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Does turning off Data while on WIFI save battery?

veccster

veccster

Android Enthusiast
Like the title says...does it benefit battery life to turn off Data when I'm on WIFI?

I'm on wifi probably 90% of the day on most days. Just wondering if there is a benefit to toggle off DATA.




The downside is that MMS messages cannot be received when the DATA is off - at least that is what Verizon tells me. Was thinking I could set a Tasker profile to solve that issue.
 
Zeinzu said:
Shouldn't make a difference.
Click to expand...

It actually does make a difference because although you are on Wifi, data is still being used in the background while you are searching the web, your phone might be updating an app, and for some reason it feels better to use data to do it.

Turn off your data entirely and you will see a bit of a difference.
 
Digital Controller said:
Turn off your data entirely and you will see a bit of a difference.
Click to expand...

That's what I had it set up to do but can't receive MMS messages with Data turned off. I had Tasker set up to turn off Data as soon as wifi connects to my home or work routers and turn it back on once those routers are out of range. Thought it was a great idea but I need to get my MMS messages.

I thought about a Task that turns on data temporarily if a text is received over a certain size (maybe 10kb). Not sure if that can be done or if it would solve the problem.



Why wouldn't the background apps use Wifi?
 
He doesn't know what he's talking about. When WiFi is enabled, any background or foreground applications requiring data use the WiFi connected data services. The only thing that activates network data with WiFi connected is MMS. Leaving data on while connected to WiFi will not make a difference. I've done development for three different Android devices, and have never come across an instance or any indication of what the previous poster is naively suggesting.
 
Zeinzu said:
He doesn't know what he's talking about. When WiFi is enabled, any background or foreground applications requiring data use the WiFi connected data services. The only thing that activates network data with WiFi connected is MMS. Leaving data on while connected to WiFi will not make a difference. I've done development for three different Android devices, and have never come across an instance or any indication of what the previous poster is naively suggesting.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll leave both wifi and data on and see if it makes a difference.

I always feel like I'm battling the battery in this phone so every possible edge helps.
 
With the noticeable jump you'll see in having WiFi enabled, I think you'll be happy regardless of having Data on or off. I've never disabled data when using WiFi, and I've always seen a drastic jump. I don't think you'll see much better by disabling data on top of it anyway.
 
If WiFi is on with data, it will consume a little bit more battery to power the radio, but not a whole lot more. As mentioned before, you need data on in order to receive MMS messages. Unless you live in a dead zone signal wise, there should be no issue leaving data on since the difference will be so minor.
 
So I understand it doesn't help to turn data off on WiFi but what about vice versa? Is the phone constantly searching for a WiFi signal if WiFi is left on?
 
Yes, the phone will continue to search for WiFi if it is enabled, but not connected. How much juice is used will depend on how often it re-searches.
 
jhawkkw said:
Yes, the phone will continue to search for WiFi if it is enabled, but not connected. How much juice is used will depend on how often it re-searches.
Click to expand...


But there is no way to determine how often it is searching so I assume it does it often. I have it set to not notify me when an open network is near but that doesn't change the frequency of search - at least I don't think.

That said, I still want it to connect to my home or work wifi when I'm near. So if I had it turn off wifi when not in range, nothing would tell it to turn back on when I return to the range - ENTER TASKER!!!
 
I believe it is auto set to research after 30 seconds. It can be changed, but would require root because it requires modifying something you wouldn't have access to without it. I never did change it because the extra power consumption isn't that high anyways. The only things that tend to cause battery hemorrhaging tend to be screen, app preventing deep sleep or use lots of processor to run, weak signal, and a bad kernel. The LTE radio does use a lot as well, but isn't that bad if you have good signal (better than -90dBm).
 
I've left WiFi on all day while traveling on 3G and it hasn't made enough of an impact on battery for me to notice. Also, 4.2 adds a new option in WiFi settings to reduce battery consumption when WiFi is activated but not actively being used.
 
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