taking notes the past few days when using Google Maps. So far Maps Foreground data is 25.51 MB and Background data is 558 KB.

Last month's Foreground data is twice this month's, but the Background data is about 17 times higher. Any idea why last month's Background data usage would be so high?

[StymiedToo]

These are cumulative Maps data usage for June.

June 25: Foreground data = 25.51 MB, Background data = 23.95 MB.

June 26: Foreground data = 25.51 MB, Background data = 31.27 MB
Background data increased over 7 MB but Foreground data didn’t change.

June 27: Turned off Background data & took a short trip.
Foreground data = 25.51 MB and still did not change.
Background data = 40.84 MB. Why did this change when it was turned off?

Why does Background data change so much even when turned off, but Foreground data isn’t changing? More Background data is being used than Foreground data.

Any idea what’s going on? I’ve search all over & can’t find any explanation.

[Serial Port]

Keep in mind that even with data turned off, GPS still sends/rcv small amounts of data unless you completely shut off GPS.

[hpham]

Keep in mind that even with data turned off, GPS still sends/rcv small amounts of data unless you completely shut off GPS.

That depends on whether or not you're using the GPS with an app that needs data for live traffic update or downloading maps. Otherwise, the GPS will work without any data. I use the GPS of my inactive phones with the HERE app and offline maps, works just fine. The GPS receiver communicates with the GPS satellites via radio waves, not cell phone network.

[StymiedToo]

I was using Google Maps with Mobile data turned on which means Maps would be using data. But it would be the same for May & June.

The total for May was 51.94 MB Foreground data and 8.76 MB Background data. Why is one month so much different than the other?

May was mostly an interstate trip and I just used the smart phone in a cup holder. June was several shorter local trips & Android Auto was used for these. Maybe these had more traffic info that was being downloaded, but why no Foreground data? Did Google Maps automatically use one of my downloaded maps? If I turned off Maps Background data that should have shut that off but it didn’t. Android Auto only used few kB of data so it should not have been causing this.

On my last trip Maps Background data increased by 9.57 MB and Mobile data increased by 13 MB. I’m not sure which is driving which but I was mainly looking at Maps data. One month Background data is 14% of Maps data & the next month it’s 61%.

I've also used an inactive phone as a GPS using downloaded Google Maps. It worked, sort of. I knew where I was going except for the last mile or two. So I wasn’t exactly following its directions & it kept wanting me to make U-turns. Even when I was 80% of the way to my destination it kept wanting me to go back. I tried it again later & it insisted I go a certain way & would not recalculate. So I've been leaving Mobile data turn on since then.

[andyk88]

I suggest disconnecting your device from the head unit entirely and see what happens.


Unfortunately Google only gives us a simplified explanation of what things (e.g., "background" on the device) mean and how they work.

Also, the Android Auto app is more just to mirror (but not actually perform) capabilities from the device to the head unit. (Or maybe not even mirroring, but just to facilitate the mirroring.) So data used by the Maps app on the head unit (which is really mirrored from the Maps app on the device in the "background") would not be reflected by the Android Auto app.


By the way, GPS itself on a device only receives one-way signal from satellites, and uses no data. But it's actually more complicated:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GNSS
(Also see under: Related_technologies)

[StymiedToo]

On a few small trips I did using Android Auto the Foreground data never increased but the Background data did even when it was turned off.

I've been playing with this the past few days & have disconnected the phone from the head unit & now Maps data shows Foreground data being used & a lot less Background data used. I'm not sure if the system is just swapping where the data usage is, Foreground or Background, and maybe the total maps usage comes out about the same. I would have to make duplicate trips with & without Android Auto to compare them. And if there's more traffic on one trip would that affect data usage?

I found this on a google.com support group. It's from 2019. Was/is it correct, who knows.
"The new Android Auto app (4.8.594324-release) causes a significant increase in Google Maps background data (10.30.2), even when not using the map."
https://support.google.com/androidau...-the-map?hl=en

Android Auto is nice but not required. On my next long trip maybe I'll use it one way & not the return trip & compare.