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IOS 9 Cellular Data Usage Restrictions not working

Hello, I just updated several devices to IOS 9 and I noticed the Cellular Data Usage Restrictions are turned on. However, when I check the Cellular settings I am able to make changes under User Cellular Data for section. This is the same behavior with all upgraded devices I have. Is this a known issue?


Thanks for your help with cap data plan having this feature working is critical for my family plan and devices.

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9

Posted on Sep 16, 2015 6:03 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 17, 2015 8:24 AM

I am having this issue as well for enterprise. After updating a couple supervised devices to iOS 9 the cellular settings are supposed to be restricted from being changed but this it's only half true. In iOS 9.0.0, when you shut off the items that you do not want working over cellular data and changes are not allowed for cellular data, the items that were already shut off at the time the restriction was engaged will stay off, even though they toggle back to green.


For example, let's say you toggled Music to not work over cellular data, then apply the restriction for cellular data changes, you'll still be able to toggle Music back over to work on cellular data so it APPEARS that it is back on, but as soon as you move away from the Cellular menu and come back Music will show as shut off for cellular data.


While this is really great for things that you already have shut off and restricted it's a real problem for things you NEED to have working over cellular data. For example, let's say that the App Store is something that you want to work over cellular data. If it the App Store is shut off after the restriction is applied, it is going to stay off until it is turned back on by the user.


So basically, any apps that you shut off in Cellular Data at the time the restriction to not allow changes was applied will stay OFF, even though the user thinks they toggled it to ON. Any apps that you leave ON in Cellular Data can be turned OFF by the user or turned back ON.


This is a real problem if you need something to stay ON.

319 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 17, 2015 8:24 AM in response to Turko

I am having this issue as well for enterprise. After updating a couple supervised devices to iOS 9 the cellular settings are supposed to be restricted from being changed but this it's only half true. In iOS 9.0.0, when you shut off the items that you do not want working over cellular data and changes are not allowed for cellular data, the items that were already shut off at the time the restriction was engaged will stay off, even though they toggle back to green.


For example, let's say you toggled Music to not work over cellular data, then apply the restriction for cellular data changes, you'll still be able to toggle Music back over to work on cellular data so it APPEARS that it is back on, but as soon as you move away from the Cellular menu and come back Music will show as shut off for cellular data.


While this is really great for things that you already have shut off and restricted it's a real problem for things you NEED to have working over cellular data. For example, let's say that the App Store is something that you want to work over cellular data. If it the App Store is shut off after the restriction is applied, it is going to stay off until it is turned back on by the user.


So basically, any apps that you shut off in Cellular Data at the time the restriction to not allow changes was applied will stay OFF, even though the user thinks they toggled it to ON. Any apps that you leave ON in Cellular Data can be turned OFF by the user or turned back ON.


This is a real problem if you need something to stay ON.

Sep 17, 2015 8:53 AM in response to Turko

In my opinion it's something that needs to be fixed. If you're not concerned with someone's ability to be able to shut off an app that can use cellular data, which would be the case with an end user or parent giving an iPhone to a minor, then it's not an issue.


However, from an enterprise side, this is problem. While there are certain things you want to not work over cellular data (News, Music, Stocks, etc.) there may be other things that always need to work over cellular data (Kronos or AirWatch, for example) without interruption.


A good example would be AirWatch, which we use to manage and track our iOS devices. AirWatch tracks devices, passively, not actively, so the only time that devices would be seen or be able to get commands, messages, new profiling, etc., is if the user is on a wifi network, which may not happen very much if the have a field job. So users being able to shut off cellular data for an app like AirWatch, and other apps that need constant contact, would be major problem.

Sep 17, 2015 8:54 AM in response to Turko

Cellar settings are working fine for me.


Try a forced restart: Simultaneously hold down the Home and On buttons until the device shuts down. Ignore the off slider if it appears. Once shut down is complete, if it doesn't restart on it own, turn the device back on using the On button. In some cases it also helps to double click the Home button and close all apps BEFORE doing the restart.

Sep 17, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Turko

Okay, I have a workaround for this issue. It's something that still needs to be fixed, but it can be overcome.


If you need to apply restrictions to Cellular Data from the Restrictions menu do the following:


1) In Settings>Cellular, set everything that you want to have on and off

2) In Settings>General>Restrictions>Cellular Data Use, make sure "Don't Allow Changes" is checked off, then back out that menu

3) Go back to Settings>Cellular, then toggle Cellular Data to OFF, wait a few seconds, then toggle Cellular Data back to ON


This will take away the ability to change the Cellular Data Settings either way, on or off, with "Don't Allow Changes" applied to Cellular Data Use in Restrictions.


I tested this on an iPhone 4s, an iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s, and an iPhone 6 with the same results.

Sep 19, 2015 10:02 AM in response to tinnyyxtinee

I am as well having issues connecting to the internet...what is so weird is I can still make my iphone 5s a "hotspot" and connect my ipad to my phone but I cannot connect to the internet using my iphone to the data....it is so aggravating and I am trying to restore my phone back to a few days ago and iTunes keeps hollering at me that I need to free up more space to install and I have freed up over 8GB of space and it still wont let me! This is so frustrating! Please let me know of a fix! I sure hope apple gets one out soon I am beyond mad!!!! - Julie

Sep 20, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Turko

Here is info that might help identifying the coding defugalty with restrictions.

NOTE. THIS GOES BEYOND CELLULAR RESTRICTIONS


Bob: "Honey, help! iOS 9 messed me up" I asked Siri to set my timer for twenty minutes. She called an old contact I'd not talked to for years.

Bob: I asked Siri "Who am I?"

SIri: "You must enable FaceTime"

Bob: "Honey, how do I enable FaceTime?"

Patti: (aka, 'Honey') "Go to Settings / FaceTime"

Bob: "Its not there"

Patti: "There's a section that begins with, 'Mail, Contacts, Calendars. FaceTime is between 'Messages' and 'Maps'"

Bob: "Nope; not there"

Patti: "Send me a screen print. Swipe up"

Bob: "Camera icon isn't there"

Patti: "Insane. "Just for the h*ll of it, make sure 'Restrictions' are off.

Bob: "Okay. They're off."

Patti: "Now power down your phone. and bring it back up."

Bob: "Why?"

Patti: "<Prolonged silence>. Just trust me."

Bob: "Hey! It worked!!"

Sep 20, 2015 1:26 PM in response to Turko

I'm having the same issue. I tried a hardwired restore via iTunes. The issue persists.


For clarification: my/our issue is with the cellular data app toggle switches. For example, when a user turns a switch "on" from an "off" position, the setting is not respected by the system. The switch will appear to change to "on", but if you try to use the affected app, it won't permit cellular data to go through. Then, if you go back and check the cellular data app switches in the Settings app, you can see that the switch has reverted back to its previous position, in this case "off".

IOS 9 Cellular Data Usage Restrictions not working

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