Other Devices Using Data on iPhone Hotspot

Question

Level 2

181 points

Other Devices Using Data on iPhone Hotspot

I wonder if someone could help me understand how the Personal Hotspot works. Sorry for the long post, but it's complicated I've tried to pre-empt questions (TLDR at bottom)

I've just been away for a few days (in the UK - and I live in the UK) and used the hotspot on my iPhone 13 mini with my iPad Pro. I just used the iPad for web and mail. I'm thinking about a longish trip abroad so I thought I'd use this trip as a test to see how much data I use in this manner to see if my current allowance (25GB per month) would be OK or if I should get more for the trip. I reset the Mobile Data usage stats and then it started getting odd.

Day 1 - I reset the mobile usage stats on my iPhone. I turned on the hotspot and connected the iPad. Used the web to read the papers and find local stuff to do and sent a couple of mails. The next morning when I checked the hotspot usage I see that the iPad has used 70MB and "Other Devices" have used 2.52GB. This is worrying. I've never shared my password, I was alone on the trip and camping, so not sitting in a busy caff or pub. I assumed someone else had connected so I changed the password to the hotspot. I went through the iPad settings and turned all background activity off (it mostly was) and made sure automatic downloads for both OS and apps were off - they were and always are. I didn't do anything during my day's use that would have downloaded 2.5GB.

Day 2 - I reset the mobile usage stats - there had been no more downloads. I turned on the hotspot and, again, used the iPad as per normal. At the end of the day I checked the hotspot usage and it was the same again - iPad 40MB, "Other Devices 2.52GB" I changed the password again.

Day 3. Hotspot off. iPad in airplane mode. I didn't use the iPad at all. At the end of the day the hotspot was still turned off but usage by "other devices" had increase to 2.59GHz. So, with the hotspot off, with my only other iDevice off, another 70MB of data had gone over the hotspot.

I tried using the "Net Analyzer" app to see if anything was connected - nothing was. I had no other iDevices with me on the trip. I have never shared my hotspot password and I changed it twice this trip. I was staying on a campsite in the middle of nowhere, so it's not like I was wandering around a busy city with lots of opps for hacking.

Can anyone explain what is going one? In three days some "Other Devices" seem to have used over 5GB of my iPhone's data and I can't seem to stop it. I've checked my mobile account and the data usage is real. In real life this means that that turning the hot spot on for a week would use my month's allowance in 5 days.

TLDR

"Other Devices" is using 2.52GB of data per day via my hotspot.

I've never shared my password and I changed it but 2.52GB went out just the same.

I turned off my only other iDevice and turned off the hotspot and another 70MB was added to the "Other Devices" usage.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Posted on Apr 29, 2024 3:16 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 29, 2024 3:19 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Other Devices includes essentially any device that can connect to a Wi-Fi network can potentially use your iPhone's personal hotspot for internet access. Keep in mind that the number of devices that can connect simultaneously may be limited by your iPhone's settings or your cellular plan's restrictions.

A list of a few devices that could be part of the "Other Devices"

Other smartphones: Such as Android devices, Windows phones, or even other iPhones.
Tablets: Like iPads, Android tablets, or Windows tablets.
Laptops: MacBooks, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, etc.
Desktop computers: PCs or Macs with Wi-Fi capability.
Gaming consoles: Devices like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox that have Wi-Fi connectivity.
Smart TVs and streaming devices: Such as Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, or Fire Stick.
Smartwatches and wearables: Some smartwatches and fitness trackers can connect to a personal hotspot for internet access.
E-readers: Such as Kindle devices that have Wi-Fi capability.

The "other devices" in your iPhone's personal hotspot usage typically refers to any devices that have connected to your hotspot to use your phone's internet connection. Even if you don't use a computer, laptop, or tablet, other devices like another smartphone, a gaming console, or even a smart TV could have connected to your iPhone's hotspot, consuming data.

See the pic below. Samsung here indicates Samsung TV

If you feel an unauthorized app/device is using mobile data over a personal hotspot, then that is possible only if you have done one or more of the following Don'ts...

Don't hand over an iPhone to kids or to a stranger without Enabling Guided Access
Don't share Apple IDs
Don't Jailbreak
Don't share sensitive information pertaining to your device
Don't plug in your device in Airports and Public places through third-party cables and trust the device. Beware of Juice Jacking. (Especially in India)
Don't leave your iPhone unlocked and unattended in public places like offices, schools, malls, etc.

If one of the above is true then quickly change the Apple ID Password and Return iPhone settings to their defaults.

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Answer 2

Zurarczurx Author

Level 2

181 points

Apr 29, 2024 3:58 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thanks, but none of those is applicable in my situation.

You give a list of potential devices that could access the hotspot. Are you saying that they can access the Hotspot without the password? I thought that only iDevices signed in to my iCloud account could access the Hotspot without a password.

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Answer 3

MrSaintz

Level 1

0 points

May 15, 2024 8:03 AM in response to Zurarczurx

Guys!

There are multiple threads talking about this, but so far only “bug” mentioned in some does actually make sense, just yesterday I I upgraded iOS to 17.5 but every time I let hotspot on, “other devices” start showing up.

first of all this makes no sense, the list of devices using the hot spot should be listed individually not summarized, with this, what other method would allow me to check exactly wish device is consuming, if it actually is consuming.

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