Mitigating network saturation includes detecting reconnection of device to a network after a period of disconnection. A set of applications residing on the device is queried for estimated data associated with the application awaiting transfer. A response is received from a first application of the set of applications including a first estimated data awaiting transfer from the first application. Responsive to determining that a response has not been received from a second application, a second estimated data awaiting transfer from the second application is determined based upon a learned data usage model for the application. A total expected data transfer amount is determined based upon the first estimated data and the second estimated data. Responsive to the determining that the total expected data transfer amount is not less than a threshold value, A priority of the data transfer for the first application and the second application is determined.