Data Utilization FAQs

Data Utilization is a free online tool that helps you understand how your device uses data. It divides your data usage into general categories, and estimates your data usage in each category.

Here are some of the data categories you might see:

• Web & apps
• Email & messaging
• Social media & networking
• Maps & navigation
• Downloads

The Account Owner or Account Manager can see the usage categories for the entire account or for individual devices on the account.

The Data Utilization tool is available through the My Usage page in My Verizon. You can also access it through the My Verizon app on compatible devices.

Note: The Data Utilization tool isn't available for unlimited plans.

Log in to My Verizon on the app or web and visit the My Usage page.

You can view a data usage breakdown for the following device types:

• Smartphones
• Internet devices (e.g., mobile hotspot devices, etc.)
• Tablets
• Basic phones*

*Basic-phone usage categorization is limited to Mobile Web only. Therefore, categorization is limited to single category.

Yes, Data Utilization is available through the My Verizon app on supported mobile devices and plans*. The display will be modified to fit your mobile device.

If Data Utilization isn't available through your mobile app, you can sign in to My Verizon with a mobile browser.

*The Data Utilization tool isn't available for unlimited plans.

Data Utilization is available for all active lines on an account.

Once a device becomes inactive, Data Utilization will display information for that specific device up to the point where the device became inactive.

The usage categories are designed to give you a general understanding of how the devices on your account consume data. By hovering over the Question Mark (?) icon, you'll see both a description and examples specific to each category.

Primary (Level 1) shows the generic categories of your data usage. This is the category list you'll first see when you go to the Data Utilization tool.

For example, Level 1 will display that Downloads and Marketplaces is an estimated 20% of your overall usage. To see additional categorization on Downloads and Marketplaces, click on this category.

Secondary (Level 2) shows more detail about the specific category you clicked on in Level 1 and will show you an estimated breakdown of that specific category.

For example, Level 2 will display additional detail for Downloads and Marketplaces. The percentages shown in Level 2 will be based on the total percentage of all data usage and will add up to 20%.

The Uncategorized section includes usage that couldn't be identified with a specific service, app, publisher or usage. The usage in this category isn't captured in any of the defined categories.

Data Utilization isn't designed to reflect all data usage and doesn't reflect actual amounts of data used. It also isn't designed to match the usage in your billing statement.

Data categories are intended to give you a general understanding of how data is being consumed by the devices on your account.

We round fractional data usage up or down to the next whole number, which may result in a total that is more or less than 100%.

Data Utilization only captures a portion of your actual data usage and doesn't reflect actual amounts of data used.

No, the generic usage categories are provided as guidance to give you a general understanding of how you're using your data. There isn't any URL-specific information or additional site details.

No, this Data Utilization tool doesn't provide or display specific websites or URLs. Protecting and respecting your privacy is very important to us. The Data Utilization tool provides an overview of usage categories and is intended to give you a general understanding of how you're consuming your data.

There are definitions for each category, as well as examples of the types of sites that would fall into each category. These examples are general and not customer-specific. There's a Question Mark icon next to each category which you can hover your mouse over to see category definitions and examples.

No. Data Utilization categories only capture a portion of your actual data usage, and reflect data used on the Verizon mobile network.

For example, the categories don't include:

• Roaming usage or usage for which we have a delay in receiving records
• Data used over Wi-Fi
• Usage details, such as specific websites, URLs visited or apps used

The data usage reflected in these categories isn't designed to match the usage in your billing statement. The percentages shown can't be translated into the units of measurement that are on your bill (e.g., GB, MB or KB). The generic data-usage categories are provided as guidance to give you a general understanding of how you're using data on the Verizon mobile network.

You can monitor the actual amount of data you've used by calling #DATA from your mobile phone or by visiting the My Usage page in My Verizon.

Note: If you're worried about data overages, consider using Safety Mode on the new Verizon Plan, or one of our unlimited plan options.

No, it doesn't reflect your real-time usage. However, the generic categories do reflect usage that occurred during your current bill cycle.

The categories are typically updated within 48 hours of the data usage. You'll see the date of the most recent, updated data categorization.

You can monitor the actual amount of data you've used by calling #DATA from your mobile phone or by referencing the data usage meter on the My Usage page in My Verizon.

No, it only includes data used on the Verizon mobile network. Your Wi-Fi usage isn't transmitted over the Verizon mobile network, so the tool isn't able to categorize it.

The Data Utilization tool helps you generally understand how you use data. It shows the generic categories of data that you used during the bill cycle, as a proportion of the total. You can view this data utilization at either the account level or the individual device level.

In contrast, the data-usage meter on your device calculation varies depending on the device manufacturer and operating system. You may see all the data your device used, but it's not necessarily tied to your bill cycle. Additionally, your device usage meter only provides information for your specific device, not all devices on your account.

Note: If you're worried about data overages, consider using Safety Mode on the new Verizon Plan, or one of our unlimited plan options.

At the end of your bill cycle, Data Utilization will be unavailable while we process your usage from the final days of your bill cycle.

During this time, you'll be unable to view your Data Utilization. The average processing time is 48 to 72 hours. Once the categorization process is completed, you'll be able to see both your billed and current data usage.

Data Utilization is only available for accounts that have 25 lines or less.

Your account or plan may not be supported by the Data Utilization tool. The following plans and account types aren't eligible:

• Unlimited plans
• Prepaid
• Accounts with more than 25 lines
• Business Accounts (e.g., an account in a business name and under business responsibility; may be classified as Small/Medium Business, Major, Consolidated Major, National Strategic or Government account)