Personal Hotspot, Other Devices uses data even when the personal hotspot is switched off

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

Posted on Nov 3, 2023 8:32 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Dec 9, 2023 4:09 PM

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

62 replies

Feb 15, 2024 12:58 PM in response to Grapet117

I have the same issue. The only time an “other device” isn’t eating data is when I turn off my eSIM altogether. I turned off the personal hotspot, I renamed my phone, I changed the hotspot password - everything. My phone doesn’t show the green indicator around the time for tethering, but someone is accessing my hotspot and eating data. This is a huge issue. Many conversations online, but no fixes.

Feb 23, 2024 5:28 AM in response to Grapet117

Same issue. I don’t normally look at cellular usage but I’m traveling internationally this week so I reset my data tracker when I arrived and noticed pretty massive usage of my hotspot despite it being turned off and checking my other devices plus my family’s devices to make sure they weren’t somehow locked onto it. I reset my hotspot PW to be safe and the issue has continued. I am on excellent WiFi at my hotel so I have barely been using cellular data. After 4 days my hotspot is showing 3.9gb of usage against total cellular usage of 4.4gb. So I’m assuming the 3.9gb hotspot usage is really whatever I’m consuming over WiFi and the 500mb delta is probably what I’m actually consuming in terms of cellular data which makes sense. Hopefully Verizon sees it that way. My plan allows for up to 10gb per month of intentional data roaming so it wouldn’t have throttled me yet. Frustrating bug.

Feb 25, 2024 1:33 AM in response to AkironQc23

I'm having the same issue, bought a Nomad eSIM for Australia and New Zealand (Oceania 45 day 20GB one). Activated it yesterday and only turned it on occasionally while our sightseeing to use Google maps briefly and WhatsApp a few photos as we used WiFi in hotel. The thing used 842MB data in the first 24 hours! So I found this forum and decided to check my Nomad app and I’ve used 120MB. 722MB was to personal hotspot. I’m after turning it off now. And I believe the app! Phew!

Feb 14, 2024 5:14 PM in response to Grapet117

Hey Guys,


I know what the “other devices” is. It’s actually the device you are using with the hotspot enabled.


When I turn off the WiFi and reset my statics for the cellular data. I made sure there are no hotspot devices showing.


When I turn on my WiFi and enable hotspot via the device I’m using , in my case it’s my iPhone, the “other devices” shows up in the cellular data section.


The usage only goes up for the “other devices “ when I’m using my iPhone browsing the web, if I don’t use the phone for browsing, the data usage doesn’t go up.


hope it makes sense.

Mar 4, 2024 2:00 PM in response to Grapet117

I just had this problem WHEN THE PHONE WAS TURNED OFF!


I used 29GB of data in one day. I turned off the phone and turned it back on 20 minutes later to discover I had used 29.9GB. An extra GB while the phone was turned off.


I finally managed to stop the increases by changing the SIM PIN on my e-sim. It was set to the default when I bought the e-sim ('0000') and once I changed it, the ridiculous bandwidth usage stopped. I'm still at 29.9gb a few hours later.


I should note when I checked my usage via the mobile provider's #123# system, the provider said I had only used 1.2 GB of data.


Seems to be an Apple Bug.

Mar 7, 2024 6:29 AM in response to Grapet117

My phone has registered over 300 gigs within a month. Speaking with Apple they say they were going to get back to me a month ago and haven’t heard anything back from them. I don’t believe the phone is wrong. Ever since this started happening, my phone dies quickly. There are days when it gets really hot and it doesn’t matter how long it’s charging it will not charge to full capacity. I have done everything that they said, except for reset all my network settings. But I don’t believe that’s going to help us other people have done it and ended up with the same results shortly after. #DATA and Network plan is different. But how do you explain the phone heating up. Not charging.

Personal Hotspot, Other Devices uses data even when the personal hotspot is switched off

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.