The summer holidays are here and as Brits are preparing to jet off to far-flung destinations they are also being issued an important reminder. According to Georgia Brivida at Sim Local, there’s one overlooked phone setting that could completely ruin your holiday budget.
While many travellers remember to activate flight mode or disable mobile data, it’s usually the background settings that go unchecked. Autoplay is one of the biggest reasons behind unexpected data drains and can result in a huge bill, all for videos you probably didn’t even care to watch. In some cases, phone users aren’t even aware that this setting is on.
“Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play,” explained Georgia.
“It’s fine when you’re connected to Wi-Fi at home but when you’re abroad and paying per megabyte, it can quietly burn through your data in no time just from using your phone like you normally would.”
It may seem like using the phone for a few minutes won’t do much damage, but the reality is very different.
Just ten minutes of video streaming can use up to 100MB. Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram can chew through roughly 20MB in the same time, even without watching full clips.
Now factor in map checks, WhatsApp calls, or that quick airport scroll while waiting in queues, and you could burn through over 300MB before even leaving the terminal.
“One small change before take-off can save you a big headache later,” stressed Georgia. “It’s a simple fix that makes all the difference when you land.”
To disable autoplay on iPhone, head to the Settings app, tap Accessibility, then Motion, and turn off Auto-Play Video Previews.
For Android users, go to Settings, select Google, then All Services, followed by Search, Assistant & Voice, and switch off Autoplay video previews under Other Settings.
Making this quick adjustment ensures you’re in control of your data usage from the start – and can help you avoid unnecessary roaming costs that could otherwise take the shine off your getaway.