Use Less Data In Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go uses a lot of data. There are many ways to use less data with Pokemon Go, starting with the official methods, then moving on to more sneaky ways.

Save Data Inside the Pokemon Go App

First things first: turn on your battery saver mode. When you're on the main screen of your Pokemon Go, tap on the red Poke Ball at the bottom of your screen. Next, tap on Settings in the top right. Within settings, turn on "Battery Saver" by tapping the circle next to it. You can also turn off music, sound effects and vibration here, which will limit how much information Pokemon Go needs to pull from the server. If the servers go down, you will need to reset this. Be sure to double check that Battery Saver is turned on if you have to sign in again. This will limit the data used by Pokemon Go and also help minimize your data consumption. You can also turn off the "AR" camera once you have encountered a Pokemon. Because Pokemon Go will just populate a constant, generic background, this will help reduce data used. Flick the small button on the top right while you are trying to catch a Pokemon to turn off augmented reality. You can try to rely on WiFi to play Pokemon Go, but this will likely limit the number and type of Pokemon you are able to collect. Pokemon tend to congregate in public spaces, like parks, churches, and downtown areas. Although some places like this offer WiFi, it can be tough to bounce around without at least occasionally using data. Walking around increases your odds of finding a Pokemon, so using at least some data is a good idea.

Methods to Use Less Data in Pokemon Go Outside the App

There are also ways to reduce Pokemon Go's data usage outside of the app, including changing some Google Maps settings. Pokemon Go's map runs on the Google Maps API, so if you download the areas you frequent most on Google Maps, it should reduce your data usage. To download an offline map, open up Google Maps. Tap the menu button in the top left corner. You will have to be signed into a Google account for this to work. Next, go to settings. Choose Offline Areas. If you don't have offline areas, update your Google Maps app. Tap the + button at the bottom right. Zoom out on the map to include however large of an area you prefer, then hit download. This won't impact your data usage in a huge way, but it should help bring it down a little bit each day. Pokemon Go won't need to rely on the servers to pull the map, allowing it to use less data.

Limit Other Apps' Data

If you haven't already, limit the data other apps are using. Stop apps from using background data. Have an iPhone? Go to the Cellular section in Settings to choose which apps to throttle. On an Android, you can change data usage in either the Wireless & Connections section or Connections.