How to Stop iTunes Radio from Using Cellular Data on Your iPhone 6

Do you ever find your cellular data running out faster than expected — even when you’re just listening to a few songs on iTunes Radio? If so, you’re not alone. Many iPhone 6 users experience unexpected data drain from Apple’s music streaming feature. The good news? You can easily control this by learning how to stop iTunes Radio from using cellular data on your iPhone 6.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain why iTunes Radio uses data, how to stop it, and what alternatives you can use to save even more bandwidth. Whether you’re running iOS 12 or a later version, these steps will help you stay in control of your data consumption.

Table of Contents

1. What Is iTunes Radio on iPhone 6?

iTunes Radio, now integrated into the Apple Music app, is Apple’s built-in streaming service that lets you listen to curated stations or create your own based on favorite artists and genres. On your iPhone 6, you can use it through the Music app or Siri commands like “Play jazz radio.”

While it’s convenient and fun, iTunes Radio streams music using the internet, which means it can quickly eat through your cellular data plan — especially if you listen often or use high-quality audio.

2. Why Does iTunes Radio Use Cellular Data?

iTunes Radio works similarly to other streaming platforms like Spotify or Pandora. Every song, album cover, and station detail is downloaded from Apple’s servers in real-time. When you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone uses cellular data to access those resources.

Here’s what typically consumes data:

Streaming songs or playlists
Downloading album artwork and metadata
Listening to higher-quality audio streams
Loading ads or promotions (on older iTunes Radio versions)
Updating station preferences or recommendations

Even background processes — such as caching upcoming tracks — can use cellular data without you realizing it.

3. How Much Data Does iTunes Radio Use?

On average, iTunes Radio uses between 60MB to 150MB of data per hour, depending on your settings and audio quality.

Audio Quality	Approximate Data Usage per Hour
Low Quality (64 kbps)	~30–60 MB
Medium Quality (128 kbps)	~100 MB
High Quality (256 kbps)	~150–200 MB

If you stream an hour of music every day, you could easily use up 3–5 GB of data per month — just from iTunes Radio alone!

4. How to Check Cellular Data Usage on Your iPhone 6

Before limiting iTunes Radio, it’s helpful to check how much data it’s already using. Here’s how:

Open the Settings app.
Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data, depending on your region).
Scroll down to find Music.
The number next to it shows the total data used by the app.

You can reset the statistics at the bottom of this screen to track future usage more accurately — ideal if you want to monitor changes after applying these settings.

5. How to Stop iTunes Radio from Using Cellular Data (Step-by-Step Guide)

Now let’s get to the main part — stopping iTunes Radio from using your mobile data.

Follow these simple steps:

Go to Settings on your iPhone 6.
Tap Cellular.
Scroll down to Music (this controls iTunes Radio streaming).
Toggle the switch OFF next to Music.

That’s it! You’ve now restricted the Music app — and therefore iTunes Radio — from using cellular data. From now on, you’ll only be able to stream stations when connected to Wi-Fi.

Tip: You can still download songs for offline playback when on Wi-Fi, allowing you to enjoy music without using data later.

6. How to Allow iTunes Radio Only on Wi-Fi

If you’d like to use iTunes Radio but only when Wi-Fi is available, you can manage your Music app settings more precisely.

Here’s how:

Open Settings → Music.
Tap Cellular Data (or “Use Cellular Data”).
Turn off Streaming but leave Downloads on (optional).

This lets you download tracks when you’re connected to Wi-Fi while ensuring that iTunes Radio doesn’t stream music using cellular data.

7. How to Manage Cellular Data for the Music App

Apple allows individual control over which apps can access cellular data.

To review these permissions:

Open Settings → Cellular.
Scroll through the app list.
Look for Music and ensure the toggle is OFF.

This setting blocks any kind of cellular data use — streaming, downloading, or updating the Music app — helping you preserve your data allowance.

8. How to Turn Off Cellular Data Completely (Optional)

If you want to be extra cautious, you can disable cellular data entirely when you’re on the go.

Go to Settings → Cellular.
Toggle Cellular Data off at the top.

This ensures no app, including iTunes Radio, can use mobile data until you turn it back on. It’s a great option when traveling or trying to save battery life.

9. How to Disable Automatic Downloads and Updates

Automatic downloads of songs, albums, or updates can consume significant data — even when you’re not actively streaming.

