Since updating to 17.1 my personal hotspot, ‘other devices’ has gone crazy using up data, even when the hotspot is switched off. I always reset the data on the 1st of each month and I’ve used 4.03gb in 3 days with the hotspot off. Password has been changed. Any idea what’s going on? Thanks
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Well, calling back to Tech Support turned out to be a complete waste of time; if the Network Reset didn’t work there is nothing else they can do for me. I wish the tech I spoke to yesterday had told me that!
I did get the following information though, which is very helpful:
The data usage of the hotspot is not recorded by the device and sent to the carrier, the amount is determined by the carrier and sent to the device.
This would seem to be why the hotspot is able to be used by the “other devices” even while turned off. Because the carrier is saying it’s active when it isn’t, and telling the device that the amount has been used.
I called my carrier and they repeatedly tried to get me to upgrade my plan. I made no progress until I said the following:
“I am poor. I cannot upgrade my plan. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. You don’t offer a 60GB a month plan, so all my data would be gone anyways. I have done everything except a factory reset on my device. The manufacturer is positive the issue is not with my device. I have no other devices. I have reset the password repeatedly. The data is being used while my hotspot is turned off. This is a physical impossibility.”
They agreed I was correct that this wasn’t possible. They said they saw no error on their end, but would reset the network connection to my device.
I was instructed to power off the device and remove the SIM card, then wait 15 minutes for them to troubleshoot and reset my connection.
It has been an hour and a half, and so far no “other devices” have started pulling data. If that changes, I’ll be back to post again. If there is nothing further, then it worked!
Here’s some relevant info, in case it’s useful:
Device: iPhone 12 mini
Network: Mint Mobile (recently purchased by T-Mobile)
Plan Level: Cheapest available (5GB per month)
TLDR: The carrier is telling the phone you're using hotspot (even while off). Call your carrier and make them reset your Network Connection from their end.
Guys,
This seems to be a major bug - especially hitting travellers. I have measured the actual consumption of data during a period and “other devices” is way higher than actual ( 6 times in fact). What matters is, that apple has not replied to any of the request made here.
Unless Apple is monitoring (Siri) and this comes side by side with actual data - it makes no sense at all!!
iPhone 11 using 17.3.1 - Just noticed this morning I'm at 5.86GB of hotspot usage with no previous connections and HS turned off. (google search led me here) This is a company phone and we are supposed to be under 4GB per month!! This is not good. I turned off data for now - I'm going to install the update and reset network settings.
Has anyone confirmed this is hitting their bill?
I´ve been strugling with this bug for many months now, first time back in december, that time it did cost me a lot of money the extra Data. In January I upgraded my data plan for unlimited data at night, from 10 pm to 7 am, and it helped not to have extra charges on my bill. But each month I use arroung 200GB of "other devices" fortunately I dont have to pay extra. Still very anoying bug, Im surprised no one came with a solution already.
Same story, iPhone 13 pro, iOS 17.4.1, indicates 8.81 GB traffic on personal hotspot, which is switched off. Seems to be a bug, as my phone service provider app indicates I'm well within my limits on cellular data usage.
Same thing here on my iPhone 15 Pro. These are my statistics since resetting the count last on Feb 1. The strangest thing is- the My Verizon app does not reflect that I ever use nearly this much hotspot data (seeing as 282gb only over 3.5 months would suggest I personally use around 80gb of hotspot alone for “other devices” which literally exceeds the 50GB of hotspot data my plan includes). Very strange, there has to be some bug that is affecting how iOS is reflecting hotspot data use.
Good news on my side. After a recent iOS update and update to network settings that was pushed to my phone (Xfinity/Verizon service), I'm no longer seeing this issue. Not sure if others have seen the same.
Doesn't change anything. All the same bug.
it didn’t fix anything
It just seems to be a reporting bug. For me it’s saying I’m using a lot but it’s not actually using it in reality.
Same problem here. I reset mobile data usage statistics after I realised my 8gb internet was gone very quick in 1 week. Since then I’m not opening any data hungry app like Instagram when I’m outside, and I’m turning my mobile data off when I’m at home. Look what happened in an additional week: 8gb data usage again and 7.2gb is just other devices in personal hotspot. What’s going on? I haven’t turned on my hotspot in the last week and I haven’t seen my top bar green except when I’m having a phone call. So many people are waiting for an explanation and I’m tired of Apple breaking any working functionality with each new iOS version
I’m having the same issue. The only thing that I allow to connect to my hotspot is my sons iPhone (as it has no sim in it) which is via the family settings.
Its says ‘other devices’ used 140gb over the course of a month but I only have a 20gb plan so it can’t be right.
I have no idea what all the other devices are.
I have this same issue, iPhone 15 pro on iOS 17.2.1
i used to use 2 lines (physical and eSIM) but now just using 1 physical line and it still happens.
I also have an Apple Watch and wonder if it’s counting this in some odd way, perhaps it’s an issue with iPhone and wifi only watch
I don’t know what’s going on but it needs to stop. My hotspot has used 17.1gb of my data while it’s been off and if it keeps this up I’ll get charged for going over my limit. It’s been using 2gb a day without any reason and it’s not fair that I have to pay for something because of some glitch.
once again this month 146gb of data used on ‘Other Devices’. In fact none of devices are named apart from one (my wife’s Mac).
The main user of my hotspot is my son who has an iPhone with no SIM card yet its name is not show.
No idea what the other 3 devices are.
I only have 20gb data allowance so I know it’s not actually using 143gb
Also might be the case that apple remember the previous device data and it' add accordingly when we configuring new device. By using same Apple ID or after resetting the phone it will add previous devices data as other devices data.
'Other Devices' using data even when Personal Hotspot is switched off
