Windows Phone 8 Cellular Data Connection - Turn On or Off

How to Turn On or Off Cellular Data Connection in Windows Phone 8

information   Information
Whenever you do anything on your phone that requires a network connection, such as send and receive email, get social networking feeds, visit websites, or download apps, your phone automatically connects to a cellular data network to transmit the information. If you're connected to a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi network connection is used instead.

The data plan you have through your mobile operator sets how much data your phone can use over a network connection. If you go over this amount, you may be charged extra. So it is strongly recommend that you think about how much you'll use a network connection and get a data plan that meets your needs.


This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off the cellular data connectivity for your Windows Phone 8.

Note   Note
If you turn on Airplane mode, it will turn off the cellular connection, Wi-Fi, FM radio, Bluetooth, and near field communication (NFC) sharing on your phone simultaneously. While you have Airplane mode turned on, you can still turn on Wi-Fi, FM radio, Bluetooth, and NFC sharing separately. Cellular remains off until you turn Airplane mode off.

While you have cellular data connection turned on, you will see it's icon (ex: 4G, LTE, etc...) on the status bar at the top of your phone like below.

status_bar.png



Here's How:

1. On your Windows Phone 8, open the app list, and tap on Settings. (see screenshot below)
Windows_Phone_8_cellular_data-1.png

2. Tap on cellular in system settings. (see screenshot below)
Windows_Phone_8_cellular_data-2.png

3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.

4. To Turn On your Cellular Data Connection
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Tap on the field under Data connection, and select on. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_Phone_8_cellular_data-3.png
B) If you had Airplane mode turned on, then tap on yes to turn off airplane mode and turn on cellular data. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_Phone_8_cellular_data-4.png
C) Set your other cellular settings to how you want them, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 4A)​
Note   Note
Cellular settings let you control the cellular data connection for your phone.

Note   Note

Note: The settings that appear vary by mobile operator.​

Setting

Description

For limited
Wi-Fi connectivity

Determines if your phone will use cellular data instead of Wi-Fi when it's connected to a Wi-Fi network with limited connectivity—for example, when your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network but can't connect to the Internet with that connection.

  • Use cellular data = If Wi-Fi connectivity is limited, your phone will use cellular data, and you can continue to do things on your phone that require an Internet connection. This will use your data plan and may incur charges.
  • Don't use cellular data = Your cellular data won't be used if Wi-Fi connectivity is limited. When this happens, you won't be able to do things on your phone that use the Internet.

To have this setting, your phone must be running Windows Phone software version 8.0.10211.204 or later.​

Voice roaming options

Determines if you can make calls and send text messages when your phone is outside your mobile operator's network. Leaving it set to Don't roam can help prevent some voice roaming charges. When it's set to this, you can't make calls or send text messages when your phone is in a roaming area, but you can still get calls and receive text messages. Check your phone plan for details about how and when additional charges might be incurred.

If you do allow roaming, you can make calls and send text messages outside your mobile operator's network. Depending on your phone plan, you might pay more for these calls and text messages. You can choose which kind of roaming you want to allow— Domestic or Domestic+international roaming.

Data roaming options

Determines if your data connection stays on when the phone is outside your mobile operator's network. Leaving it set to Don't roam can help prevent data roaming charges.

If you set it to Roam, you can use cellular data when your phone is in a roaming area. Depending on your phone plan, you might pay more for data you use when roaming. Some mobile operators let you specify what kind of data roaming you want to allow—Domestic or Domestic+international roaming.

Restrict background data

Reduces the amount of background data used under certain conditions, such as when you're roaming. Many apps and features update at regular intervals without requiring you to take action—for example, a mail app may check a mail server every few minutes to see if you have new messages in your inbox. Any data used in this way is called background data and can be an issue if you're trying to avoid going over your data limit.

  • Always restrict background data = Your phone will restrict the use of background data.
  • Restrict background data when roaming = Your phone will restrict the use of background data when your phone is in a roaming area.

If you turn on either of these settings, your phone will wait for a Wi-Fi connection to perform background tasks.

Notes
  • Restricting background data may prevent some things from happening automatically, including voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) incoming call notifications, email syncing, background uploads and downloads, and Live Tile updates. If you choose to restrict background data, you'll need to do these things manually.
  • To restrict background data, your phone needs to have Windows Phone software version 8.0.10501.127 or later.



5. To Turn Off your Cellular Data Connection
A) Tap on the field under Data connection, select off, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 4A)​

6. When finished, you can return to your Start screen if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


 

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Last edited:
Did someone recently get a new windows phone? :D

Nokia finally pushed my 'black' update to my phone, and I'm enjoying it.

Your tutorial was helpful, cause I didn't know the background data thing existed, and I only have a small amount of data purchased. Sounds like a cheap trick by AT&T to steal money out of my wallet o.0
 

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Hey Dusty,

LOL, yeah I had a new Windows Phone 8 for a bit, but just now really digging into it.

It should use Wi-Fi over data by default, but be sure to have it set like the screenshot under step 4A to help make sure data is not used when Wi-Fi is not available while going anywhere.
 

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So wait, if I turn data ON, and ensure that the two boxes are checked, then I would have no problem with data usage over anything but wifi? Because right now, I have data turned off, no roaming, and both boxes checked.

The reason I ask is because if I keep data OFF, then I cannot use MMS including picture sending/receiving. So if I can have it ON but not worry about data usage when I am not around wifi, then that would be really cool
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
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    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
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    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
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    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
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    On board Creative SB X-Fi
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Correct as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection available that the phone can automatically connect to instead of your cellular data when you are surfing the internet, updating apps, or phone software..

Text/picture messages don't count towards your data plan.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks Shawn! Keep these win8 phone tuts coming! They're fantastic :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
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