Short answer
Turn on Data saver (Settings > Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage), set video autoplay to never and image quality to lower, and use the lighter x.com site in a mobile browser if the app struggles.
Key takeaways
- Data saver loads lower-quality images and stops video autoplay.
- Autoplay and high-quality uploads use the most data.
- Bookmark posts to read later on Wi-Fi.
On a weak signal or a small data plan, X can feel unusable: images that never load, videos that spin. A few settings fix most of it.
Which settings save the most data?
Data saver, autoplay off and lower image quality.
Go to Settings and privacy > Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage:
| Setting | Set to | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Data saver | On | Lower-quality images, no autoplay |
| Video autoplay | Never (or Wi-Fi only) | Biggest saving |
| High-quality images | Wi-Fi only | Smaller images on mobile data |
| High-quality video | Wi-Fi only | Lower bitrate on mobile data |
| High-quality uploads | Wi-Fi only | Faster posting on mobile data |
What if the app is still slow?
Try x.com in your phone's browser; it's lighter than the app.
Close other apps using data, clear the X app cache (Android: app settings > Storage > Clear cache), and update the app.
Any habits that help?
Read text, save media for later.
Bookmark posts with videos to watch on Wi-Fi. Lists of a few accounts load faster than an endless For You feed. If you see "Rate limit exceeded", that's a different problem; see the fix guide.
Why is X slow even on good Wi-Fi?
Often it's not your connection: an outdated app, a full cache, extensions, VPNs or X having a bad day.
- Update the app; old versions can struggle with new features.
- Clear the cache (Android) or offload and reinstall the app (iPhone).
- On desktop, disable extensions that modify x.com and try a private window.
- If you use a VPN, try without it; some exit servers are slow or rate-limited.
- Search "X down" to see if others are reporting problems.
How much can each setting save?
Autoplay off makes the biggest difference; image quality is second.
Text posts are tiny. Images are moderate, and Data saver shrinks them noticeably. Video is the heavy part, so stopping autoplay prevents the feed from downloading video you scroll past. If you're traveling with a capped plan, set autoplay to Never and high-quality media to Wi-Fi only, and you'll mostly pay for what you actually tap.
Questions people ask
How much data does X use?
It depends on video. Scrolling a text-heavy timeline uses little; autoplaying video can use hundreds of megabytes an hour.
Does Data saver affect what I post?
It can lower upload quality on mobile data. Turn on high-quality uploads for Wi-Fi only if you post photos.
Is there an X Lite app?
Twitter Lite, a lightweight Android app, was discontinued years ago. The mobile website is the lightest option now.