If you want to keep control of your apps' power usage and cut off unsolicited connections without struggling with complicated menus, this is the place to go. GlassWire for Android combines a data monitor with firewall, alerts, and super-clear graphics. to see which application is consuming, when and why.
Furthermore, the proposal comes with a very transparent approach: Your stats stay on your phone, no ads or data sales, and with a base of millions of installs across Windows and Android. On mobile, it brings key tools to save megabytes and improve your everyday security.
What is GlassWire and why is it worth it on Android?
GlassWire is a network monitor and data usage manager On Android, it displays real-time Wi-Fi and mobile data usage, allows you to set limits with alerts, and adds a firewall to block connections by app. Its core is a very intuitive time graph with filters by period and app that helps detect spikes and unusual behavior on the fly.
A particularly practical feature is that notifies you when an application accesses the Internet for the first time, which helps detect spyware on your mobileAt first, you'll see more notifications because the system learns what's connected to your phone. After that, the alerts become less frequent, and you'll be left with the most important things to detect abuse or apps that are using data for no reason.
The experience is completed with a speedometer in the persistent notification, separate firewall profiles for data and Wi-Fi, and a usage dashboard that's clearer than stock Android. All with the peace of mind that The app does not send your statistics to external servers nor does it include advertising.
A relevant extra today: On Android the app is free And features that were previously paid for are now available to everyone. You can block apps, create profiles, and receive real-time alerts without paying a fee.
Step-by-step installation and initial configuration
Download the app from Google Play and open the wizard. You'll see that it asks for system permissions: Usage Access and “Phone” permissionAndroid requires these permissions to break down usage by app and show you detailed mobile usage; they're not for making calls or uploading data to the internet.
When you turn on the firewall, Android will ask you to create a local VPN connection using the VpnService APIThis isn't a commercial VPN: it's the standard method GlassWire uses to filter traffic by app. Accept the prompt for the firewall to work properly.
Then go to the Data Plan section. There you can define the billing cycle, MB/GB limit, and alerts (for example, at 90% of the plan). You also have roaming, rollover (accumulative data) and zero-rated apps that your operator does not discount and that you do not want to be computed.
Activate the desktop widget for quick reference if you prefer. In parallel, the Persistent notification shows period consumption and live speedOn many devices, disabling it is not advisable because it helps prevent the system from "killing" the service and ensures a reliable count.
If you don't see data in the graph, check that the mobile is connected and that Android's "Data Saver" is not limiting GlassWire (if you use it, whitelist GlassWire). If it continues, restart your phone or reinstall it by accepting all permissions again.
Charts, Filters, and the Usage Tab
The graphic is the center of everything. You can move through time with gestures to review from the last few minutes to several months. Change the period with the selector and see at a glance when traffic spiked and which apps were involved.
Tap an app in the chart or lists to open its tab. There you'll see installation date, last update, relevant permissions and the moment when GlassWire detected your first network activity (this data starts counting after installing the app).
In the Usage tab you will see Upload and download separated by network type (mobile/Wi-Fi) and app breakdown. It's a much faster and more pleasant way to compare what happened on a specific day or week than Android's native dashboard.
If you prefer, you can filter by connection type using the menu in the top corner: Wi‑Fi only or mobile data only, useful for closely monitoring your rate. And if you rotate your phone horizontally, the graph fills the entire screen for more precise peak analysis.
Below the graph is a list of apps sorted by usage during that period. Tap a bar on the graph to see which apps used data in that section, or go into an app's settings from its tab to force it to stop if it's hogging bandwidth for no reason.
Useful alerts: limits and first connections
Alerts fulfill two major missions: Avoid billing scares and uncover strange behaviorOn the one hand, you'll receive alerts when you approach or exceed your limit; on the other, GlassWire notifies you when a newly installed app attempts to access the network.
During the first few days you will notice quite a few “first activity” alerts because GlassWire is learning your phone's pattern. Then, the noise fades, and you only hear what's important. If you want to fine-tune things, in settings you can choose to only notify you when an app uses mobile data, or disable specific types of alerts.
Connectivity issues? Before you blame anyone, log into your firewall and set it to “Off” to discardIf it persists with the firewall off, it's not GlassWire. If it only fails with the firewall on, you may have accidentally blocked a part of the system: create a new profile without blocking and try again later.
