How To: Check Your Data Usage

Are you one of the select few iPhone users who nabbed the unlimited data plans before they became extinct? If not, you’re probably stuck with a plan that only allots a certain amount of data for you to use each month. This can make people nervous sometimes because they fear going over their limit and thus getting charged for more.
But fear not! There is a way for you to quickly check your data usage so you can be confident you are well within the confines of your data plan, and likewise you will be able to sleep better at night (maybe!). Read on!

First thing to do is to go into your Settings app and find General.

Next, locate and select Usage. (Hopefully you don’t have a “software update” alert like you see on my iPhone below because you’ve read our post in the past about how to easily update your iPhone to the latest iOS… right?!)

Here, you will have to scroll down to the bottom and find Cellular Usage.

Now here is the “meat and potatoes” as they say of your iPhone’s cellular usage. You can monitor your Call Time, Network Data usage, and also data that was used while you were tethering to another device. NOTE: This is not just for the current billing cycle, this is the usage since you last reset the statistics. If you scroll down a little more you’ll see what I mean.

At the bottom you’ll see the last time you reset your statistics. Consider this date before you freak out about your large amount of data usage. As you can see, I have downloaded over 6.6 GB of data which is WAY over most people’s allotted amount in their data plans, but this measurement is since last April of 2011 (today is March 2012).

You can monitor how much data you use in the upcoming month by hitting Reset Statistics and then checking back later in a month to see the new measurements.

See? Wasn’t that easy?

Now what about these data plans we speak of? I’ve taken the liberty in collecting data plans for the iPhone that are currently offered from various carriers. See if you can find yours below! Or perhaps you may find a better deal to better suit your personal needs. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed reading! Leave a comment below about any stories you may have on how this process might have saved you money in the past.