Google bringing data-saving Wi-Fi Assistant to all Nexus phones

Starting in the coming weeks, Google is adding a new data-saving perk for owners of its Nexus smartphones. Called Wi-Fi Assistant, the feature lets your device automatically connect to millions of open and free Wi-Fi hotspots in an effort to cut down on data use and optimize mobile data speeds. Prior to today, the feature was exclusive to Google’s Project Fi cell service. It will now be broadly available to any Nexus phone owner in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Nordic countries, Google says.

To find Wi-Fi Assistant, head over to the Android Settings app, tap Google, tap Networking, and from there you can then toggle the feature on and off. If your phone is connected via Wi-Fi Assistant, you’ll see a small key in the upper corner of your device. The icon is identical Android’s virtual private network (VPN) icon, but in this case it will indicate a connection to a free Wi-Fi network. If you’d rather not connect to that network, you can tap “forget” by pressing and holding on the network name in the Wi-Fi settings panel.