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How to reduce data usage on a Mac
Turn on Low Data Mode for your hotspot or Wi‑Fi (System Settings → Wi‑Fi → Details), stop automatic macOS and App Store updates, pause iCloud Photos and cloud drives, and lower video quality. Then track your usage so you can see what’s still using data.
A Mac assumes it’s on unlimited internet. On a phone hotspot, a capped plan, a travel eSIM or roaming, that means updates, backups and sync can quietly use gigabytes. These settings make a big difference. All of them work on macOS Sonoma and Sequoia.
1. Turn on Low Data Mode
Open System Settings → Wi‑Fi, click Details next to the network you’re connected to (your hotspot, for example), and turn on Low Data Mode. macOS and many apps then hold back background tasks on that network. Turn it on for each hotspot or metered Wi‑Fi you use.
2. Stop automatic macOS updates
A macOS update can be several gigabytes. Go to System Settings → General → Software Update, click the ⓘ next to Automatic updates and turn off Download new updates when available. Update later on free or unlimited Wi‑Fi.
3. Turn off App Store auto-updates
Open the App Store, choose App Store → Settings in the menu bar and turn off Automatic Updates.
4. Pause iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive
Photos and videos uploading to iCloud can use a lot of data. In the Photos app, open Settings → iCloud and pause or turn off iCloud Photos while you’re on a hotspot. In Finder, check that big files aren’t syncing to iCloud Drive.
5. Pause Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive
Click their menu bar icons and choose Pause syncing while you’re on mobile data.
6. Lower video quality
Video is usually the biggest data user. Netflix estimates about 0.7 GB an hour in standard definition and up to 3 GB an hour in HD. On YouTube, set quality to 480p or lower, and turn off autoplay.
7. Turn off video on calls when you can
Video calls on Zoom, Google Meet or Teams can use hundreds of megabytes an hour. Audio-only uses a small fraction of that.
8. Stop browsers and apps updating in the background
Chrome, Edge, Microsoft Office and Adobe apps all download their own updates. Quit apps you aren’t using, and check each app’s settings for automatic updates.
9. Avoid big downloads on the hotspot
Save game downloads, Xcode, large email attachments and offline maps for free or unlimited Wi‑Fi.
10. Watch your usage as it happens
The settings above help, but you only know they’re working if you can see your usage. Byter shows how much data you’ve used on each network right in your menu bar, plus your live speed, so a surprise download is obvious straight away.
Questions
Does a Mac have Low Data Mode?
Yes. In System Settings → Wi‑Fi, click Details next to a network and turn on Low Data Mode. It reduces background data use on that network.
Why does my Mac use so much data on a hotspot?
Mostly background downloads: macOS and app updates, iCloud Photos, cloud drives and video. See our guide on why laptops use so much data.
How can I see which network used my data?
macOS doesn’t show this. Byter, a free Mac app, records your usage for each Wi‑Fi network and hotspot separately.