If you are tired of Safaricom eating into your airtime every time your data bundle is finished you can now have some peace.
To get that peace, all you have to do is use the Data Manager feature on your line.
In this post, I’ll show you how to activate it / deactivate it for your line or another Safaricom line.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on something I recommend and purchase it, I will receive a commission for the sale – at no extra cost to you.
Where can you find the Data Manager option on your Safaricom line?
- Under the *544# Buy Data Bundles menu, you’ll find an option labeled My Data Manager
- On the Safaricom online portal. I wrote about this in this article. To learn more, check the link.
To access Safaricom Data Manager
Table of Contents
- Dial *544# on your feature phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer (if using your SIM in a modem or router)
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Enter 7 or 98 to go to the next page on the menu
- Press Send
- Select option 11: My Data Manager
OR
- Dial *456#
- Select option 7: Activate and press Send
- Select option 2: Data Manager
- Press Send
OR
0- Browse products by brand: Tecno, Infinix, Samsung, Huawei, Annov, HP, Garnier, Apple, Android, Ramtons, LG, Oppo, Redmi / Xiaomi, Nokia, X-tigi, iTel, Zuku, DStv, Startimes, GOtv, ZTE, Cubot, Gionee, Realme, Lenovo, Motorola, Oukitel, Oneplus, Bruhm, Phillips, Umidigi, Hisense, GLD, Skyworth, Amazon, Mika, Vivo, Oraimo, Toshiba, Acer, Asus, Syinix, Sayona, Von Hotpoint, Ampex, Sony, Toyota & Honda on Jumia Kenya.
- Dial *100#
- Select option 7: Buy
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Press Send
- Reply with 7 to view more items on the menu and press Send
- Reply with 11 for My Data Manager
OR
- Dial the *100# USSD short code
- Select option 2: My Account
- Select option 2: Check my usage and balance
- Select option 3: Manage my data usage
OR
- Go to your web browser
- Enter the following address: safaricom/com/bundles
- Once on the Safaricom online portal, click on the My Data Manager tab
These are just some of the ways you can use to access the Data Manager. Use any of the Safaricom USSD short codes (*544#, *456# & *100#) or go online and access the manager on the Safaricom.com website. Learn more about the portal here.
Here’s a list of the items you’ll find on the menu:
- Data Save (items under this option include: Save data by reducing speed, Full speeds for faster downloads & Check Status)
- Don’t Browse without a data bundle (items under this option include: Activate, Deactivate, Check Status, Activate / Deactivate for other Number & FAQs)
To activate Data Manager on Safaricom line
- Dial *544#
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Enter 7 to go to the next page on the menu
- Select option 11: My Data Manager
- Select option 2: Don’t Browse without a data bundle
- Reply with 1 to Activate the manager
Or you can activate the manager online via the Safaricom portal.
To deactivate Safaricom My Data Manager
- Dial *544#
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Enter 7 / 98 to go to the next page on the menu
- Select option 11: My Data Manager
- Select option 2: Don’t Browse without a data bundle
- Reply with 2 to Deactivate the Manager
Or you can deactivate the manager online via the Safaricom portal.
To activate or deactivate Data Manager for another Safaricom line
To activate:
1- Browse latest clothes, shoes, baby fashion, kid’s fashion, women’s fashion & men’s fashion, electronics, feature phones, smartphones, laptops, tablets, power banks, memory cards, smart watches, on Jumia.
- Dial *544#
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Enter 7 / 98 to go to the next page on the menu
- Select option 11: My Data Manager
- Select option 2: Don’t Browse without a data bundle
- Reply with 4 to Activate/Deactivate for other Number
- Select option 1 to Activate
- Enter the phone number e.g. 0704123456
- Press Send
You’ll then see the following: ‘You have activated Data Manager for 254704123456. The number will not be able to browse without a data bundle.’
To deactivate:
2- Browse latest TVs, fridges, microwaves, dispensers, cookers, furniture, kitchenware, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, headphones, earphones / headsets, phone cases, chargers, MiFi routers, bluetooth speakers on Jumia.
- Dial *544#
- Select option 3: Normal Data Bundle WITH EXPIRY
- Enter 7 or 98 to go to the next page on the menu
- Select option 11: My Data Manager
- Select option 2: Don’t Browse without a data bundle
- Reply with 4 to Activate/Deactivate for other Number
- Select option 2 to Deactivate
- Enter the phone number e.g. 0704123456
- Press Send
You’ll then see the following: ‘You have deactivated Data Manager for 254704123456. The number will be charged 4.3/- per MB on browsing without a data bundle.’
If you have data manager activated and have only Kenya Shillings 4.95 airtime in your account:
- you’ll not be able to browse the internet (because the manager is active)
- but say you want to browse the web, but for some reason can’t access / buy airtime for your line? You simply follow the steps above, deactivate the manager, open your browser and enjoy surfing the web at a rate of KSh 4.3 per MB. With KSh 4.95 you won’t be able to buy a data bundle (cheapest bundle is the 7 MB + 7 SMS daily bundle at Sh 5), so you will have to deactivate the manager and settle for the Sh 4.3 per MB rate.
If you’d like to learn more about Safaricom data services, read the following posts:
- Safaricom Tunukiwa Internet Bundles.
- Safaricom All in One Bundles.
- Safaricom Okoa Data.
- Safaricom Sambaza Internet.
- Check Safaricom Data Bundle Balance.
- How to Buy Safaricom Data Bundles
To read my other Safaricom posts, go here.
To share your thoughts, tips or experiences, leave a comment below. To read my recent articles, go to Niabusiness.com.