If you were wondering does FaceTime use data, the answer is as straightforward as they come — it does, either Wi-Fi or Mobile Data. Now, there are many related questions concerning data usage and how to save some data and we made sure to provide them in the text below.
Can I use FaceTime without data?
No, you can’t use FaceTime without Wi-Fi or cellular data. FaceTime won’t use your call minutes or utilize VoLTE or other call technologies. It requires and relies on an internet connection and that’s the only way to use FaceTime. So, when you’re on the move and there’s no Wi-Fi you can connect to, you need to enable Cellular data on your iPhone in order to make video calls with FaceTime.
We recommend sticking to Wi-Fi when possible, especially if you have a limited data cap. Disabling Video and using limited features will save you a lot of data, so disable the camera if you’re low on mobile data.
You can check general data usage in Settings > Cellular but if you want a better insight into data consumption for individual FaceTime calls, you’ll need to use a different method.
How to see how much data FaceTime used?
Now, you might be wondering how much data FaceTime uses? This depends on various factors but FaceTime shouldn’t take more than 20MB per minute on a mobile network.
Although, this can be above based on your usage, and more importantly, network speed and data technology. Namely, FaceTime will use more data if you’re on a stable 5G network than on the slower LTE. You can select the preferred Voice & Data option in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options. Choose 4G or older data technology over 5G to save some data.
Also, video quality adapts to your network, so a stable cellular network means better video quality but also more data usage while a connection with slow bandwidth will result in worse video quality and, consequently, lower data usage.
Here’s how to see how much data FaceTime calls used on your iPhone:
- Open FaceTime.
- From the FaceTime History, tap on Information (i) next to the conversation/contact you want to check.
- You should see the duration along with the data used.
With that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions. We look forward to hearing from you. You can leave your feedback in the comments section below or reach us on Twitter or Facebook.
