Track mobile data usage using My TELUS

View usage in My TELUS and learn about additional charges

Track mobile data with the My TELUS app

Track mobile data with My TELUS

Log in to
My TELUS
Select
Usage
Meters will display a usage summary for the current billing cycle for data, airtime, and messaging
Select
Usage records
to see a daily summary
In the daily view, select a column heading to sort by that column
Select the
+
to the right of any row to see a detailed breakdown of the days' usage
Select
Previous Cycle
or
2 months ago
headings to see past usage details
Use the drop-down menu beside
Show
to see only specific types of usage

What you need to know

Additional data charges

How data usage is reported

When reviewing your data usage, you may see instances where multiple "chunks" of data appear to have been consumed at the same time.  

The time indicated is when the data session began. But in a single session, you may have incurred multiple instances of data usage. For example:

You may have watched a video, then left for a few minutes before watching another video
You may have set up a personal hotspot, then the device that's tethered to yours used some data

When such instances happen within a single session, the data usage chart will show several instances of data usage, all with the same start time.  

Also, sometimes when larger amounts are data are consumed, the reporting may be split into smaller segments. For example, if a video consumed 7.2 MB of data, you may see it reported as 5 MB and 2.2 MB, with the same start time.

Track and manage mobile data on your Android device

Difference between Wi‑Fi data and cellular data

Cellular data connections work wherever cellular coverage
 is available. TELUS’ 4G HSPA+ network covers 97% of Canada’s population, which means you can use your device nearly anywhere.

A Wi-Fi connection is established with a wireless adaptor at home or in a public place, like a coffee shop, and only works within the limited range of the router. When connected to Wi-Fi, the device uses the data allotment from the router’s internet service.

Most devices will seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data and some can use a cellular connection to assist unstable or poor Wi-Fi signals.

Tracking data on device

To track your data on a device, you can download the TELUS My Account app, which shows at a glance where you are in your usage for your billing cycle.

Data counter on device is another good tool to help manage your data. It provides approximate usage details (±10 MB) and can show what applications use the most data. You can also set limits to auto-stop data usage, as well as restrict specific apps' background data on a cellular network.

Consult the video below for the most common Android settings to manage your data or visit our device-specific interactive tutorials
 section, which covers individual device’s data management features under the Settings
 section for your device.

Other tips on reducing data use

Within several applications, such as Facebook or Netflix, it is possible to disable videos playing automatically over cellular data or reduce the quality playback in the app settings
While surfing on the web, enable Data Saver within
Chrome
settings and Google server will compress the web traffic for your device
Some Samsung devices have a Download booster option in the settings that speed up downloads by both using Wi-Fi and cellular connections at the same time. Turning the setting off will prevent the automatic cellular data use on large files downloads

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible

From the Home screen, either swipe down from the top of the screen or select the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Wi-Fi
If Wi-Fi is off, switch to the on position
Select the Wi-Fi network you want to use
If required, enter the password and select
Connect
Your device is now connected to the Wi-Fi network. Successful connection is indicated by a Wi-Fi symbol at the top of your display

Note
: Some of the images displayed may appear slightly different depending on the software version your device is currently running.

Turn off cellular data

Either swipe down from the top of the screen or select the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Data Usage
The image and location of this menu vary depending on the device being used and is included on devices purchased after 2011. Some devices require you to select
More
before tapping on
Data usage
Swipe or select the data switch to the off position
Select
OK
when the Mobile data message appears. This will completely turn off your mobile data connection

Notes
:

You will still be able to connect to the internet and use apps as normal if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network
The amount listed beside the date range represents the total amount of data used between the 2 dates

Turn off all background data

Many apps transfer cellular data in the background. This means that an app may download data when you're not using it.

Either swipe down from the top of the screen or select the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Data usage
- Note
  : The image and location of this menu varies depending on the device being used and is included on devices purchased after 2011. Some devices require you to tap on
  More
  before tapping on
  Data usage
  .
Select
Menu
- Note
  : The image of this menu varies depending on the device being used. Tap the one that applies.
Select
Restrict background data

Turn off the background data for specific apps

Many apps transfer cellular data in the background. This means that an app may download data when you're not using it

Either swipe down from the top of the screen or select the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Data usage
- Note
  : The image and location of this menu varies depending on the device being used and is included on devices purchased after 2011. Some devices require you to tap on
  More
  before tapping on
  Data usage
Scroll down the list & tap the app you wish to restrict
Swipe or select the off position
Select
OK
when the restrict message appears

Turn off personal hotspot

Either swipe down from the top of the screen or tap the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Mobile hotspot and tethering
Select
Mobile hotspot
Move the slider to the off position

