{"id":"bridge-devices.does-bridge-use-data-when-idle","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/does-bridge-use-data-when-idle","category":{"id":"bridge-devices","title":"Bridge & your devices"},"subcategory":{"id":"connection","title":"Staying connected"},"question":"Does Bridge use data or bandwidth when I'm not sending anything?","alt_questions":["Bridge idle bandwidth","Will Bridge eat my mobile data?","How much data does an idle Bridge link use?","Bridge on metered connection","Does a connected device use the internet constantly?"],"short_answer":"Very little — an idle link only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds. Files move only when you share them, and large ones only when you click to receive. Disconnect or shorten “Keep connected for” on metered connections.","answer_markdown":"Very little. While a device is connected, Bridge only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds so both sides know the link is healthy. Files and clipboard items move only when you share them, and large files only when you click to receive them.\n\nOn a metered connection, set **Keep connected for** to a short time, or **Disconnect** the device when you're done.\n\n- [The heartbeat](/faq/bridge-devices/what-is-the-bridge-heartbeat)\n- [Keep connected for](/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-keep-connected-for-do)","answer_html":"

Very little. While a device is connected, Bridge only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds so both sides know the link is healthy. Files and clipboard items move only when you share them, and large files only when you click to receive them.

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On a metered connection, set Keep connected for to a short time, or Disconnect the device when you're done.

\n","answer_text":"Very little. While a device is connected, Bridge only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds so both sides know the link is healthy. Files and clipboard items move only when you share them, and large files only when you click to receive them.\n\nOn a metered connection, set Keep connected for to a short time, or Disconnect the device when you're done.\n\n- The heartbeat\n- Keep connected for","tags":["bridge","data usage","connection"],"related":[{"id":"bridge-devices.what-is-the-bridge-heartbeat","question":"What is the heartbeat or “last handshake” in Bridge?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-is-the-bridge-heartbeat"},{"id":"bridge-devices.what-does-keep-connected-for-do","question":"What does “Keep connected for” do in Bridge?","url":"/faq/bridge-devices/what-does-keep-connected-for-do"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Does Bridge use data or bandwidth when I'm not sending anything? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Very little — an idle link only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds. Files move only when you share them, and large ones only when you click to receive. Disconnect or shorten “Keep connected for” on metered connections.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Bridge & your devices","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/"},{"name":"Does Bridge use data or bandwidth when I'm not sending anything?","path":"/faq/bridge-devices/does-bridge-use-data-when-idle"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/does-bridge-use-data-when-idle","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Does Bridge use data or bandwidth when I'm not sending anything?","alternateName":["Bridge idle bandwidth","Will Bridge eat my mobile data?","How much data does an idle Bridge link use?","Bridge on metered connection","Does a connected device use the internet constantly?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Very little. While a device is connected, Bridge only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds so both sides know the link is healthy. Files and clipboard items move only when you share them, and large files only when you click to receive them.\n\nOn a metered connection, set Keep connected for to a short time, or Disconnect the device when you're done.\n\n- The heartbeat\n- Keep connected for","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/bridge-devices/does-bridge-use-data-when-idle"}}]},"fragment":"
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Bridge & your devices · Staying connected

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Does Bridge use data or bandwidth when I'm not sending anything?

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Short answer: Very little — an idle link only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds. Files move only when you share them, and large ones only when you click to receive. Disconnect or shorten “Keep connected for” on metered connections.

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Very little. While a device is connected, Bridge only sends a tiny keep-alive about every 20 seconds so both sides know the link is healthy. Files and clipboard items move only when you share them, and large files only when you click to receive them.

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On a metered connection, set Keep connected for to a short time, or Disconnect the device when you're done.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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