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Manage your AT&T Prepaid data

Get tips to help you stay within your AT&T Prepaid high-speed data allowance.

Know how much data you’re using

It’s easy to monitor your AT&T Prepaid® data use. You can:

Learn what uses the most data

Many devices—smartphones, tablets, and even AT&T Connected Car™—use wireless (cellular) data that can count against your monthly allowance.

Here are some activities that can drive up your data use:

  • Video streaming (900MB per hour for HD; 240MB per hour for SD)
  • Music streaming (30MB per hour)
  • Video conferencing, like FaceTime, Skype®, and Zoom (480MB per hour)
  • Online gaming (60MB per hour)
  • Downloading movies and large data files
  • Apps updating or syncing to the cloud

If possible, try to do these things when you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Good to know: Data usage varies by device. These examples are based on averages and are estimates only. The actual amount of data used for the described activity can vary.

Tips to use less data

Join a Wi-Fi network

Connecting devices to Wi-Fi® networks is a great way to use less wireless data. If there aren’t any Wi-Fi networks available, your device automatically switches back to wireless data.

FYI: Some apps on your device use wireless data even when connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Learn more with our device tutorials on how to:

Use Video Management

Our Video Management1 feature (formerly Stream Saver®) is automatically turned on. It may help lessen your data usage.

Learn how to turn Video Management off and on
 

Explore built-in device features

Most smartphones and tablets today have built-in features to monitor data. You may also be able to use them to set warnings or limits. These will turn off your wireless data when you reach a preset data limit.

Get more info at your device manufacturer’s support site.

Update app settings

Many apps sync files to the cloud, update themselves, and send notifications automatically. These functions, while convenient, can use up a lot of your data.

You may want to disable cellular data within each app’s settings. Get specific instructions for your device through our Device Support. Search for details on how to disable auto-update and cloud synching, and manage notifications.

Consider an unlimited plan

With AT&T Prepaid unlimited plans, you get unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada (restrictions apply).

Compare unlimited plans

See all important details

Last updated: January 17, 2025

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