IOS 8 High Cellular Data Usage

Hi. What did you mean by you had the iCloud Drive switched off? Did you delete or remove your iCloud account or did you just disable the 'automatic backup'?

webdevandy

Feb 4, 2015 6:48 PM

Re: IOS 8 High Cellular Data Usage

in response to webdevandy

Since my last post Ive ran my iPhone 6+ with no iCloud enabled across 2 days. Minimal increments in cell data usage. All good. This evening I finally switched on iCloud before heading out (but not iCloud Drive). Within an hour I had used 16MB of data! The culprit (for me anyway) is DEFINETLY iCloud. I should also point out that there was no interaction on my part. I did nothing to engage iCloud. No checking email. No taking photos. Nothing. iPhone was simply in my pocket doing what it had done the previous 2 days when iCloud was not switched on. So the next question is which part of iCloud is at fault? Along with iCloud Drive switched off I have now disabled Photos. Everything else is switched on. I will now monitor tomorrow and see if this resolves the data issue. AndyG.

Yes, I do remember someone telling me you have to have an LTE-capable sim as well for it to work well with an LTE-capable device. I'm not so sure if this has anything to do with it hogging so much data usage (but for you it did). Thanks for reminding me about this.

So if you are upgrading to an LTE device still using your old number or old sim -- you have to have it REPLACED with an LTE-capable/compatible SIM. Funny how a lot of telcos seem to leave or forget to give this information out.

I've been having the same issue ever since iOS 8 was released. Was hoping these subsequent updates would've been helped but nada. Once I switched to AT&T's Mobile Share Value data plan, my wife and I have seen significant data usage each billing cycle. And now get pestered with the text & email notifications from AT&T that we've used 75% of our data, or 90% etc. Besides texting via iMessage, Facebook, Candy Crush, and Words with Friends, no out of the ordinary data usage than before iOS 8 was released.

I started disabling features throughout my phone including the features you listed from AT&T. I've also been leaving my Cellular Data turned OFF when I'm in Wifi range everywhere. Even piggyback my Personal Hotspot on my work phone which helps too.

So my wife and I average about 8-10GB of data on a 25GB monthly plan. We have both had iPhone 6's for at least 4-6 months. This billing cycle we started getting text messages that we were over our data limit. After calling AT&T and looking at the data, they informed me that they are getting a lot of these calls so it appears to be a major bug. My phones were using a ton of data every 3 hours on the hour and my phones are on wi-fi 95% of the time. Unfortunately AT&T was not able to do anything about it. They suggested I take my phones to Apple and have them looked at. At this point, I am ready to just go to a Note 5 when it comes out.

I just upgraded from IPhone 5 to 6 on Friday Aug. 21. Saturday I got a text saying I was already at 75%. Yesterday I got another one saying I've used all my Data and was charged $15. I know this is a mistake I barely used the phone since Friday and only connected when I was on WiFi!

I'm not sure this has been addressed or if it was my problem. Maybe someone could shed some light if this is possible. But after going on different forums and trying to get answers. I then went into Usage - Manage Storage - ICloud Photo Library. There under backups I noticed that I hade TWO phones listed: "Peggy's Iphone" and "Peggy's Iphone This IPhone". Apparently my IPhone was backing up AND most likely using data on both the Iphone 5 AND my new IPhone 6. I had ICloud backup on all along. I disabled everything turned usage and everything else off on IPhone 5. And deleted that old backup on the new phone. I also deleted my email accounts, apps and contacts on the old phone. I wonder if this was my overage problem. I had everything transferred at the Verizon store. You would think the rep would have gone into that setting and delete the old IPhone backup. So frustrating! I sometimes wonder if this is done on purpose to make $$$$$. I wonder if I can get my $15 refunded.

Those aren't actual data spikes - they are summaries of the data used in the last period. This is done to make reporting a little easier.

Besides any runaway app, it seems like getting a new SIM card has solved the issue for many. I had a iPhone 5S that was completely fine until I gave it to my daughter and they put a new SIM card in it. Suddenly, data usage went through the roof. Resetting the iPhone didn't help nor did re-seating the SIM card. Eventually, we traded it in for an iPhone 6 and have had no issues since.

I had the same thing happen to my iPhone 6 and after I took out the SIM card and placed it back in and reset the phone, I had no more data problems.

For those of you that upgrade to IOS 9.0.1: be aware that you need to go in and change some settings to avoid overage charges:

The primary one: Settings --> Cellular --> Wi-Fi Assist: Turn it OFF. This is a feature that allows your phone to connect to your cellular network automatically if it detects that your wi-fi connection is "weak." The justification is that people who have an unlimited data plan won't mind having this feature so that they can browse faster. However, those of us in the real world know we're being muscled to drop or we're being prevented from continuing those grandfathered unlimited plans.

Also check the new apps that have been installed or updated after the update. Despite my having turned off all cellular connection to many of them, after the update they were turned back on.

Thank you maryv820! Bought my first iPhone 2 days ago, 6+, by the time I got home with it I had used 131MB of my 150MB plan, got warning from carrier (Consumer Cellular), bumped my plan to 500MB. Today I have read most of this thread and turned off everything that was suggested, jumped to latest post Sep 29 your post, turned off Wifi Assist - I never would have scrolled down far enuf to see it but for your post. Now we'll see what usage I get while using home wifi. A great help.

Same issue. Message from Verizon at 4:04pm "You're almost out of data. You have 10% remaining w/ 5 days left...". The phone was on my desk unused at the time with no apps running and Wifi in full effect. At 4:47pm "you're out of data, you've been charged $15..."

Rude!!

Followed the thread here and am going to troubleshoot, but if apple & carrier are both passing the buck, where does that leave us all?

Thanks for all who posted solutions.

UPDATE: thank you for the info about settings>Cellular>wifi assist. OFF!!!

yes i have this question this is my picture (i come form China but i use iphone 5s bought in hongkong just use one hour made in hongkong )

I am having this same problem. I looked at ATT records and it shows HUGE 1 GB use at 3AM? What is up with that?!?!?!

has this actually worked for anyone?

Thanks Mitton.

A clean restore is just not a practical solution unless you have hours of spare time. (Restoring from backup just reintroduces the same issue.)

Same issue, 4.2GB of data already used, normally I use less than 1GB a month.