Cellular data drain (iOS 8.1.1) with "Documents & Sync"

I didn't last! I bought a new 27" iMac this past week (Christmas money and savings) and as soon as I logged into iCloud...boom the drain was back. To complicate things I then logged out of my old iMac and the data drain stopped. I've been experimenting and it seems as soon as you add a third laptop/desktop, this problem returns. To make matters worse Apple, without speaking to me, closed my file and stated the problem as resolved. Um, no it's not resolved you have a HUGE bug with your implementation of cloud services which basically make your devices useless (need to turn data off on your cell or you need to have one or more computers unsynced). Kind of defeats the promises of cloud services.

I recontacted Apple who have now had me run some app on my desktop which collected a large amount of data off my machine (logs, settings) and sent it to them.

This is beyond frustrating and VERY disappointing give my expectations and support of Apple!

Will continue to update.

So far so good on my data usage since December 23rd. After much troubleshooting, restoring, chat conversations with Apple support and then finally having my phone replaced under warranty by Apple, I still had the problem. I knew it was related to iCloud so I started doing some testing. After all the initial troubleshooting I had done based on recommendations here and on other discussions I had ended up with my iCloud account active on two computers and one iPhone. I narrowed it down to the problem coming from my MacBook Pro, when I put my Mac Mini to sleep the data drain kept going when I would put my MBP to sleep it would stop. Then I disabled each item in iCloud one at a time and waited about 5 min in between each, re-enableing if the drain did not go away. In my case when I disabled Notes my data drain stopped. I do use Notes extensively and had quite a large number of them. I left notes off for a couple days and left both my Mac Mini and MBP running and monitored my cellular data use periodically disabling WiFi and did not have the Documents & Sync data drain. I then re-enabled notes syncing and still have yet to have the data drain. I am sure this won't be the case for everyone but it is something to look at. At the very least figure out if you have one or more offending computers constantly syncing data to iCloud causing your phone to then constantly sync.

My takeaways. I agree with many of you that this is not acceptable and if any service uses cellular data then it should have an option to disable its use. Unfortunately with so many different possible combinations of uses there is no way to test every possible one however Apple could be better about taking feedback and creating fixes. I did call AT&T and they are waiving my data overages so while I am sure if you don't call they are happy to take your money the wireless carriers do seem willing to waive it if you tell them that it is caused by a problem on the device.

Hope this can help someone else.

Paul,

How much of the time are you on WiFi? I currently have only 1.7MB of Documents & Sync since December 27th when I figured out it was the Notes iCloud item from my laptop that was causing the drain. I am typically on WiFi much of the time but I have even periodically turned it off to see if my data would start to drain away and it has not. I was on Cellular for many hours just yesterday and no Documents & Sync drain.

To do some testing I would suggest turning off your wifi so your phone is on cellular then disable each iCloud item one at a time on your Mac and see if the drain stops for a particular iCloud item. If it does end up being one item then if you can live with it off problem solved. If you do want that then perhaps by turning it off and back on it will solve the problem if not at least you have a specific thing to tell Apple to look at in your iCloud account.

On your phone I did find I had to keep going out of Settings Cellular for it to refresh and have the usage go up. I would also suggest for the testing period to have Cellular data turned off for all other apps and even reset your statistics so its easier to see the increase, and make sure there are no other apps running in the background.

If you are close to your maximum data amount for the month call your provider and tell them there is a problem and your data is being drained because of it and see if they will waive the fee then you can troubleshoot and not worry if you go over your data.

Man, am I glad I found this thread! We are having the same issue. I will try disabling some iCloud stuff on some of my Macs to see if we can narrow down the cause.

"Documents & Sync" is the huge culprit, but I can't figure out what that is and how to disable it. I have no docs stored on iCloud. I'm not using Pages, Notes, or other things like that. I tried a fresh restore on my phone, but it didn't help (of course, I did sign into my iCloud account).

The only way I've found to stop it is airplane mode or signing out of iCloud. Neither is very useful, but I might have to do the latter until this is solved.

For us, this started Sunday December 14th when we noticed huge battery drain (happened on both our iPhones that day). We have 2 iPhones, an iPad, 2 MacBook Airs, a Mac Mini and an iMac all that share an iCloud account (all we want is our calendars & contacts shared). Clearly some bug was introduced.

Apple: we have been fans since our first Mac in 1985. Please fix this--it makes our phones useless.

I'm amazed we haven't seen this reported / investigated in the world's media! As users potentially actually lose money by needing to top up their data allowances it presumably could be a big problem for Apple.

Here is the latest.

I thought I had the problem beat but it didn't last. As soon as I turned on one of my machines the data drain started up and then even if I shut it down wouldn't stop! This is a major bug in the iCloud implementation.

