How to Lower Data Usage in Chrome for iOS

Tweak this setting if you're on a limited data plan

by
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Writer
Scott Orgera is a former writer who covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications.
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Scott Orgera
Updated on October 12, 2020

If you have a limited data plan, monitoring iPhone data usage can be an important part of daily life. This is especially true when internet browsing, as the number of kilobytes and megabytes flying back and forth adds up quickly.

To make things easier, Google Chrome offers a bandwidth-management feature that allows you to set when the browser preloads web pages. Preloading web pages speeds up your browser experience, and it uses data. Here's how to alter your preload setting to save data usage.

The Google Chrome app requires a device with iOS 12 or later.

Chrome iOS data usage
Hero Images / Getty Images

How to Manage Bandwidth in Google Chrome for iOS

You'll need to go into the Chrome settings to manage preloaded web page settings.

  1. Open the Chrome app on your iOS device and select the menu icon (the three dots) in the lower-right corner.

  2. Select Settings.

  3. Scroll down and tap Bandwidth.

    Bandwidth in Chrome settings for iOS

  4. Select Preload Webpages.

  5. Select Only on Wi-Fi to preload content only when the device is on a Wi-Fi connection. This is the recommended setting for users on limited data plans.

  6. Select Always to have Chrome always preload web pages.

    Preloading web content is convenient, speeds up your browsing experience, and uses a significant amount of data. This setting is not recommended if you have a limited mobile data plan.

  7. Select Never to have Chrome never preload web content, no matter which connection type.

    Preload Webpages settings in the iOS Chrome app

  8. Once you've chosen an option, tap Done to save your changes.

Chrome for iOS used to have a feature called Data Saver that, when enabled, automatically improved page-loading times. Google removed this feature in 2019, replacing it with Lite Mode on Android devices. Lite Mode isn't available on the desktop or for iOS.

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