My mother uses a prepaid phone plan where mobile data usage is charged by the megabyte. It is currently not cost-effective to switch to a monthly fixed-cost subscription plan.
- When she is at home, she should:
- Switch off mobile data.
- Switch on WiFi (because her home WiFi has a fixed monthly cost).
- When she is outside home, she should:
- Switch on mobile data (so that others can contact her using messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp).
- Switch off WiFi (to conserve battery).
The problem: she often forgets to do the above. Sometimes she leaves home without switching on mobile data. Sometimes she accidentally uses lots of mobile data when at home.
Is there an app that can automatically switch on/off mobile data and WiFi based on the phone’s location? Location should be detected based on all the following data: latitude/longitude coordinates (if location is enabled on phone), WiFi networks in range (if WiFi is enabled on phone), and cell tower signals (if airplane mode is not on).
We would strongly prefer to use a privacy-respecting open source app for this. Phone: Samsung Galaxy A series. OS: Android 13.
Isn’t that the default behaviour? I never switch manually, but always use WiFi at home and mobile data when I’m out.
WiFi and mobile data are activated all the time.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Android 12
WiFi and mobile data are activated all the time.
In our case, there are several problems with activating both WiFi and mobile data all the time:
- At home, if the WiFi is out of range, switched off, or temporarily out of service, Android would start to consume mobile data. This is highly relevant because, at her home, WiFi is unavailable from night time till early morning to enforce self-discipline.
- Outside home, there is no need for WiFi. Why should it be switched on when it will never be used outside home? It would just be a battery drain.
I’m charging my phone every night due to Sleep as Android, so battery drain isn’t really a thing I’m looking after. But you are absolutely right here.
As already suggested you might take a look at IFTT.
I use Tasker for stuff like this, but it can be pretty daunting just due to the huge amount of options.
This is what I came to suggest! I love Tasker! It definitely can feel daunting when you first start out, but there are lots of guides and tutorials out there to help.
Samsung has Bixby Routines. Should cover all of this.
Assuming Samsung didn’t remove it, Android has this built in. Search ‘rules’ in settings.
I do WiFi geofencing with MacroDroid.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.arlosoft.macrodroid
Samsung has this built in. Got to settings and search “routines,” it should come up. I have one set up that toggles my wifi on/off when I leave the house since I don’t like my phone looking for wifi constantly while I’m out doing stuff.
You could do it via tasker, if you learn out to use it. It can be a little frightening at first but is stupidly powerful.
I guess Bixby routines could work as well.
Can’t you just create a rule for this?
