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sterling0925 Author

Level 1

15 points

Uninstalled apps using cellular data in iOS

iPhone X, iOS V 13.1.2

Let me start by saying that I have read the previous threads on this subject, and unless I'm missing something, the issue has not been fully resolved. The overwhelming push back from the community is that iOS is NOT using cellular data, rather, what we are seeing is a sum total of cellular data the apps used before we uninstalled them. Fair enough. However, there is a simple way to figure out if this is true.

I had some time on my hands and conducted a test. Here's what I found:

1) I reset the statistics for the current period on 10/2 at 3:30. The "Uninstalled apps" line is clear of any usage.

2) Without unloading any apps, at 3:31 the uninstalled apps usage shows 1.2KB

**The following times and usage reflect this statement:

"I have not unloaded any apps on this phone since I reset it at 3:30 on 10/2:"

3) 3:44 (7.1KB)

4) 3:49 (9.1KB)

5) 3:54 (13.2KB)

6) 3:55 shut off "Cellular Data" at the top of the screen and reset statistics (shows no data for uninstalled apps; also shut off all cellular data for each individual app)

7) 3:59 (0KB) no data leakage

8) Put on "Cellular Data" and added Safari - uninstalled apps 4:02 (10.3KB)

9) 4:03 (13.3KB)

10) Next day, 10/3 at 3:59 (297KB)

The only thing that seems to stop data leakage is shutting off Cellular Data for all systems.

So, if the answer to the question regarding uninstalled apps is that I'm deleting apps and there is a running total of data that the apps were using, why is it there is a constant trickle of data loss when I am reset the stats and don't delete apps? Of course, the larger question is 'what information is being sent (clearly, iOS is logging data to somewhere), and to whom is it being sent?'

iPhone X

Posted on Oct 3, 2019 2:59 PM

Top-ranking reply

darcy

Level 1

46 points

Posted on Dec 25, 2019 9:08 PM

Do not believe Apple has a grip on this. Apple Support’s recent official advice related from their engineering team was to turn off mobile data when I don’t need it. W T F ?!!? Completely misses the point of a mobile device. Bunch of bozos.

As of 13.3 and all previous 13.x at time of posting), uninstalled apps counter is garbage, it increases even if resetting it to zero and not uninstalling apps.

Here’s what I’ve done that has kept my usage of uninstalled apps to 2-5 MB per day.

turned HomeKit off on all my family account devices
left for a couple days until all devices fell off as options in HomeKit devices and bridges (meaning don’t use HomeKit for a couple days.)
then re-added them

I have too much invested in my setup to rebuild it, perhaps burning it all to the ground may work better. Unfortunate their are no tools to backup and restore a config, or even display it in a logical manner to allow a quick rebuild. Shame on Apple, this is not a 1.0 product, it’s been around since iOS 8. But this recent update has screwed it up.

Hope what I’ve done will work for others.

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Uninstalled apps using cellular data in iOS

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