Data Saver function - where is it on Android 8.1 ?

[StymiedToo]

I have an LG LML212VL Rebel 4 phone with Android 8.1. I've Googled all over the place & everything says on Android 8.0 & up you go to Network & internet > Data Saver. But this setting does not exist on my phone. And I can't find it in any of the sub-categories under Network & internet. Can't find it in the User Guide either.

I thought it might be the same as Airplane mode, but the pictures always seem to show both settings.

Any idea where this setting might be hidden? Is it possible my phone does not have have it even though it is Android 8.1?

[WheelieBoot]

I have an LG Solo with And 8.1.0 and Battery Saver is found by going into Settings > Battery > Battery Saver

I don't know about your LG phone. But if the make of phone and Android version are the same, I would think it's there.

I had a Rebel but it died on me.

Sent from my LGL423DL using HoFo mobile app

[hpham]

I have an LG Solo with And 8.1.0 and Battery Saver is found by going into Settings > Battery > Battery Saver

StymiedToo was asking about Data Saver, not Battery Saver.

[melman]

On my Rebel 4 with Android 8.1, Data Saver is on whatever you call the panel that you get by swiping down from the top. With other shortcuts like the flashlight and such.
When it is turned on, then at the top of the Settings is a grey bar saying "Data Saver is on" and by pressing that, you can turn it off. Then the grey bar disappears and doing a search on "data saver" or just "saver" does not find it.
Settings - Network & Internet - Mobile Data - three dots in upper right, also gets to Data Saver. So it is in there, but hidden so well that their own Search can't find it.

[WheelieBoot]

My mistake, I apologize for the mix-up.

As someone else pointed out, Data Saver and Battery Saver are options on the notification drop-down menu at the top of the home screen.

If it's not there, it might be able to be added.

There's a pencil/edit option next to the settings gear wheel symbol on the drop down panel and I was able to add both Battery Saver and Data Saver by drag & drop to the notification panel.

Sent from my moto g(7) optimo maxx(XT1955DL) using HoFo mobile app

[StymiedToo]

On my Rebel 4 with Android 8.1, Data Saver is on whatever you call the panel that you get by swiping down from the top. With other shortcuts like the flashlight and such.
When it is turned on, then at the top of the Settings is a grey bar saying "Data Saver is on" and by pressing that, you can turn it off. Then the grey bar disappears and doing a search on "data saver" or just "saver" does not find it.
Settings - Network & Internet - Mobile Data - three dots in upper right, also gets to Data Saver. So it is in there, but hidden so well that their own Search can't find it.

Thanks - I found it.

I’ve looked at several sites that talk about saving data but I’m still not sure what should be or can be safely turned off. It seems a lot of instructions say to turn off everything, but then there’s warnings if you turn off an app’s data then it might cause a problem. Is there a definitive list of which apps should really have their data left on or have Background data enabled or have Unrestricted data usage?

Thanks again

[melman]

Being a Luddite and still using the 90-day triple TMFL cards with 180MB, I need to really minimize data usage. I only turn on data when I know I want it, and then usually only for checking email. Never for downloading or streaming. I know MMS messages will use data, and the OS may also use a bit in the background that I can't control. "Unrestricted data access" is disabled for all apps. My usage is almost always under 100MB/month which still seems like a lot but it's acceptable for me.

[whacker]

It depends on what you intend to use, and whether at this level your regular routine is (for instance) to strictly be using Wi-Fi when not mobile, but have a need for mobile data use while out and about, for things like (primarily) inbound communications and notification of same, or any other select functions. I consider use of Data Saver just a step away from having mobile data switched off. I'm a PAYGO user and a data miser, so I don't have a "norm" where I've got all kinds of things always hooked up to the internet (well, not via mobile data anyway) . I'm on Wi-Fi at home and at work, and my overall data use is mostly for communications things and browser use for web surfing.

Data Saver isn't something that just lets you run normally and somehow magically saves on data consumption. It's a white listing of only those apps you want to work while mobile data is on, so it is a restrictive function for sure.

I would say there's no data consuming app that really needs to be running (or white-listed in Data Saver) other than what I've mentioned already. For me, things that notify for real-time needs are the criteria. Which rules out social media, banking, etc.. Stuff that I can come back to when I regain a Wi-Fi connection doesn't qualify. And there's no harm that can come to your device or service or account by not being connected.

[StymiedToo]

Enabling Data Saver turns off data. Turning off Mobile data turns off data. What's the difference between them?

I've Googled every which way & cannot find anything that explains what one does vs the other.

[LadyLC]

Enabling Data Saver turns off data. Turning off Mobile data turns off data. What's the difference between them?

I've Googled every which way & cannot find anything that explains what one does vs the other.

Mobile data turns off data usage period.

Data Saver (from my phone): To help reduce data usage, Data Saver prevents some apps from sending or receiving data in the background. An app you're currently using can access data, but may do so less frequently. This may mean, for example, that images don't display until you tap them.

[hpham]

Enabling Data Saver turns off data. Turning off Mobile data turns off data. What's the difference between them?

Like LadyLC posted, Data Saver allows only selected apps (like Google Maps for live traffic condition, email app, text app) to use Data while preventing other apps like Facebook, social apps from using Data.

[whacker]

Out of any/all apps you already have installed and running, when you choose to use Data Saver you build a white list of apps that you hold in higher priority, and in circumstances where you want or need to cut down on data consumption (for instance, going from a Wi-Fi environment to no Wi-Fi), you switch on Data Saver (actually you leave it on and it works only when mobile data is also switched on) and it restricts the apps that can use data to only those on the white list you created.

Additional:

This restriction is aimed at the way many apps we use work in the "background," as they're connected to the internet to their "mothership," looking for the occasional notification or update. Like hpham noted, apps like email clients or social media apps (depending on how you have them set up) are running in the background, but are constantly checking in over the connection for new info to alert you to. That's the "drain" on data.

But Data Saver does not restrict you from using even restricted apps the instant you want to. You just manually open up the desired app (making it run in the "foreground") and it works normally.

[PaulCrawhorne]

For example, I never use T&T from the cellphone provider , only Data service, all my T&T is via VoIP.

So if I have a very low allocation of data on my plan, with a 100% cutoff once that is all used

I might set up Datasaver mode to only allow my VoIP app(s) to consume cell data

could be TextNow for example

All the other apps would then not be allowed, except when my device returns to WiFi

[melman]

I used my LG Rebel 4 (Android 8.1) with Data Saver on from day one. When I manually turn the data on, all apps that needed to use data, could. I did not do any whitelisting of apps, I don't even know how. But Gmail could check for new mail even if not in the foreground, etc.

[Serial Port]

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.