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Q: iPhone data usage System Services Time and Location

Ever since last month, the data use under System Services -> Time and Location has increased "dramatically". It's pretty consistently half of my data use, whatever I do. I haven't added any new apps or use the phone differently than I have in previous months.

 

I use one tracking app, Human, but even if I turn mobile data off for it, data use under Time and Location continues to be half of my mobile data.

 

How do I start trouble shooting? I've read threads here and deactivated mobile data and background updating and syncing for most things. This has decreased data use, of course, but time and location still continues to be half of my data.

 

I'm on a 1GB plan, which used to be plenty, now I get close to maxxing it out when I'm not careful.

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 7, 2016 1:45 AM

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Q: iPhone data usage System Services Time and Location

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  • by stuckboss,Solvedanswer

    stuckboss stuckboss Jun 8, 2016 10:29 AM in response to branches
    Community Specialists
    Jun 8, 2016 10:29 AM in response to branches

    Hi branches,

    Thanks for checking out the Apple Support Communities and for the detailed information of what's happening with your Time and Location data. I can understand wanting to make sure you're able to easily manage your data usage and wanting to know what app is causing that additional usage. 

    Since you've already completed those steps, I recommend to turn off the Location Services for all of your apps, then turning them back on one or two at a time, as needed, to help determine which apps might be using your location. You can disable Location for both apps and system services with these steps. 

    Turn Location Services on or off. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. You can turn it off for some or for all apps and services. If you turn off Location Services, you’re asked to turn it on again the next time an app or service tries to use it.

    Turn Location Services off for system services. Several system services, such as compass calibration and location-based ads, use Location Services. To see their status, turn them on or off, or show the Location Services icon in the status bar when these services use your location, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services.

    You can find the steps listed above in the iPhone user guide.

    Privacy - iPhone

    You can also find additional information about your Privacy and Location settings in this article. 

    About privacy and Location Services - Apple Support

    Cheers!

  • by branches,

    branches branches Jun 10, 2016 1:12 AM in response to stuckboss
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 10, 2016 1:12 AM in response to stuckboss

    Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed reply.

     

    I turned everything off and am slowly turning things on again. Yesterday I thought Motion Calibration was the culprit. It was one of the two things still turned on when I initially checked under Location Services (so I must have been there before) and with it turned off, hardly any data registered under Time & Location. However this morning, 20mb were used under Time & Location without me actively using the phone at all so I'll have to go back to testing.

  • by branches,

    branches branches Jun 12, 2016 1:52 AM in response to branches
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 12, 2016 1:52 AM in response to branches

    Yep, it's Human. Weird, because I've been using it for a while and it never did anything like this. Contacted their support.

  • by Starr.C,

    Starr.C Starr.C Jun 13, 2016 7:10 AM in response to branches
    Community Specialists
    Jun 13, 2016 7:10 AM in response to branches

    Hi branches,

     

    I'm glad you were able to find the culprit behind your location and data activity!  You're on the right track by reaching out to the app developer for assistance with that app. Be sure to check out the Apple Support Communities in the future if you ever need any assistance.

     

    Cheers!