Identify which allowance would be used
Write down whether the phone is using its own mobile network, home Wi-Fi or a hotspot provided by another device. A hotspot can appear as Wi-Fi to the receiving phone while using the other device’s mobile allowance. That distinction matters before deciding that a Wi-Fi-only preference solves the whole data-budget question.
ABC publishes indicative usage ranges and describes adaptive streaming. Its figures help estimate scale, but the account or device that pays for the connection is a separate part of the calculation. Check the allowance with the relevant provider rather than assuming every connection treats iview traffic the same way.
Set the app’s playback preference
ABC’s mobile guidance says to open the app’s Settings and turn off Play video over mobile data on iOS. Its Android instructions use the Mobile Data setting. Inspect the label in the current installed app and record the selected state before starting a long programme.
If the app then refuses playback away from Wi-Fi, that can be the intended outcome of the restriction. Do not immediately undo it as a playback repair without deciding whether you are willing to use mobile data. Reconnect to your intended Wi-Fi network and confirm which network the device actually selected.
Keep the budget check current
ABC’s quality help explains that the stream adapts to conditions. A short test therefore does not establish a fixed consumption rate for every later programme. Use the provider’s or device’s actual usage records when you need to assess the allowance remaining after a session.
For a shared hotspot, coordinate with the person whose plan supplies it before a long viewing session. If asking support about unexpected consumption, distinguish the app’s mobile-data preference, the connection type and the account whose data meter increased. Those facts help explain why an app restricted to Wi-Fi can still be part of a metered household or travel connection.