How to use less cellular data in the Skype app

Are you on a capped data or internet plan? Discover how to adjust settings to minimize the Skype app’s cellular or internet data usage on your iPhone or iPad.

Skype logo

Related: How to use less cellular data on your iPhone

Set Skype calls to use less data

  1. Open the Skype app on your iPhone or iPad and tap the profile picture icon from the top left.
  2. Tap Settings > Calling.
  3. Tap Never next to Reduce data usage and set it to On cellular networks. You can also pick Always if you want the app to use less Wi-Fi and cellular data.
Reduce data usage for Skype on cellular network

Important: Skype clearly mentions that reducing your data usage will come at the expense of call quality.

Stop Skype from auto-downloading files on cellular data

When you receive photos, videos, and other files via Skype messages, the app may auto-download it to make the experience smooth and quick. However, it may also lead to lots of unnecessary media getting downloaded on cellular data.

To conserve cellular data and also ensure only files you want to download specifically are saved to your device, you can tweak the auto-download settings by following these steps.

  1. Launch the Skype app and tap your profile picture from the top left.
  2. Go to Settings > Messaging.
  3. Tap Auto-download photos and pick Wi-Fi only or Never.
  4. After that, tap Auto-download files and select Never or Wi-Fi only.
Change auto-download photo and file settings for Skype on iPhone

With this setting enabled, any time you receive media or files in messages, which are typically large files, they won’t download automatically when your iPhone or iPad is on cellular data. This will prevent you from going over your cellular data caps.

Restrict Skype from using your phone’s cellular data

Lastly, if you’re getting dangerously close to your data cap and you don’t want to take any chances, you can follow these steps to keep Skype from using your cellular data.

  1. Open the iPhone Settings app and tap Cellular.
  2. Scroll down until you see Skype, and turn off its switch.
Stop Skype from using iPhone cellular data

This is going to prevent Skype from using any of your cellular data at all. You can keep it turned off temporarily until your carrier’s billing period ends, and this will ensure Skype doesn’t use any more of your cellular data for the time being. After the billing period ends, you can turn it back on again.

Closing tips

Overall, sending messages to your contacts isn’t going to use a lot of data. Generally, sending media back and forth and taking Skype calls and video calls will, so you should avoid sending photos and videos and accepting Skype calls whenever you’re connected to a cellular network.

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