How to reduce webcam data usage on mobile
How to reduce webcam data usage on mobile
When you open a printer's control panel, the webcam stream starts automatically. This is great for quick monitoring, but it can use significant data on mobile connections - not ideal if you have a limited data plan.
SimplyPrint lets you control when the webcam stream loads, helping you save mobile data.
The webcam auto-load setting
You can choose how the webcam behaves when you open a printer:
Option | What it does |
|---|---|
Always auto-load | The webcam stream starts immediately when you open a printer (default behavior) |
Ask on metered connections | SimplyPrint detects if you're on mobile data and asks before loading the webcam |
Never on metered | Auto-load on Wi-Fi, but skip loading on mobile data (no prompt) |
Never auto-load | The webcam widget stays collapsed; click it to start streaming |
What is a "metered" connection?
A metered connection is one where you pay for data usage or have a limited data allowance. This includes:
- Mobile data (4G/5G) - typically has data caps
- Tethering/hotspots - uses your phone's data plan
- Pay-per-use Wi-Fi - hotels, airports, etc.
- Browser Data Saver mode - when enabled in Chrome
SimplyPrint uses your browser's Network Information API to detect these connections automatically. When detected, it can skip loading the webcam stream to save your data allowance.
How to change the setting
- Go to Settings in the left menu
- Click Local preferences
- Scroll down to the Webcam section
- Select your preferred option
This setting is stored on your current device only - it won't sync across your devices or browsers.
What happens on metered connections
When you have "Ask on metered connections" selected and open a printer on mobile data:
- The webcam widget stays collapsed
- You'll see a prompt asking if you want to load the webcam
- You can choose to:
- Load webcam - load it just this time
- Skip - don't load for now
- Expand the settings to change your default preference
If you skip loading, you can always tap the webcam widget manually to start the stream when you're ready.
Tips for saving data
- Use Never auto-load if you're frequently on mobile data and only need the webcam occasionally
- Use Never on metered for automatic data saving - it loads on Wi-Fi but skips on mobile, no prompts needed
- If you're on an unlimited Wi-Fi connection, Always auto-load gives you the fastest monitoring experience
- Remember that this setting is per-device - you might want "Always auto-load" on your desktop but "Never auto-load" on your phone
Updated on: 29/01/2026
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