A practical trick with “unlimited” rates: Many apply throttling when passing a certain threshold.Set an alert at that level (e.g., 15 GB) to know when the slowdown starts and adjust your usage.
Firewall on Android: Block by app and create profiles
With Android Firewall you can allow or deny connections by application and save separate profiles for mobile data and Wi-Fi. Its technical basis is VpnService, a local VPN that filters traffic on the device itself without sending your data to third parties.
There are very practical ways: Ask to connect (ask for new connections) to decide instantly, and Block All to temporarily block everything if you need to be offline. You can also set newly installed apps to not have internet access until you approve them.
If an app goes too far and eats up megabytes, block it completely or limit it to Wi-FiWhen traveling, create a strict profile for mobile data and a permissive profile for home Wi-Fi. Switching between profiles takes seconds and saves you time.
And remember: even if you turn off the firewall, GlassWire continues monitoring usageThat is, you can leave filtering disabled if you don't need it without losing traffic visibility.
Persistent notification, widget and battery consumption
GlassWire maintains a permanent notification with your consumption and a speedometer in real time. This makes it easy to quickly check and also helps prevent Android from shutting down the service, ensuring stable logging.
By design, that notification It is not deactivated from the appIn some cases, and starting with Android Oreo, you can long-press to mute it or adjust the notification channel, but this depends on the manufacturer. In any case, its impact on resources is minimal, and the accuracy benefit makes up for it.
If you like the information at hand, add the desktop widget to check usage without opening the app. Next to the speed meter on the bar, you'll always have the pulse of your connection.
Operators, networks and compatibility
The tool works with virtually any operator and network: 3G, 4G, 5G, Edge, GPRS, and Wi-Fi. Successfully tested carriers include Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, AT&T, Sprint, Magenta, Jio, and many others.
If your provider applies limits on metered fixed connections (satellite, cable with a cap, etc.), You can also create plans for Wi‑Fi and receive alerts when you approach your monthly limit.
Advanced tips for fine-tuning your settings
In Data Plan, create zero-rated apps If your operator doesn't charge for some apps, this way they won't affect your billing, and your ads will reflect the reality of your rate.
Works with firewall profiles: a strict one for mobile data (messaging and email, but not much else) and another open profile for Wi-Fi. Switching profiles saves data without sacrificing convenience when you're at home.
Keep the active first connection notice and turn off non-critical notifications. This balance prevents fatigue and keeps you alert to what's relevant.
When you notice slowness, look at the graph: if there is a peak, Go to the app that caused it and check the permissions.. Locking in time prevents battery and data drain.
If you share data with tethering, when connecting a device watch the live chart and cuts spikes in secondary apps to maintain stability.
Support, community and a sign of trust
Major Android media outlets have recommended GlassWire for its approach to privacy and consumer control. If you want to report a bug or suggest ideas, go to the official forum or use “Send Feedback” from the three-line menu to send logs that will help the team fix bugs.
Among the community's popular proposals are transparent floating panels PC-style, resizable windows and keeping them “always on top” to monitor upload/download at a glance. A deeper integration with the PC version to see what's happening on your computer from your mobile phone, with remote alerts and shared server lists.
Synergies with GlassWire for Windows: What it gives you if you also use it on a PC
While this guide is for Android, understanding its bigger brother helps you leverage the product's philosophy if you work on both fronts. The Windows version expands control with views, firewall, and security tools that fit what you see on your mobile.
Traffic Monitor: graph, table and map
In Windows you have three views: an animated graph, a table by apps/hosts/types/countries and a geographic map of live and historical connections. You can toggle between viewing all traffic, by application only, by type (e.g., FTP), or by publisher.
The graph allows pause time and take screenshotsAt the top, you can choose 5 minutes, 3 hours, 24 hours, a week, or a month; below, a timeline lets you zoom in on specific periods and analyze spikes or alerts with precision.
If you detect a peak, when you click The view stops and lists the apps and hosts involved., sorted by usage. You can open details for each app (route, version) or host and search online for information about suspicious destinations. Different colors for up/down help you understand the direction of traffic, and the axis scale adjusts automatically (you can change colors with themes).
Firewall and Protect tab
On PC, GlassWire does not install its own drivers: controls Windows Firewall For maximum stability, the Protect tab displays columns for Apps, Hosts, an activity graph, and controls to allow/block incoming and outgoing connections by app, or even individually.
