Using your phone as a hotspot for your laptop on the go is convenient, but laptops are data hogs. Unlike phones, which prioritize Wi-Fi for tasks like software updates, laptops constantly consume data, especially when you're away from unlimited Wi-Fi. This can quickly drain your mobile data plan, even those advertised as "unlimited," which often throttle speeds after a certain usage threshold.

To avoid unexpected overages, here's how to manage data usage on Windows and macOS devices:

Windows: Enabling Metered Connection

Windows frequently downloads updates and other information from Microsoft, rapidly consuming mobile data. The solution is to mark your mobile hotspot connection as "metered."

1. Open the Settings app (found in the Start menu).
2. Navigate to Network & Internet, then select your mobile hotspot network.
3. Toggle on Metered connection.

This action prioritizes only essential updates, pauses OneDrive's automatic uploads, and limits app store downloads and syncing. Some apps will also automatically reduce data usage. For stricter control, you can set a daily, weekly, or monthly data limit. Once the limit is reached, internet access will be cut off. While extreme, this is useful for those with strict data caps.

macOS: Utilizing TripMode (Third-Party App)

macOS lacks built-in data limiting features. However, the third-party application TripMode effectively addresses this. (Note: TripMode offers a trial period and a paid subscription.)

TripMode resides in your menu bar, tracking data usage on your current network. A toggle switch allows you to instantly block all internet access for all applications. You can then selectively grant internet permission to individual apps as needed.

TripMode remembers your settings for different networks and applications, making it increasingly effortless with repeated use.