Change this Netflix setting to use less data on mobile

Streaming Netflix on a smartphone isn't a viable or sustainable option for many people. Data plans can cap you at a couple gigs or less, and getting in one more episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt just isn't worth hiking up the price of your cellphone bill.

To help, Netflix announced a new feature Thursday allowing mobile users to more easily control and keep track of how much data is being used when they stream over a cellular network. You can choose between different stream quality settings that correspond to specific data-to-time ratios.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The default setting sets stream quality to a level that uses 1 GB for every three hours you watch, which gives a stream quality between medium and low and uses about 600 Kbps. The lowest quality setting uses 1 GB for every four hours you stream, and the highest quality setting uses 1 GB for every hour. These numbers can vary a bit from carrier to carrier, Netflix said in the announcement.

There is also the unlimited option, which is suggested only to people who have unlimited data plans, and an off option, which only allows you to stream while on Wi-Fi. If you are on Wi-Fi, your cellular data selection will not have any impact on your stream -- the app will automatically stream at the highest possible quality.

To find these settings on both iOS and Android, make sure your Netflix app is updated, open the menu, select "App Settings" and open "Cellular Data Usage." 

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