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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

Oct 2, 2015 7:49 AM in response to HondaFit

HondaFit wrote:


cellular data settings can still be changed even if I select "don't allow" in my restrictions settings so the issue isn't resolved for me


Yeah, well there are separate issues. This thread had a poor description (or Turko didn't grasp the issue that others were having) and most of the discussion has been about a bug described as "cellular data for an app cannot be toggled ON" - without regard to the restrictions. If you go back to the original post and check out the "helpful" comments you'll understand the problem.


I suggest you start a new topic with a clear description of the issue you're seeing. Otherwise you'll perpetually be confused by the people indicating that 9.0.2 fixed the "Cellular data for an app stuck OFF".

Oct 2, 2015 4:57 PM in response to Korrmck

Korrmck wrote:


I Have the same issue even after the 9.0.2 update. I wonder if everyone else who thinks that the issue is resolved, is referring to the same problem.

Being bel to switch off the "find my phone" option under the "cellular data settings" , when the "don't allow changes" feature is set, is a security breach!

It makes for switching your phone easily set to "not trackable" in the event of it being lost or misplaced.

Really? I guess if you don't have a passcode on the phone it does, but if you don't have a passcode you really don't care about security anyway. Besides, in addition to that, here are other ways you can make the phone not trackable, most of which are more effective than turning off cellular data for Find my iPhone:

  • Remove the SIM
  • Wrap the phone in aluminum foil
  • Turn the phone off
  • Use a shoplifter's tote with a Faraday shield lining
  • Drain the battery
  • Put the phone in Airplane mode

So turning off Find my iPhone in Cellular settings is probably the last way any thief would try, and probably would never think of it. Besides, even with cellular data off it can still be tracked by WiFi.

Oct 21, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Turko

Same problem - ever since updating to iOS 9

Cell data usage restriction not working - iPhone 6 - iOS 9.0.2 -

I have cell usage restriction set to NOT allow changes. In the regular Cellular settings on main settings page the various app settings can still be changed - they are NOT greyed out. This is allowing quite a few Apple apps to turn on cellular usage for themselves. Either the latest iOS update (9.0.2) or the one before stated that the update fixed this problem. It did not.

Oct 21, 2015 2:04 PM in response to Chuck5761

The original post is for exactly the same problem HondaFit is having and described. If you read the original post you'll find it says,

TurkoSep 16, 2015 6:03 PM

"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?..."


Following Turko's post, the problem in this thread that people should be posting comments and solutions for is that even with cell usage data restriction set to "don't allow changes", in the Cellular settings (outside of the restrictions settings) changes can still be made to the individual apps settings. They are not greyed out.


Regardless, the bottom line is that Cellular Data Usage permissions settings - whether turning them on, off or restricting them - aren't working properly for many people.

Oct 21, 2015 5:24 PM in response to gudel

iPhone 6 - iOS 9.0.2

I found a solution that worked for my phone here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7284663?answerId=29129027022#29129027022

Look for brenden dv's post - on Oct. 20, 2015 3:49 pm. for the complete question and answer.

The solution:

If it isn't already, set your "Cellular Data Use" restriction to "Don't Allow Changes". Go to the "Cellular" settings (on the main settings page), scroll down, and set the permissions for each individual app (turn them on or off). Scroll back up to the top in that same setting, and turn off the "Cellular Data" toggle button, then turn it back on. ".....the Restriction will then take effect, and the individual app Cellular data toggles will grey out....." (scroll back down to the apps settings to verify). Hope this helps you!

IOS 9 Cellular Data Usage Restrictions not working

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