There is a switch to allow GlassWire to manage (or not) the system firewall. Three modes of use: Click to block (allow by default and block unwanted items), Ask to connect (ask for new connections), and Block all (temporarily block everything). You can save firewall profiles, for example, an ultra-restrictive one for metered connections. The VirusTotal column can be enabled in Settings to scan executables from the table (disabled by default).
Network scanner and security warnings
The network scanner is ready all connected devices to your network with manufacturer, IP and MAC. In Security you can activate a warning when it appears an unknown device on your Wi-Fi. There's also Wi-Fi clone detection (Evil Twin) and a notification if the access point loses its password.
The alert log centralizes everything: first network activity, changes to system files network related, device registration/deregistration, proxy or DNS changes, possible ARP spoofing attacks, lost connectivity, incoming RDP connections, suspicious hosts, VirusTotal results, and GlassWire settings changes. You can sort them, mark them as read, and view new badges.
Main menu and desktop extras
The top menu includes Mini Viewer (floating mini graph), hide window, Upgrade/Buy, language selector, color themes, settings, 24-hour alert snooze, Incognito mode to avoid saving history, mobile app access on Google Play, forum, help, About, and exit.
Incognito mode can also be applied to specific apps from Protect so that your activity does not remain in the historySleep detection displays dark bars with a clock icon; you can disable it in settings if it bothers you.
Settings, backups and database
In General you can activate Start with Windows and notifications in the tray, log alerts in the Event Log, request administrator credentials for changes, time format, DNS resolution by nslookup, units (bits or bytes) and clear the local history of the graph.
In Security, enable or disable specific types of alerts. Recommendation: keep them active except for occasional false positives and report to support if you think something is an error.
VirusTotal is optionally integrated and requires personal API keyCreate an account at virustotal.com, copy your password, and paste it into Settings > VirusTotal. From there, you can analyze binaries or activate automatic scanning of apps with network activity. Remember: Uploaded files are shared with the VirusTotal community, not with GlassWire.
To move the database, edit the configuration file in C:\ProgramData\GlassWire\service\glasswire.conf with a line like: DbStorageDirectory = D:\GlassWire\glasswire.db. Restart the GlassWire service after copying the file to C:\ProgramData\GlassWire\service to apply the change.
If you need a full backup, do it manually: uninstall, rename folders and reinstall clean. Change C:\ProgramData\GlassWire a C:\ProgramData\GlassWire.bak y %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\GlassWire a %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\GlassWire.bak. If you moved the base to D:\GlassWire, rename it to D:\GlassWire.bak during the process, and then reverts names to restore.
Remote access and ports
GlassWire for Windows allows monitor remote servers or PCs with GlassWire installed on both. In Settings > Remote Access, set a password and, if possible, limit by source IP. On your local computer, add the server in Settings > Server List with the name, IP/host, and password.
You can change the default port (7010). If the remote computer is behind a router, configure Port Forwarding to the PC's IP address using GlassWire. If you don't know the public IP address, check it from the computer itself (e.g., services like whatismyip). In companies, consult IT before using tunnels from third parties such as Ngrok or Hamachi.
Installing and uninstalling on Windows
Install from the official site, accept the license and choose if you want icon on desktop, start with the system or quick access. There's a clean install mode that preserves your payment status but resets settings and fixes technical issues. You can also reset Windows Firewall to start without any previous rules if you are going to use Ask to connect.
The first boot will show many first activity alerts; this is normal and will decrease over time. From the menu, change the language, color theme, snooze alerts for 24 hours, or go to Help, Forum, Mobile (link to Google Play), About, and Exit.
Good practices for everyday life
- Check weekly the Usage tab and limit data-hogging apps to Wi-Fi with the firewall if there's no reason for them to use mobile data.
- Activate a notification when noticing low speed on unlimited plans with throttling to avoid surprises while browsing.
- In tethering, monitors the graph when connecting a device and cuts spikes in secondary apps to keep the shared connection stable.
- On public Wi-Fi, use more restrictive profiles; Ask to Connect gives you real-time control if an app tries to log out without permission.
For those looking to control their rates, Monitor the behavior of your apps and gain peace of mindGlassWire for Android offers a well-rounded combination: clear graphics, smart alerts, a practical firewall, and a serious privacy policy. If you also combine it with the Windows version, you'll have a complete control panel for your network without fancy hardware or complications. Share this guide so more people can take advantage of the tool.