To stop that:

Open Settings → iTunes & App Store.
Under Automatic Downloads, toggle off Music.
Scroll down and toggle off Use Cellular Data.

Now, iTunes Radio won’t download anything automatically unless you’re on Wi-Fi.

10. How to Restrict Background App Refresh for Music

Sometimes, the Music app may refresh in the background to update recommendations or load content. You can stop that too:

Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh.
Tap Background App Refresh again.
Choose Wi-Fi only or toggle off Music individually.

This prevents iTunes Radio from running quietly in the background and using data when you least expect it.

11. How to Limit High-Quality Streaming to Wi-Fi Only

High-quality music streaming sounds great — but it also doubles your data usage. You can make sure it only happens over Wi-Fi:

Open the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap Music.
Tap Audio Quality (on newer iOS versions).
Under Cellular Streaming, select High Efficiency or disable it entirely.

This ensures your iPhone 6 uses less data without noticeably affecting sound quality.

12. Troubleshooting: iTunes Radio Still Using Data

If iTunes Radio still seems to consume cellular data even after turning off the settings, try these fixes:

Restart your iPhone: Sometimes, toggles don’t take effect until after a restart.
Reset network settings: Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
Update iOS: Ensure you’re running the latest version compatible with iPhone 6 (iOS 12.5.7).
Sign out and back into Apple ID: Re-authenticate your Music account to reset streaming permissions.
Check for other streaming apps: Ensure you’re not accidentally using another app that streams via Apple’s services.

13. Extra Tips to Save Data on iPhone 6

Besides controlling iTunes Radio, you can reduce data usage system-wide with these quick tips:

Turn on Low Data Mode: Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Low Data Mode.
Disable Wi-Fi Assist: This feature automatically switches to cellular when Wi-Fi is weak.
Download music offline: Create offline playlists when connected to Wi-Fi.
Use Airplane Mode: Ideal during travel or sleep hours to stop all network use.
Monitor usage regularly: Reset data stats every month to track app behavior.

14. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even tech-savvy users make these errors when trying to control data use:

Mistake	Why It Matters
Forgetting to disable “Use Cellular Data” under Music settings	iTunes Radio continues streaming via data
Enabling Wi-Fi Assist	Automatically switches to cellular, increasing usage
Ignoring background refresh	Music app still updates playlists quietly
Leaving auto-downloads on	Consumes hidden data in the background

Avoiding these ensures you truly stop iTunes Radio from consuming mobile data.

15. Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to stop iTunes Radio from using cellular data on your iPhone 6. By adjusting a few key settings — like disabling cellular access for Music, turning off background refresh, and managing audio quality — you can enjoy your favorite tunes without draining your data plan.

Streaming smartly is all about balance: use Wi-Fi for downloading or high-quality playback, and save cellular data for essentials. With these tips, your iPhone 6 will stay efficient, budget-friendly, and connected to the music you love.

16. FAQs

1. Why is iTunes Radio still using cellular data even after I turned it off?

Sometimes background services or cached sessions may still access data. Restart your iPhone and ensure both “Cellular Data” and “Background App Refresh” for Music are turned off.

2. Can I use iTunes Radio offline on my iPhone 6?

Not directly. However, you can download songs or playlists when connected to Wi-Fi and listen offline later.

3. Will disabling cellular data for Music affect my downloaded songs?

No. You’ll still be able to play any music stored locally on your iPhone without any issues.

4. Does iTunes Radio use more data than Spotify or YouTube Music?

It depends on audio quality settings. Generally, iTunes Radio’s high-quality stream uses similar or slightly less data compared to other streaming platforms.

5. What’s the best way to track my data usage?

Go to Settings → Cellular → Usage and reset statistics at the start of your billing cycle to monitor which apps consume the most data.

17. Key Takeaways

iTunes Radio streams music online — which means it uses cellular data unless restricted.
Disable Cellular Data for the Music app in Settings → Cellular.
Turn off Automatic Downloads and Background App Refresh for extra protection.
Limit High-Quality Streaming to Wi-Fi only.
Regularly monitor your data usage and use Low Data Mode for better control.

By following these practical steps, you’ll prevent iTunes Radio from silently draining your mobile data — while still enjoying your favorite music on your iPhone 6 whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi.