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The iPhone 5 uses Cellular Data over WiFi?

The first two days after I received my iPhone 5, I racked up 400MB of Cellular Data. 99% of the time I was using my phone, I was connected over WiFi. So I ran a test on my own by watching a YouTube video over WiFi and then looking at my Cellular Data under the Usage menu. Sure enough, it had went up by around 10MB. I called into Apple Support and asked them what was going on. They thought that it might have been a problem with my phone or my house's WiFi connection. After them walking me through a series of test and restores, the lady semi-acknowledged that it could be a problem with how their phone interacts with the new LTE network.


If you guys out there could keep an eye on your Cellular Usage Data, that would be great. Maybe it's a problem with my iPhone 5, or maybe it's a much larger problem. Seeing as I used to have unlimited data with Verizon, being charged with everything above 2GB would be very costly for me...especially when it's not even my fault.


Hopefully we can get this issue sorted out.


Here's how to enter the Cellular Usage menu: Settings->General->Usage->Cellular Usage

iPhone 5

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 1:47 PM

Reply
1,208 replies

Oct 19, 2012 2:18 PM in response to millerj826

Verizon user and there are a lot of us with this issue. I spent last Saturday on the phone with them and then Apple. This a.m. I reset my data at 6:30 the phone was laying on my desk while I was cleaning keyboards. I didn't use it at all. An hour later I checked and I had sent/received all sorts of data, even though I hadn't touched my phone and no one called, emailed or texted me.


I called Apple immediately.....I'm going in tomorrow to get a new phone from the Apple store.


Verizon/Apple/ATT know this is an issue.


I will closely watch what goes on after I get my new phone.



Ginger

Oct 21, 2012 7:47 AM in response to DJPlayedYA

I went to Apple yesterday (Saturday) morning. I reset my data at 7:30 a.m. today, checked it at 8:55 a.m. I had turned off cellular data and this time it shows no usage. Which, it shouldn't as I didn't use the phone.


So, I turned cellular data back on at 8:57 and checked it at 9:43. The phone HAS not been used in any way, shape or form. It has sat on my desk. My data usage is Sent: 3.0 kb, Received: 4.0 kb.


I'm calling Apple again. This shouldn't occur. I know, I know I can turn off cellular data and that is what I've done again, but come on.


Ginger

Oct 21, 2012 10:37 AM in response to teech79

About 30 minutes ago I got off the phone with Apple/Verizon. I worked with a Senior advisor at Apple who contacted a Senior tech at Verizon.


It took awhile and a conference call. I had to restore my new phone and then Verizon flipped a switch so I was off their plan, then back on it. That seems to have solved the problem.


So, now I don't have to turn off Cellular Data when I'm home. I'm watching it and nothing has been added to my data.


HTH-

Ginger

Oct 21, 2012 10:59 AM in response to clarkkent27

OK, this is what happened...my phone said that it was on 13.1 Verizon. It was, although the complete update to Verizon didn't take on my phone. When Mr. Verizon switched me off/on it took the complete 13.1 update. Now my phone usage hasn't changed a bit from when I completed my call to Apple/Verizon.


Now, how to resolve your issue if you still have this.....call Apple. Tell them that there is a solution that was discovered this morning by a Senior Advisor/Verizon.


On a guess your phone didn't take the complete update from your carrier. Which means you are missing a component to get it to work correctly.


From what I was told Verizon didn't have an updated system for OS6 and now with 13.1 it should be ok unless you had an unknown (to you) hiccup when it was updating.


Back up your phone first as it took a complete restore of the phone I got yesterday morning. So, in less than 24 hours I had to do the complete restore with Verizon turning off my data and on my data.


HTH,

Ginger

Oct 22, 2012 11:31 PM in response to clarkkent27

MacRumours reports iOS 6.0.1 is well on the way, maybe will make it in time for shipment [not release] of "the new stuff" to be announced tonight [Australian Time]...


Quote:

BGR reports that Apple has begun carrier testing of iOS 6.0.1, the first bug fix update to iOS 6 since its release just over a month ago. According to the report, iOS 6.0.1 addresses several issues including...


Improve Wi-Fi support [fix drop outs], fix cellular data not working in some cases, add a consolidated cellular data switch for iTunes Match, fix a bug that allowed access to Passbook pass details from the lock screen, and also finally fix the bug that caused Exchange meetings to be unexpectedly cancelled for the entire calendar invite group.


Apple is reportedly also beginning testing of iOS 6.1, with the timing of that testing suggesting that the update is not likely to arrive in time for any of the new hardware launches over the coming weeks. It is also unclear what changes are included in iOS 6.1.

UnQuote:


Robert

Oct 23, 2012 8:32 AM in response to MACximize

Was just about to ask this question...the same issue popped up for me today and Onavo is telling me "video/audio" is the biggest cellular data user (30MB). All I did today was listen to 1 pre-downloaded audio podcast on the podcast app. Seen this issue with Podcasts discussed on other forums too (although I also believe the cellular + wifi default is partly to blame when watching Youtube, etc. on wifi--my wifi at home is not the strongest in some spots, yet my videos seem to play without a glitch).


I have deleted the podcast app and will try Downcast or some other alternative, just to be safe.

Oct 23, 2012 2:35 PM in response to MACximize

Yesterday I also had a huge spike in cellular data usage, I also was using the Apple Podcasts app. I also had the "Use cellular data" option turned off as well. One thing I did notice, was when I would touch the down arrow, in the Podcasts app, to download a podcast, the podcast would actually get queued for download within the "iTunes" app. I also had "Use cellular data" disabled within the iTunes app too. However the iPhone 5 ignored these settings, and downloaded the podcasts over LTE anyways. My phone chewed through about 5 GB of cellular data yesterday, and I hit my data cap, incurring a $15 overage charge from AT&T.


After several call with both Apple and AT&T today, the best option I have is to turn off cellular data, when connected to a wifi network.

😟

Oct 23, 2012 2:43 PM in response to shthco

I bought the iPhone 5 Verizon version knowing these issues. My iPhone 4 was using extravagant cellular usage once I went to iOS 6 anyway. I just turn off Cellular when I am on WiFi. Inconvient and stupid....yes.


Today, I had to take a trip out for 20 mins. I turned on Cellular. I did not use ANYTHING on the phone. No email. No phone calls (even tho that has no effect). Just had it on in case i needed voice mail. 3.81 mb used doing nothing.


We can only hope Apple fixes this. Maybe someone needs to start an FCC complaint. It worked for me on the iPad 3 prepaid issue.

The iPhone 5 uses Cellular Data over WiFi?

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