wifi vs mobile network 'priority'

[SunBum5]

Another noob question;

The N4 connects to my home network just fine.

But, how does the phone determine which network (wifi or mobile) it uses when moving data? I looked for somewhere to set the order of priority (use wifi first, then mobile) but couldn't find it.

I assume that the N4 uses wifi first, if available, then the mobile network if wifi isn't available. But, I checked the data usage and the phone shows 5MB of mobile data and 20+MB of wifi data. I don't undersand though, because I've only had the phone since yesterday and it's been connected to my home wifi network since the start. Why or where did 5MB of mobile data come from?

 

[Tronstar]

Were you sending/receiving picture messages or anything like that through SMS? It would still go through your mobile

 

[vlee]

If you look at the data usage screen on the phone and scroll down, it should show you what has been using data.

And yes, on my phone it seems to use wifi first if available, assuming that I log into it (eg "guest" systems where you have to acknowledge terms of usage).

 

[wunderbar]

all modern smartphone OS's are designed to use WiFi first, then fall back to mobile data if Wifi is unavailable. The only exceptions to this are services which only run through the mobile network, which are primarily making phone calls, SMS, and MMS.

 

[SunBum5]

I did a little more digging around and found that the Google Play store was doing some kind of background somethingorother. I told that app to do that only over wifi.

Lot to learn!

Thanks.

 

[wunderbar]

I also wouldn't sweat it *that* much either. Unless you're on a pay as you go data plan (which you shouldn't do, ever), or only have, like, 100MB/month of data, I wouldn't worry about every single stray Megabyte of data your device may use. You'll end up spending more time worrying about device usage instead of just using the device.