How to Turn Off Cellular Data for WhatsApp on an iPhone

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Disable cellular data for WhatsApp so it doesn't use mobile data
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Do you want to turn off cell data for WhatsApp? This can be particularly useful if you're on a limited data plan and plan to use WhatsApp purely on Wi-Fi. To turn off cellular data on WhatsApp, open your settings and tap Cellular . Select WhatsApp , and then toggle it off. This wikiHow article will walk you through the different ways you can turn off or limit cellular data on WhatsApp for iPhone.

Disabling Data for WhatsApp

To turn off cellular data for WhatsApp on your iPhone, open your iPhone's settings. Tap Cellular , and then find WhatsApp . Tap the switch for WhatsApp to only use the app when you're on Wi-Fi.

Section 1 of 4:

Turning Off Cellular Data for WhatsApp

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  1. This is the gray cog icon on your home screen that may be in a folder labeled "Utilities." [1]
  2. It's next to an icon of a cell tower. [2]
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  3. You may need to scroll through the list to find WhatsApp.
  4. It will turn white once it's off. Now WhatsApp can't use your cellular data, meaning that you'll only be able to send or receive messages over a Wi-Fi connection. [3]
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Section 2 of 4:

Using Low Data Mode on WhatsApp

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  1. This app icon features a white telephone receiver on a green background.
    • This method does not completely turn off cellular data but lowers it instead. You can still use WhatsApp without Wi-Fi, but the quality of pictures in your messages and phone calls will be decreased.
  2. It's usually the last item on the menu. [4]
  3. This menu option is next to a broken circle icon near the middle of the menu. [5]
  4. You'll see this toggle under the "Call settings" header. A green switch means the feature is active. You'll be able to use WhatsApp without a Wi-Fi network, but the quality of your calls and the pictures in your chats may not be the quality you like. With this mode activated, you will still spend mobile data when receiving and sending messages and media.
    • To disable this mode, repeat these steps and tap the switch off. It'll be grey or white to indicate that the feature is off.
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Section 3 of 4:

Limiting Auto-Downloads

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  1. This app icon features a white telephone receiver on a green background.
    • This method will still let WhatsApp use cellular data, but your background downloads (like the pictures sent in your chat messages) will not download until your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
  2. It's usually the last item on the menu. [6]
  3. This menu option is next to a broken circle icon near the middle of the menu. [7]
  4. You can also select Never if you want to manually tap each file to download it.
    • Repeat for each option underneath the Media auto-download section.
    • You can always return to these settings to enable them again.
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Does WhatsApp use data? WhatsApp will use your data plan if Wi-Fi is turned off. If you don't want it to, you can disable data for WhatsApp.
  2. 2
    What happens if I turn off mobile data for WhatsApp on my iPhone? When you disable mobile data for WhatsApp, you won't be able to send messages or make calls outside of Wi-Fi. The app may still open, but you'll need Wi-Fi to reload and refresh messages.
  3. 3
    Can I use WhatsApp without the Internet? You can only use WhatsApp without Wi-Fi if you have cellular data enabled. Otherwise, the app won't reload or refresh.
  4. 4
    How do I turn cellular data back on for WhatsApp? To enable cellular data for WhatsApp, go to Settings > Cellular > WhatsApp > toggle on WhatsApp .
  5. 5
    Does WhatsApp work without Wi-Fi? You can use WhatsApp without Wi-Fi by enabling cellular/mobile data on your phone or tablet.
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      • You can also disable notifications for WhatsApp in the WhatsApp menu by tapping "Notifications" and sliding the "Allow Notifications" button to the "off" position. [8]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-or-change-cellular-data-settings-iph3dd5f213/ios
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/view-or-change-cellular-data-settings-iph3dd5f213/ios
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-al/guide/iphone/iph3dd5f213/ios
      4. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5503646096388294/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=platform_switcher
      5. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/5503646096388294/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=platform_switcher
      6. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/366146522333492/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=platform_switcher
      7. ↑ https://faq.whatsapp.com/366146522333492/?cms_platform=iphone&helpref=platform_switcher
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-notification-settings-iph7c3d96bab/ios

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings.
      2. Tap Cellular .
      3. Tap WhatsApp .
      4. Tap the switch next to "WhatsApp" to toggle it off.

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