How Much Data Does YouTube Actually Use?

By Selina | August 1, 2023

If you have an expensive unlimited data plan, you might not worry about monitoring your mobile data usage. However, for those on limited data plans, it’s crucial to keep track of data consumption to avoid unexpected costs. Among the various activities that consume mobile data, streaming videos on platforms like YouTube is one of the primary culprits.

So, let’s delve into the realm of YouTube data usage to understand its impact, learn how to measure it accurately, and explore valuable tips to reduce data consumption. By the end, you’ll be well-informed and able to manage your YouTube usage without any guesswork.

 

Does YouTube Use Data?

Before we proceed, let’s clarify: Yes, YouTube does utilize mobile data. Besides making calls and sending SMS texts, nearly all activities on your smartphone rely on data when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi. This includes using messaging apps like WhatsApp, streaming music on platforms like Spotify, browsing social media websites, and, of course, watching videos. As a result, reducing mobile data usage is a common concern for many mobile users.

When you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you can watch YouTube videos without consuming mobile data. However, if you’re anywhere else without Wi-Fi access, watching YouTube videos consumes data.

 

Why Does YouTube Use So Much Data?

The reason behind YouTube’s data consumption lies in the nature of video transmission. Videos consist of thousands of pixels that can change rapidly multiple times per second, resulting in vast amounts of information that must travel through the internet to reach your device. Compared to downloading an image or streaming audio, video is much more complex, thus utilizing more mobile data. This phenomenon is not limited to YouTube alone; other video streaming services also consume significant data.

How Much Data Does YouTube Use? A Calculation

The amount of data YouTube uses depends on the video quality you stream. YouTube offers various quality options, ranging from 144p to 2160p (4K) for devices that support it. Let’s calculate the data consumption based on YouTube’s recommended video bitrates.

For 480p video (standard quality), YouTube suggests a bitrate between 500 and 2,000Kbps. Let’s take the average of these extremes, which is 1,250Kbps.

1,250Kbps (kilobits per second) divided by 1,000 equals 1.25Mbps (megabits per second). Since eight bits make up one byte, 1.25Mbps divided by eight results in approximately 0.156 megabytes per second of video. Multiplying this by 60 seconds, we find that 480p video uses around 9.375MB of data per minute on YouTube.

Therefore, streaming YouTube videos at 480p for an hour will consume roughly 562.5MB of data.

 

Let’s Compare YouTube Quality Data Usage

Applying the same calculation process to other quality options, here are the estimates for YouTube data usage per hour:

• 144p: No bitrate provided by YouTube.
• 240p: 225MB per hour.
• 360p: 315MB per hour.
• 480p: 562.5MB per hour.
• 720p at 30FPS: 1237.5MB (1.24GB) per hour.
• 720p at 60FPS: 1856.25MB (1.86GB) per hour.
• 1080p at 30FPS: 2.03GB per hour.
• 1080p at 60FPS: 3.04GB per hour.
• 1440p (2K) at 30FPS: 4.28GB per hour.
• 1440p (2K) at 60FPS: 6.08GB per hour.
• 2160p (4K) at 30FPS: 10.58GB per hour.
• 2160p (4K) at 60FPS: 15.98GB per hour.

For reference, 480p is considered “standard definition,” while 1080p is often referred to as “full HD,” representing the highest quality that many YouTube channels upload in. 4K video, although less common, is also provided by many channels.

If you’re concerned about data usage, 360p might be tolerable, but lower quality might not offer an enjoyable viewing experience.

How to Track Your Data Usage on YouTube

To monitor your data usage on YouTube, both Android and iPhone offer ways to do so.

On Android:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile network (this may vary depending on your Android version).
2. Here, you’ll see your data usage for the current billing cycle. Tap “App data usage” to see a breakdown by app.
3. Find YouTube in the list, and you’ll get a detailed breakdown of its data usage.
4. You can view the data used while the app was actively in use (Foreground) and while it ran in the background (Background).
5. If you want to save data, you can disable Background data to prevent the app from using data when it’s minimized.

Make sure to keep “Unrestricted data usage” turned off to restrict YouTube from consuming data even when Data Saver mode is enabled.

