Brits urged to switch off one mobile phone setting on holiday - it's not roaming
According to one travel expert, incorporating this extra step into your pre-flight routine can save you from an unexpected charge when you return home.
Georgia Brivida, of international SIM provider Sim Local, is advising British holidaymakers to switch off the autoplay feature on their phones before boarding their flight. She says neglecting to disable this setting could lead to a hefty charge. According to Brivida, this unassuming setting can drain data and rack up your phone bill - often without you even realising it.
'Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play. It's fine when you're connected to Wi-Fi at home but when you're abroad and paying per megabyte, it can quietly burn through your data in no time just from using your phone like you normally would,' says Brivida.
If you fail to disable the setting you're likely to scroll quickly through your socials as you normally would - even streaming a short video to kill idle travel time - draining your data all the while.
Streaming a video on platforms like YouTube or Netflix for just 10 minutes can use up to 100MB of data, according to Sim Local. As well, scrolling through TikTok or Instagram uses around 20MB and listening to music or podcasts on Spotify may use around 15MB.
Web browsing uses slightly less at around 10MB in just 10 minutes. But if you spend 30 minutes scrolling through TikTok while waiting for your taxi when you land, that's roughly 60MB of data gone and watching just a few YouTube videos en route to your hotel will burn through another 200MB.
Over several days of your holiday it is all too easy to rack up several gigabytes of data and if without the right roaming plan, you could be looking at a phone bill in the triple digits.
Thankfully, turning off autoplay is very simple and it's worth doing to save yourself an expensive bill, plus it'll give you more control over when your data is used.
How to switch it off
To switch it off on iOS (iPhone), simply go to Settings, then Accessibility and tap on 'Motion'. Find the toggle switch for Auto-Play Video Previews and turn it off
On Android phones, go to Settings then scroll down and select Google, select All Services, then tap 'Search, Assistant & Voice' and select 'Other Settings'. From here click on Autoplay video previews and select 'never'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside lavish maiden voyage of world's most luxurious cruise on 794ft superyacht…with hodge-podge cast of celebs onboard
The incredible vessel has two swimming pools, a hot tub, and 24-hour room service HULL OF FAME Inside lavish maiden voyage of world's most luxurious cruise on 794ft superyacht…with hodge-podge cast of celebs onboard A LUXURY 794ft superyacht has set sail on its maiden voyage with a star-studded group of guests aboard. The Luminara - the third The Ritz-Carlton luxury ship - is sailing from Monte Carlo to the port of Rome in a prestigious trip fit for the likes of Tom Brady and Naomi Campbell. 12 The Luminara is fit with a hot tub and luxury suites Credit: Ritz-Carlton 12 Aboard the luxury ship Credit: Ritz-Carlton 12 Fresh from Bezos's wedding extravaganza, celebrities will spend a week cruising the seas on the magnificent 452-passenger vessel, which costs up to $78,377 (£58,120) for a seven-night trip. Plenty of stars have been snapped aboard the luxury vessel including Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara, who appeared relaxed with a drink in hand at one of the ship's many parties. She shared several pictures of herself and other famous faces on her Instagram - all dressed to the nines on the luxury party cruiser. Singer Ricky Martin, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and American actress Zoey Deutch were all seen posing for a picture on board. Read more on Showbiz arrivederci! Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez wave goodbye as they leave Venice with A-list pals While Tom Brady was snapped next to Vergara at what appears to be a late night dinner and drinks. The Kardashians are also believed to have made an appearance just days after they were spotted at the billionaire's wedding just a few days ago. Kendall Jenner posted a sunset picture on board, leading many to suggest sisters Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian and mum Kris Jenner probably also made the journey. Guests were also treated to star performances from the likes of Ellie Goulding and Ricky Martin. Meanwhile, retail mogul Martha Stewart reportedly served up a storm on board with her "Martha-tinis". 'Legendary service' The Luminara Suite boasts "magnificent" ocean views with floor to ceiling windows, according to The Ritz-Carlton. Inside the invite-only superyacht 'sea hotel' with four-story penthouse - & another $450m 'twin' ship is on the way It has a private terrace decked out with a hot tub where the superyacht's wealthiest passengers can lounge in style. The namesake room boasts a large living and dining area, as well as a king bed and double vanity bathroom. It even has 24-hour in-suite dining, so passengers won't have to venture into one of the five fine dining restaurants or seven bars on board - if they don't feel like dressing up. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection currently operates three yachts: Evrima, lma and Luminara, which launched in 2020, 2024 and 2025 respectively. It is the largest superyacht from the luxury hotel franchise, spread across 10 decks. It has two swimming pools - an infinity pool on deck five and a main pool on the top deck. 12 Sofia Vergara and other celebs on the Ritz-Carlton yacht Credit: Instagram / @sofiavergara 12 Inside the glamorous vessel Credit: Ritz-Carlton 12 Ritz-Carlton Yacht Luminara is setting sail tomorrow on its maiden voyage Credit: Ritz-Carlton 12 It is the largest superyacht from the Ritz hotel franchise Credit: Ritz-Carlton 12 The Luminara also includes an expansive marina terrace Credit: Ritz-Carlton The Luminara also includes an expansive marina, marina terrace, and marina beach, all anchored by a dynamic floating lounge platform with a central pool where guests can swim directly in the sea. "With Luminara, we've raised the bar once again, uniting legendary service, elevated design, and an extraordinary onboard experience to further define our distinct approach to ultra-luxury travel at sea," President of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Ernesto Fara, said in a statement. "This remarkable super-yacht opens the door to new destinations and deeper guest experiences, reinforcing our commitment to thoughtful exploration and continuous innovation across the fleet." An increasing number of luxury hotel chains are taking to the high seas. There are eight to 10 ships planned for the next five to 10 years for multiple Marriott brands, including the The Ritz-Carlton franchise. The Four Seasons will also launch its first superyacht hotel in January 2026, where seven nights will cost your north of $25,000 (£18,500). 12 Sofia Vergara and Tom Hardy Credit: Instagram / @sofiavergara 12 Sofia Vergara and other celebs at a boat party Credit: Instagram / @sofiavergara 12 Celebs were snapped partying aboard the luxury ship Credit: Instagram / @sofiavergara
