How to stop an app using background data on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › See all apps › Wi-Fi data usage

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

What we did

Looked at each screen; changed nothing

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open See all apps

   Open Settings and tap Apps. Tap See all apps; ours said See all 42 apps.

   Done

2. 

   Tap the app

   All apps lists the apps from A to Z with their size. Tap the one you want to limit. We tapped Chrome (115 MB).

   Done

3. 

   Tap Wi-Fi data usage

   App info opens. Below Storage and cache, tap the data row. On our Pixel, which has no SIM, it was called Wi-Fi data usage: 16,57 MB used since 14 Oct.

   Done

4. 

   Turn off Background data

   The Mobile data and Wi-Fi page shows Total, Foreground and Background for the dates at the top: 19 Sept to 17 Oct on ours, Total 16,61 MB, Background 10,28 MB. Turn off Background data: Enable usage of mobile data in the background. It was on on ours.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Wi-Fi data usage row? That was its name on our Pixel, which has no SIM. The page it opens is called Mobile data and Wi-Fi. Google's help shows each app's mobile data under Network and Internet, Internet, your operator's Settings, App data usage. Source: Reduce and manage mobile data usage
• Looking for a switch to block Wi-Fi? There was none on ours. The app's page had only two switches, Background data and Unrestricted mobile data usage, and nothing to turn off its Wi-Fi or all of its mobile data.
• Google says Unrestricted data? Google's Data Saver help calls it Unrestricted data. On the app's own page on our Pixel the row is called Unrestricted mobile data usage. Source: Use less mobile data with Data Saver

If this does not work

• App stopped updating? The switch's text says it allows mobile data in the background, so with it off the app may not refresh until you open it. Turn Background data back on for apps that must stay up to date, such as messaging.
• Data Saver is on? Google says Data Saver lets most apps get background data only via Wi-Fi. Unrestricted mobile data usage, on the same app page, lets that app keep using mobile data while Data Saver is on. It was off on ours. More: how to use Data Saver. Source: Use less mobile data with Data Saver
• Still using a lot of data? See which apps use the most and set a warning: data warning and limit. Google notes some operators measure usage differently from the phone. Source: Reduce and manage mobile data usage

About this guide

Google's Pixel help says you can control how apps use data on your phone, but its data page gives no steps for one app. The switch is on the app's own data page, which shows how much it used in the foreground and in the background.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. It has no SIM. We used Chrome as the example, only looked and changed nothing.

Good to know

The switch's text mentions only mobile data. Our Pixel, with no SIM, still counted 10,28 MB of background use for Chrome, all of it over Wi-Fi.

The date range at the top of the page has a drop-down arrow for other periods. No mobile data at all? Pixel mobile data not working. To stop an app running right now: force stop it.

In short: Settings, Apps, See all apps, the app, Wi-Fi data usage (page: Mobile data and Wi-Fi), Background data off.