Alerts
DataSabi sends a desktop notification when a single app uses too much data on a metered connection in a short window.
How alerts work
The default alert rules are:
- 50 MB in 15 minutes — a quick burst from a single app
- 150 MB in an hour — slower but sustained background usage
Both rules only apply on metered networks. On an unlimited connection no notifications are sent regardless of usage.
After an alert fires for a given app, DataSabi waits one hour before alerting about that same app again.
Changing the alert rules
Open Settings in the DataSabi app and scroll to Alert thresholds. You can edit the threshold for any existing rule, add a new rule, or delete one. The default two rules are a starting point — adjust them to match your bundle size.
Quiet mode
If you need to silence all alerts temporarily — during a software update, for example — open Settings and select a quiet period: 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, or until tomorrow (24 hours). A banner appears while quiet mode is active with a button to resume alerts early.
Which networks count as metered
A network is treated as metered when:
- NetworkManager reports it as metered (most mobile hotspots do)
- NetworkManager reports its status as unknown (treated as metered to be safe)
- You have manually marked it as metered in the Networks panel
A network is only treated as unlimited when NetworkManager explicitly reports it as unlimited, or you have manually marked it as unlimited yourself.
See Networks and metered data to change a network's label.
Alerts require the app to be running
Desktop notifications are sent by the DataSabi app itself, not the collector. If the app is not running, no notifications are sent — even if the collector is active and recording usage.
Closing the window hides DataSabi to the tray — the app keeps running and alerts stay active. As long as the tray icon is visible, notifications will fire. Use Quit DataSabi from the tray menu to exit fully. On GNOME without the AppIndicator extension there is no tray icon — open DataSabi from the app launcher if you need the window back.
Receiving notifications
Notifications are sent through your desktop's standard notification system. If you don't see them:
- Open Settings → Notifications on your desktop
- Find DataSabi in the list
- Make sure Notification Popups is turned on
On GNOME, go to Settings → Notifications → DataSabi and confirm that popups are enabled.
Next steps
Issue with this page? Email isaac@arkodeon.com