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Birmingham New Street: Major UK train station cancels ALL journeys to and from station over ‘wire issue'
It is understood the disruption will continue for the rest of the day RAIL CHAOS Birmingham New Street: Major UK train station cancels ALL journeys to and from station over 'wire issue' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR UK train station has axed all journeys to and from the station. Travel chaos was sparked after an overhead wire was damaged at Birmingham New Street Station. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up It has seen all services scrapped and is affecting several rail companies. Passengers travelling to Coventry, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Rugeley have been warned of severe delays and cancellations. It is understood the disruption will continue for the rest of the day, according to National Rail. Tickets are being accepted on buses to try and alleviate any journey woes. A National Rail spokesperson said: "Trains running through Birmingham New Street may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised." And, New Street Station posted on X: "We are investigating reports of damaged overhead power lines near Birmingham New Street, which are affecting some services in/out of the station. We will be on site ASAP to assess the situation." 1 Services to and from Birmingham New Street Station have been axed Credit: Getty More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Apple AirTag hits record low price in Amazon Prime Day sale so you never lose your bags again
Apple's AirTag, which can be attached to luggage, is currently on sale at Amazon for its lowest ever price Bluetooth trackers, the tiny tech devices that allow you to keep tabs on your belongings' every move, are gaining popularity. These useful gadgets can be attached to anything from suitcases and handbags to wallets and passports. One such device, Apple's AirTag, has seen a significant price reduction thanks to an early Amazon Prime Day discount. Having used it on their travels to France, New York, Italy, and Botswana, the Mirror's commerce editor Harriet Morphy-Morris highly recommends it to friends and family. The AirTag uses Apple's Find My Network, allowing users to track its movements continuously. Usually priced at £35 per tag, it is currently available for just £26.60 on Amazon, making it cheaper than buying directly from Apple. Setting up this trackable gadget is simple for iOS users. Once the AirTag is activated, simply bring it close to your iPhone or iPad, and a 'connect' notification will appear. You can then assign a name to your AirTag and register it with your Apple ID. Harriet did this back in 2022, and since using an AirTag for travel, she has never misplaced their luggage. The AirTag emits a unique network signal that can be detected by other nearby AirTag users. It sends its location to these users, who can then anonymously share the location with you. Apple enthusiasts may already be acquainted with the 'Find My' app, and the AirTag functions similarly to tracking a misplaced phone during the 'Find My iPhone' era. With the Find My app, Harriet said they can instantly see the location of their bags and when they were last there - particularly useful when boarding a plane, as it allows her to confirm whether their luggage has been loaded. AirTags do present a limitation for many travellers and mobile users, as they are exclusive to iOS, leaving Android users out in the cold. This is where competing devices such as the Tile tag and select models from Chipolo prove beneficial, as we outline below. There are alternatives from Chipolo, Tile and Samsung. The Tile by Life360 is available for purchase on Amazon at £34.99, a slight increase compared to the currently discounted AirTag. Like the AirTag, it also tracks items it's attached to via an app, but instead of immediately displaying the tracker's location upon opening (as with the AirTag), you have to select 'location history'. Harriet has previously compared the Tile tracker with the AirTag while travelling, and it does provide a slightly more accurate location on the map, including nearby shops and attractions that iOS doesn't display. Another alternative is Chipolo. The Chipolo Card Spot, which is compatible only with iPhones, is currently reduced to £19 and offers a slimmer option that can easily fit into purses and wallets. Tech deal of the week It's that time of year where we are looking for ways to keep cool amidst the balmy, summer days. One item shoppers are raving over is this DDKJ Neck Fan that can be used to keep cool when commuting, at work or in the home. Even better, it costs just £26.98 on Amazon. With certain parts of the UK set to reach sweltering 35C, it's handy that this neck fan comes with a rose gold cooling plate around the neck curve that is said to "feel like an ice cube", dropping temperatures to just 15C in as little as one second. Boasting an ergonomic, wearable design, it features two bladeless fans that are safe to wear, with five different speed settings that provide a cooling effect on the head, neck and sides. It's also quite smart thanks to a LED digital display that makes the operation easy and convenient, while the built-in 5500mAh large capacity rechargeable battery features a fast charging chip that ensures a full charge within just 2.5-3hrs. Numerous shoppers who have bagged the neck fan say it is a "godsend" and a "lifesaver" for the heatwave, with one writing: "This is easy to wear when sitting or walking generally. Works fast and never needed it on anything but the lowest setting! At my time of life it is a lifesaver, especially through the heatwave we experienced." Keep cool amidst the rising temperatures with the DDKJ Neck Fan with Cooling Plate on Amazon for £26.98 During a recent holiday, Harriet decided to test out the CARD Spot by Chipolo. Its slim design, similar to a bank card, makes it perfect for slipping into a wallet, passport, or ID, much like the Tile by Life360 or Eufy SmartTrack Card. However, Harriet opted to tuck it into her suitcase pocket for tracking during her flight. It's important to note that it relies solely on Apple's Find My network and doesn't have its own app. Currently on sale for £21, the CARD Spot offers features that set it apart from rivals such as AirTag and Tile. It's worth mentioning that this gadget may not be suitable for Android users due to compatibility issues. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