Apple had me send them diagnostics from my machine and run a ton of test which included capturing images and sending them to them. I spent hours upon hours doing all this to receive this reply "The last response I received about our escalation was that the spike could be from when an iOS device is added, the others will sync iCloud info together causing a temporary increase in cell data usage. Because the glitch does not seem to be located in one iCloud data class, we were unable to locate the root of the issue. ".

What a poor excuse for addressing the issue. No iOS device was added at any point! Furthermore I guess we better call Webster's and ask the definition of temporary to change to "constant for days on end" because there is nothing temporary about the data drain, it doesn't stop. Well unless you consider turning on airplane mode or functionality off on your phone a solution to stop the drain and make it temporary. Yes, I want to spend $1400 on a smart phone for less than half the functionality. Thanks Apple! They are grasping at straws and cannot explain why it's happening. They refuse to admit that there is a problem with the iCloud implementation or what "documents and sync" "is". This only started when I accepted the "upgrade" to iCloud Drive. Before that I was fine.

Not impressed at all and it will be the first time in decades that I will start advising people not to purchase their products. What would Steve do?

I don't have iCloud Drive enabled on any device. In the last 30 minutes, "Documents & Sync" has run up 1.4Mb of data. My phone shows a "usage" (under battery) of 2 hr 20 min in the last 3 hours, but I haven't used the phone at all.

Furthermore, I am about to travel to the UK--I'll run through my international data package in a few days at this rate.

My only option is to disable iCloud all together, losing ApplePay and my calendar/contact sync.

The fact that Apple Support is unable to help is really bothersome. At least find/admit that this is a real bug/issue. And, please give us some options to disable all or part of "documents & sync".

As I see there are more and more with similar issues... Nice!

That really ***** Apple!

Moreover with what I said on my previous posts I haven't ever entered the icloud drive menu!!!!

Some users claim that this is maybe the fault but I haven't used icloud Drive at all's

EVeryday I see clearly how my data are drained four no logical reason.

Especially crucial for me is not the Document & Sync but the iTunes Accounts data drainage.

This is what cost me 700MB IN ONE DAY!!!!!

The funny thing is that this forum is called an Apple community forum and it supposed to give us shelter for our or better their problems.

of course all icloud and email are shut off and no background apps are running on the background.

So Apple, what's going on before I go to court?

I have more data, and have found a work around (at least for my usage)

* turned off iCloud all together on my phone, and everything was fixed (no more Mb of "documents & sync", and battery drain was back to normal)

* turned on iCloud, but with all services disabled -- everything still ok

* gradually turned on/off services to find the culprit. For me, it is the calendar (I don't have any documents). I'm ok with ApplePay, keychain, contacts and Find My Phone enabled.

So, was this a bug introduced in November/December? I have wondered if it is a very clever virus. How diabolical/ingenious if you want to bring down the iPhone--create a virus that uses up data plans while draining the battery. Not a lot of people would stick it out with Apple if they couldn't get it fixed pretty soon.

I can confirm that since my last post on Dec 19 the data huge drain on documents and sync has stopped completely. To recap I set up a brand new icloud account and used that for syncing all the data but kept my original itunes account logged in on the itunes store so I kept all my purchases and itunes credit. May not work for everyone and is not an ideal solution but at least I can leave the safety of my home wifi network without worrying about excess data usage.

Update: my frustrations continue.

As with many of you, I thought I had stopped the battery drain/data transfer when I disabled my iCloud Calendar sync. But then it started up again. For now, I have completely turned off iCloud. It seems to have worked.

But, I have to ask myself, why do I have an iPhone if the service I bought it for (calendar & contact sync with my mac's) don't work?

I have been a loyal Apple and iPhone customer. I've owned nearly every version of the iPhone & never seriously considered something else. But, draining my battery and using up my data plan is a serious & fatal flaw with the product.

Apple, if you are monitoring/listening, please let me know that you are addressing this issue. I guess if I don't hear from you, I will assume that either a) you aren't working on this, or b) you aren't monitoring your forums. You will force me into making a decision I never thought I would even entertain.

I had this issue too, which resulted in 81g of data used over 3 days, while I was asleep. After 2 hours on the phone with Verizon and Apple, Apple rep stated that this is an issue with defective software or hardware on the phone, and that the phone will be replaced. Verizon has this issue under review as to whether or not I actually am on the hook for a $1,200 overage fee if a broken device counts as "my" usage. I'll let you know what happens.

Good luck. There's a 99% chance that it isn't an issue with the phone. It is something to do with your iCloud account (if you turn off iCloud, all the draining & data usage stops; if you connect to a new iCloud account there isn't a problem--it seems to be a sync problem).