高速互联网(price of high-speed internet isn’t getting any cheaper)的价格并没有变得更便宜。如果您订阅了具有数据上限或限制的互联网计划，那么监控您的数据使用情况很重要。否则，你很快就会用尽你的计划。
如果您没有监控互联网使用情况的工具(tools to monitor internet usage)，让您的上限互联网计划持续更长时间的更好解决方法是减少设备上的数据使用量。在本指南中，我们将向您介绍减少Mac（MacBooks和 i Mac）上数据使用量的七种方法。
1.禁用自动macOS下载
默认情况下，您的Mac会在后台自动下载新的 macOS 更新。(download new macOS updates)尽管最好经常更新您的Mac，但 macOS 更新有时会达到（数十）GB。这种规模的计划外下载肯定会缩短您的上限数据计划的生命周期。
要控制和减少Mac上的数据使用量，请暂时禁用自动下载更新。打开“系统偏好设置”(System Preferences)，选择“软件更新(Software Updates)” ，选择“高级(Advanced)”，取消选中“可用时下载新更新(Download new updates when available)”，然后选择“确定(OK)” 。
这意味着您必须在软件更新菜单（系统偏好设置(System Preferences)>软件更新(Software Update)）中手动监控更新的可用性。
2. 使用节省数据的网络浏览器
一些浏览器（例如Brave和Opera）拥有数据保存技术，可减少用于加载网页和其他 Web 应用程序的带宽量。这些浏览器可能不像大牌（Chrome、Firefox等）那样功能丰富，但它们在速度、功能、安全性、隐私等方面的表现同样出色。
3.强制退出未使用的应用程序
在 macOS 上，仅单击红色图标不会关闭所有应用程序。在您关闭Mac或使其进入睡眠状态之前，某些已关闭的应用程序会在后台保持暂停状态。这些暂停的应用程序将继续消耗互联网带宽、CPU资源和内存占用，从而降低您的Mac速度。
强制退出这些应用程序有助于减少Mac上的数据使用量。启动活动监视器(Activity Monitor)（Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor），转到网络(Network)选项卡并浏览“进程名称”列中的应用程序列表。此外，请注意“Sent Bytes”和“Rcvd Bytes”列中的数字。
双击(Double-click)发送或接收异常数量网络流量的任何未使用的应用程序，选择退出(Quit)，然后选择强制退出(Force Quit)。
如果您无法确定占用 Mac 互联网带宽的确切应用程序，请使用任何第三方网络监控工具(third-party network monitoring tools)。这些工具提供对使用互联网带宽的程序和应用程序的详细分析。
4. 暂停 iCloud 同步
如果您在Mac上启用了 iCloud 同步，来自某些应用程序的数据会自动从连接到您的 iCloud 帐户的设备导入。如果您使用有数据限制的互联网连接，禁用 iCloud 同步将大大减少数据使用量。
启动System Preferences，选择Apple ID，在侧边栏选择iCloud，然后浏览使用 iCloud 的应用程序列表。取消选中(Uncheck)照片(Photos)、iCloud Drive和其他需要大量数据的应用程序的同步。
5.禁用自动应用更新
仔细检查App Store配置并确保禁用消耗 Internet 带宽的不需要的功能。启动App (App Store)Store(App Store)，单击菜单栏上的 App Store，然后选择Preferences。
在“首选项”(Preferences)窗口中，禁用以下选项：自动更新(Automatic Updates)、自动下载在其他设备上购买的应用程序(Automatically download apps purchased on other devices)和视频自动播放(Video Autoplay)。
尽管这些功能有其好处，但在有上限的互联网计划中使用它们会比平时更快地耗尽您的数据计划。最好在Mac(Mac)上安装最新的应用程序版本，因此请确保定期检查应用程序更新。
启动 App Store，转到更新(Updates)部分，然后单击要更新的应用旁边的更新按钮。(Update)
6. 扫描恶意软件感染
如果您的Mac在安装应用程序后数据使用量突然激增，则该软件可能是恶意软件。使用恶意软件清除工具扫描您的Mac以检测任何隐藏的感染。(Mac)如果您没有反恶意软件工具，请查看适用于 Mac 的最佳（免费和付费）防病毒软件汇编(compilation of the best (free and paid) antivirus for Mac)。
7.降低视频流质量
用尽有限互联网计划的最快方法是以最高质量流式传输视频。如果您以全高清分辨率观看 YouTube 视频或(Full-HD)Netflix 电影(Netflix movies)，将流媒体质量降低到高清(High Definition)(HD) 将为您节省一些兆字节或千兆字节的互联网带宽。有关更多提示和指示，请参阅本指南以最大限度地减少 YouTube 上的数据使用量。(guide on minimizing data usage on YouTube)
如果您在音乐(Music)应用程序上流式传输视频，您还应该考虑将视频播放质量从 4K 降低到全高清(Full HD)或高清。启动音乐(Music)应用程序，选择菜单栏上的音乐，选择(Music)首选项(Preferences)，然后导航到播放(Playback)选项卡。单击视频播放质量(Video Playback Quality)下拉按钮，然后选择“更好(Better)（最高 1080p）”或“好”。
充分利用您的数据计划
这些是减少Mac上数据使用量的可靠技巧。有您想与我们和其他读者分享的数据保存技巧或技术吗？请(Please)在下面发表评论。
Top 7 Ways to Reduce Data Usage on Mac
The price of high-speed internet isn’t getting any cheaper. If you’re subscribed to an internet plan with a data cap or limit, it’s important to monitor your data usage. Otherwise, you’ll exhaust your plan in little to no time.
