If you can’t afford an unlimited data contract, you’ve likely had to budget your data consumption. Although you cannot apply a fixed data limit to Microsoft Teams, you can limit how Teams will consume your data. Microsoft Teams features two account settings that make this possible.
Follow these steps to cap Microsoft Teams data usage on iOS and Android:
- Open the Teams app
- Open your profile card
- Access the Settings page
- Select “Data and storage”
- Tap into “Reduce data usage”
- Select one of the following:
- On mobile/cellular networks
- Always
- Return to the previous page
- Untoggle “Use mobile/cellular data for offline files”
Today, you will learn to limit data usage for Microsoft Teams on iOS and Android devices. I have provided a step-by-step guide for each device; however, few differences in the process exist. If you’re uncertain what to do, refer to the provided visual aids.
Use the following links to access relevant content quickly:
- How to cap Microsoft Teams data usage on iOS device
- How to cap Microsoft Teams data usage on Android device
- blog post recap
How to cap Microsoft Teams data usage
The screenshots below were taken using iOS 14. Sorry for any inconsistencies between iOS 14 and later versions.
Step 1 — Access Teams via the app launcher
To begin, head to the app launcher. You can access the app launcher by swiping right repeatedly; in the app launcher, search “Teams.” If your iOS version does not support the app launcher, swipe up from the home screen and search for “Teams.”
Step 2 — Open your profile card
On the Teams page, tap your profile icon; you’ll spot it in the top left corner of the screen. In doing so, you will reveal the profile card.
Step 3 — Access the Settings page
Although the profile card features several options, you only need to worry about one: “Settings.” Find and click “Settings” to proceed.
Step 4 — Select Data and storage
On the settings page, you will find an option labeled “Data and storage” and prefixed with a descending-order bar chart. Tap the option to consult its associated page.
Step 5 — Tap into “Reduce data usage”
Use the “Data and storage” page to access the “Reduce data usage” page. From there, we can adequately configure our data-related settings.
Step 6 — Select an option other than “Never”
You’re now met with three options: “Never,” “On mobile networks,” and “Always.” Although you won’t be picking “Never,” I will explain each option.
- Never
- Video call data consumption will never be reduced
- On mobile networks
- Video call data consumption will only be reduced when using mobile data
- Always
- Video call data consumption will always be reduced
Step 7 — Untoggle “Use mobile data for Offline Files”
Finally, return to the previous menu; scroll to the “Offline files” section. Ensure you have disabled the “Use Mobile data for Offline Files” toggle.
How to cap Microsoft Teams data usage on Android device
I captured the screenshots below with Android Nougat (emulated in Bluestacks). Sorry for any inconsistencies you may experience on different Android versions.
Step 1 — Open the Teams app
To start, locate and open your Teams app. Provided it’s installed, the app should be accessible via your app library. In my case, the Teams app is stored within a folder titled “My apps.”
Step 2 — Open your profile card
After opening the Teams app, head to the “Teams” tab and tap your profile icon in the top left— you will reveal your profile card.
Step 3 — Access the Settings page
Select “Settings” in the profile card. An identifying cog icon prefixes the option.
Step 4 — Select Data and storage
After accessing Settings, look for the settings category labeled “Data and storage;” tap the category to enter it.
Step 5 — Tap into “Reduce data usage”
Under “Data and storage,” find and select “Reduce data usage.” You will access a page containing three important toggles we need to use.
Step 6 — Select an option other than “Never”
Below, I will explain each of the three toggles— I recommend the second one.
- Never
- Video call data consumption will never be reduced
- On mobile networks
- Video call data consumption will only be reduced when using cellular data
- Always
- Video call data consumption will be reduced under all circumstances
Step 7 — Untoggle “Use cellular data for Offline Files”
Finally, return to the previous page. Find the section titled “Use cellular data for Offline.” You will spot a toggle— disable it; this prevents mobile/cellular data from being used for downloads.
Blog post recap
Microsoft Teams features two native settings that allow its users to reduce how it consumes their mobile/cellular data. The settings are found and utilized the same way on both platforms. A specific value limit cannot be set to “cap” Teams’ data consumption.
You may also be interested in the following related posts:
- How to create a custom team template for Microsoft Teams — If you’re looking for ways to back up and archive your team in Teams, you should consider team templates. You can create a template quickly; they also serve as reusable prefabs for future teams.
- How to create custom policies for Microsoft Teams — If you’d like to alter your staff’s experience with Teams, policies are a great start. Read the following post for a step-by-step guide on creating one.
- How to collaborate with external users in Microsoft Teams — Working in Teams is great, but sometimes we need to work with strangers. Fortunately, Teams supports that. If you’d like to learn more, read the following post.
- How to increase screen share framerate in Microsoft Teams — If you’ve been experiencing framerate issues with screen sharing in Teams, you may want to consult this post. I’ve detailed the causes and solutions you need.