By following these guidelines and understanding YouTube’s data consumption, you can efficiently manage your data usage and avoid any surprises on your monthly bill. Now you can enjoy YouTube without worrying about its impact on your data plan!

How to Check YouTube’s Data Usage on iPhone

If you’re an iPhone user and concerned about how much data YouTube is consuming on your device, there are a few simple steps you can take to monitor and manage its data usage.

1. Checking YouTube’s Data Usage: To check how much data YouTube has used on your iPhone, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data,” depending on your device’s region and settings.
• Scroll down to find the list of apps and their respective data usage.
• Look for YouTube in the list. You’ll see its data usage for the “Current Period.”

Please note that your iPhone tracks data usage for the current billing cycle, but it doesn’t update this timeline automatically. To start a new data consumption period, you need to scroll to the bottom of the Cellular settings page and tap “Reset Statistics.” It’s a good idea to set a reminder to do this every time your billing cycle restarts to keep accurate track of YouTube’s data usage.

If you wish to prevent YouTube from using mobile data entirely, you can disable its slider in the Cellular settings.

2. How to Reduce YouTube’s Data Usage: If you don’t want to completely block YouTube from using mobile data but still want to reduce its data consumption, there are several effective methods to achieve this:

a. Change YouTube’s Video Quality While Watching: Avoid watching YouTube videos in high resolutions while using mobile data, as higher quality videos consume more data. While watching a video, tap the three-dot Menu button at the top-right of the video to open a menu with options at the bottom. Here, you’ll see the current quality setting. You can tap this to change the video’s quality.

YouTube offers options like “Higher picture quality” and “Data saver,” but they might not be very clear about their actual resolutions. To have more control, tap “Advanced” to choose a specific quality setting that suits your preference and data plan.

Selecting a lower quality, such as 480p, can strike a good balance between data usage and video quality. Please remember that changing the quality setting only applies to the current video, so you’ll need to do this each time you start a new video. However, you can set a default quality to avoid constant adjustments.

b. Set Your Default YouTube Quality Options: The YouTube app also allows you to set a general quality preference for all videos. This ensures that YouTube doesn’t automatically play videos in high definition when using mobile data. To access this option, tap your profile picture in the top-right of the YouTube app, then go to Settings > Video quality preferences.

Here, you can choose from “Auto,” “Higher picture quality,” and “Data saver” as default options, with separate settings for when you’re on mobile data and Wi-Fi. While the options may not specify exact resolutions, they help communicate your preference for non-HD video playback when using data.

c. Turn Off Video Autoplay: YouTube’s Autoplay feature automatically starts playing the next video after you finish watching one. This can lead to unnecessary data usage if a video starts playing that you didn’t intend to watch. To disable Autoplay, find the Autoplay slider at the top of any video and set it to the left position, indicating the “Pause” icon.

Alternatively, you can go to your profile picture, then navigate to Settings > Autoplay to disable it globally. Pausing a video when you don’t plan to continue watching can further save data, as YouTube buffers videos as you watch.

d. Disable Muted Playback in YouTube Feeds: YouTube automatically plays a few seconds of muted video on certain pages, such as Home, Subscriptions, and search results. This behavior can consume data needlessly. To disable it or set it to work only on Wi-Fi, go to your profile picture, then navigate to Settings > General > Playback in feeds.

Choose the “Off” option to disable this feature entirely or “Wi-Fi only” to restrict it to Wi-Fi connections.

e. Try YouTube Premium: If you’re a heavy YouTube user and want an ad-free experience while saving data, consider subscribing to YouTube Premium. Among its various benefits, YouTube Premium allows you to download videos offline to your phone for viewing anywhere, without consuming data.

While YouTube Premium comes at a cost, of around $12 per month, it can be worthwhile if you frequently watch YouTube videos on the go. Downloading videos while on Wi-Fi and watching them later can offset data charges and provide a more seamless experience.

In conclusion, being mindful of YouTube’s data usage on your iPhone can help you make informed decisions about your video streaming habits. By adjusting video quality, disabling Autoplay, and considering YouTube Premium, you can still enjoy YouTube content on the go without exceeding your data limits. However, it’s essential to stay vigilant and conscious of your data usage, as YouTube and other video streaming platforms can be enticing and lead to higher data consumption.