If you don’t have the tools to monitor internet usage, a better workaround to making your capped internet plan last longer is to reduce data usage on your device(s). In this guide, we’ll walk you through seven ways to reduce data usage on Mac (MacBooks and iMac).
1. Disable Automatic macOS Download
By default, your Mac will automatically download new macOS updates behind the scenes. Although it’s best to frequently update your Mac, macOS updates sometimes run into (tens of) gigabytes. An unplanned download of this magnitude will definitely shorten the lifespan of your capped data plan.
To control and reduce data usage on your Mac, temporarily disable the automatic download of updates. Open System Preferences, select Software Updates, select Advanced, uncheck Download new updates when available, and select OK.
This means you’ll have to manually monitor the availability of updates in the software updates menu (System Preferences > Software Update).
2. Use Data-Saving Web Browsers
Some browsers (Brave and Opera, for example) boast of data-saving technology that reduces the amount of bandwidth used to load webpages and other web apps. These browsers may not be as feature-packed as the big names (Chrome, Firefox, etc.), but they perform just as well in terms of speed, functionality, security, privacy, etc.
3. Force Quit Unused Apps
On macOS, merely clicking the red icon doesn’t close all applications. Some closed apps stay suspended in the background until you shut down your Mac, or put it to sleep. These suspended apps will continue to consume internet bandwidth, CPU resources, and memory footprint, thereby slowing down your Mac.
Force quitting these apps could help reduce data usage on your Mac. Launch the Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor), go to the Network tab and go through the list of apps in the “Process Name” column. Additionally, take note of the figure in the “Sent Bytes” and “Rcvd Bytes” columns.
Double-click any unused app sending or receiving an unusual amount of network traffic, select Quit, and then select Force Quit.
If you can’t pinpoint the exact application(s) consuming your Mac’s internet bandwidth, use any third-party network monitoring tools. These tools provide a detailed analysis of programs and apps using internet bandwidth.
4. Pause iCloud Synchronization
If you have iCloud synchronization enabled on your Mac, data from certain apps are automatically imported from devices connected to your iCloud account. If you’re using an internet connection with a data limit, disabling iCloud synchronization will reduce data usage by a great deal.
Launch System Preferences, select Apple ID, select iCloud on the sidebar, and go through the list of apps using iCloud. Uncheck synchronization for Photos, iCloud Drive, and other data-hungry apps.
5. Disable Automatic App Updates
Go through the App Store configuration and ensure you disable unneeded features that consume internet bandwidth. Launch the App Store, click App Store on the menu bar, and select Preferences.
In the Preferences window, disable the following options: Automatic Updates, Automatically download apps purchased on other devices, and Video Autoplay.
Although these features have their benefits, using them on a capped internet plan will deplete your data plan faster than usual. It’s good practice to have the latest app versions installed on your Mac, so make sure you periodically check for app updates.
Launch the App Store, go to the Updates section, and click the Update button next to the app you want to update.
6. Scan for Malware Infection
If your Mac’s data usage abruptly shoots through the roof after installing an app, the software is possibly malicious. Scan your Mac using a malware removal tool to detect any hidden infection. If you don’t have an anti-malware tool, check out this compilation of the best (free and paid) antivirus for Mac.
7. Reduce Video Streaming Quality
The quickest way to exhaust your limited internet plan is to stream videos at the highest quality. If you watch YouTube videos or Netflix movies at Full-HD resolution, lowering the streaming quality to High Definition (HD) will save you some megabytes or gigabytes of internet bandwidth. Refer to this guide on minimizing data usage on YouTube for more tips and pointers.
If you stream videos on the Music app, you should also consider reducing the video playback quality from 4K to Full HD or HD. Launch the Music app, select Music on the menu bar, select Preferences, and navigate to the Playback tab. Click the Video Playback Quality drop-down button and select either “Better (Up to 1080p)” or “Good.”
Make the Most of Your Data Plan
These are surefire tips to reduce data usage on Mac. Got a data-saving trick or technique you’d love to share with us and other readers? Please drop a comment below.
