Oftentimes, I catch myself using data instead of Wi-Fi to stream Netflix or YouTube. It’s almost never on purpose, and I end up burning my data plan for no reason. Since these apps don’t give you a warning when you’re streaming on data, I set up my own warning system using a simple automation.
What we’ll need
I’ll be using the free Automate app to create this warning system. If you already have a preferred automation tool like MacroDroid or Tasker, you’re welcome to use it. The process is pretty similar. However, these apps are paid, and they’re overkill (in my opinion) for a simple automation like this.
Start by installing Automate by LlamaLab from the Play Store. Launch it when it’s done installing. By default, Automate has a bunch of default automations designed to show you the ropes. Essentially, Automate uses unique flowchart visuals to create automations or “flows.” A flow is made of connected “blocks.” When you run an instance of an automation or a flow, it’s called a “fiber.”
How this automation works
Press the “+” icon to create a new flow. By default, you’ll get a single block, which indicates the beginning of the flow. Here’s the logic of our flow.
When a fiber runs, it waits for internet data to turn on, which triggers a “delay block.” The delay block waits for a specified amount of time and sends a notification alert that we’re currently on data. The notification triggers yet another delay block, which waits for a certain amount of time and then checks if the data is still on. If the data is still on, it loops back into the notification block and sends the notification again. However, if the data is off at this point, it triggers a different, longer delay block, which waits a few minutes to run the same check again. That way, as long as the fiber is running, we’ll always know when the data is on.
Using Automate to set up the data warning flow
Tap the blue “+” button and search for “mobile data.” Select the block that reads “Mobile data enabled?” and tap it. The block should show up on the canvas. Drag a connection from the “Go” plug of the Flow Beginning block to the “in” plug of the mobile data block.
Once again, tap the “+” icon and this time search for “Delay.” Tap the Delay block to drop it onto the canvas. Tap the block to set a timer of your choice. Connect the “Yes” connector of the previous block with the “In” connector of this delay block.
If the data is enabled, the flow will wait 2 minutes and send a notification alert. We’ll now add that notification alert. Tap the “+” button and look up “notification show.” Select it to add it to the canvas. Once the block is added to the canvas, tap it and type the notification alert you want to receive. Then tap “Save.” Connect it to the previous block.
At this point, we want the flow to wait for us to disable the data. If it’s not disabled, we want it to send another alert. To set that up, we’ll add another delay block with a shorter wait period this time. The process is just the same. Look up the delay block, drop it on the canvas, and set a timer.
The next step is to add another “Mobile data enabled?” block. You can look it up in the menu and drop it on the canvas. Join the “OK” connector of the Delay block with the “In” connector of the mobile data block. Connect it with the previous block. To close the loop, we’ll drag a line from the “Yes” connector of the mobile data block and join it with the “In” connector of the notification block.
If, following the notification, data was turned off, we want to add a delay before the fiber runs again. Add a new delay block with a longer wait period (around 5 minutes or more). You can do so by tapping the “+” button and looking up “delay.” Then add it to the canvas by tapping on the name and then on the block to set a timer.
The “No” connectors of the first and second mobile data blocks are connected with the “In” connector of the very last delay block. The “OK” connector of the final delay block joins the “In” connector of the first mobile data block. The flow will now periodically check if the data has been turned on at any point and send the same alert.
To complete the setup, give the flow a name. Then go back to the previous menu and start the flow. A fiber should be initiated right away. You can test the flow by turning on data and waiting for the specified amount of time.
You can also set a hard data limit that stops data usage past a certain point. Automate can create a lot of handy little automations to save you money, time, or effort. It’s easier to learn than something like Tasker, which comes with a significant learning curve. There’s also an active Automate community on Reddit where you can learn how to make new automations or get help when you’re stuck.