Set data usage blocks and limits

Either swipe down from the top of the screen or select the Apps icon
Select
Settings
Select
Data usage
- Note
  : The image and location of this menu varies depending on the device being used and is included on devices purchased after 2011. Some devices require you to tap on
  More
  before tapping on
  Data usage
To start, ensure that Mobile Data and Mobile Data Limit are both on
If you ever receive a data usage pop up, simply select
OK
Move the warning slider up or down to the desired amount. From now on, your phone will notify you whenever you reach this threshold
Move the limit slider up or down to the desired amount. From now on, your phone will automatically block all cellular data traffic when you reach this threshold

Note
: There are 3 ways to continue using cellular data once the limit you’ve set has been reached:

Increase the limit by moving the slider up
Turn the data Limit switch off
Wait to receive a new monthly allowance of data when your next bill cycle starts

The most effective way to use data warnings and limits is to adjust the billing cycle so that your phones data usage meter resets on the same day that your billing cycle starts.

Select the
Date
field
Select
Change cycle
Select the day of the month that your billing cycle starts and select
Set

Track and manage mobile data on an Apple device

Difference between Wi‑Fi data and cellular data

Cellular data connections work wherever cellular coverage
 is available. TELUS’ 4G HSPA+ network covers 97% of Canada’s population, which means you can use your device nearly anywhere.

A Wi-Fi connection is established with a wireless adaptor at home or in a public place, like a coffee shop, and only works within the limited range of the router. When connected to Wi-Fi, the device uses the data allotment from the router’s internet service.

Most devices will seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data and some can use a cellular connection to assist unstable or poor Wi-Fi signals.

Tracking data on device

To track your data on a device, you can download the TELUS My Account app, which shows at a glance where you are in your usage for your billing cycle.

Data counter on the device is another good tool to help manage your data. It provides approximate usage details (±10 MB) and can show what applications use the most data. You can reset statistics, to restart the device’s app monitoring of data usage.

Consult the video below for the most common Apple settings to manage your data or visit our Get to know your device
 section, which covers individual device’s data management features under Settings section for your device.

Other tips for reducing data use

Wi-Fi Assist is a feature on iOS 9 or later that automatically switches to cellular data, if the Wi-Fi connection is poor. You can turn it off in the
Settings
to manage your data use
From the
Settings
menu, you can also verify individual applications, such as iCloud Drive, Podcasts, iMovie, etc. to ensure that
Use cellular data
is off
Within several applications, such as Facebook or Netflix, it is possible to disable videos playing automatically over cellular data or reduce the quality playback in the app settings

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible

Whenever you are near a trusted Wi-Fi network use the Wi-Fi receiver in your device to save your cellular data.

From the Home screen, select the
Settings
icon
Select
Wi-Fi
Switch
Wi-Fi
to the
On
position
Select the name of the Wi-Fi network you wish to join
If required, enter the password and select
Join

Note
: After you join the network, you'll see a checkmark next to the network name and a Wi-Fi icon will appear in the upper-left corner of your display. 

Turn off Cellular Data

To stop using cellular data you can cut access to it using the settings options on your device.

Select the
Settings
icon
Select
Cellular
Position the slider to the
Off
position

Note
:

A Wi-Fi network allows you to connect to the internet and use apps even if cellular data is turned off
The amount listed under "Current period" in the "Cellular data usage" section represents the total amount of cellular data used since the last counter reset
To view the date of the last reset simply scroll to the bottom of the menu
To reset the counter simply tap
Reset statistics
2 times
To track your usage on a monthly basis, you can reset this counter on the first day of your bill cycle

Limit app usage

You can control which apps have access to your data on an individual basis and limit some applications to Wi-Fi only.

Select the
Settings
icon
Select
Cellular
Scroll down the screen to reveal the different apps that are using your cellular data. The amount of data used by each app is listed under the app. No figure means no cellular data usage
Toggle the on/off switches to control which applications can use cellular data

Turn off Personal Hotspot

Select the
Settings
icon
Select
Cellular
Select
Personal hotspot
Move the slider to the off position

Turn off push notifications

Push notifications are alerts from specific apps that relate to some kind of new information that is pushed to your device regardless of whether you are using the app or not. Although it’s not possible to disable all push notifications at once, it can be done on a per-app basis.

From the Home screen, select the
Settings
icon
Scroll down and select
Notifications
Select the App you wish to turn off
Move the slider to the off position

Turn off background app refresh

Many apps transfer cellular data in the background. This means that an app may download data when you're not using it.

Select the
Settings
icon
Scroll down and select
General
Scroll down and select
Background app refresh

Note
: To turn off background updates for all apps, move the slider to the off position. To turn on background updates for individual apps, turn the slider to the on position and turn on the individual app switch to the desired position.

Track mobile data usage using My TELUS

Track mobile data with the My TELUS app

Track mobile data with My TELUS

What you need to know

Additional data charges

How data usage is reported

Track and manage mobile data on your Android device

Track and manage mobile data on an Apple device

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