Unusual increased data usage in iPhone 6S iOS 9.3.2

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Level 2

204 points

Unusual increased data usage in iPhone 6S iOS 9.3.2

My usage patterns are fairly predictable from month-to-month, as they have been reflected in my Verizon bill over the last x years. Suddenly, a month or so ago, I started getting near/over limit alerts, which I felt was unusual. I carry a 2GB package, I rarely use that much.

I contacted Verizon, and of course didn't really get very far. So I decided to do some watching of my phone. What I noticed is that it seems to have a problem attaching to and staying on WIFI networks -- that is, WIFI networks that I've been using for *years* that, since I got this iPhone 6S, hasn't had trouble with. I work at a major University campus where literally I was sitting near a WIFI access point and it was still on LTE. I manually attached to the network, no problem. So my data usage climbed likely because the phone isn't routing over WIFI when it would otherwise normally do.

I am running iOS 9.3.2, iPhone 6S. I text, Whatsapp, Facebook. I don't play games, nothing unusual for me and that pattern hasn't changed.

I'm wondering if there is an issue here, or perhaps I have a defective/broken unit. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Thanks.

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.0.1

Posted on Jul 15, 2016 10:08 AM

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Answer 1

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Jul 15, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Bakhtina

I forgot to mention the Verizon rep did say that WIFI Assist always gets re-enabled (thanks Apple) after an iOS upgrade - that seems counter intuitive, however in the above scenario WIFI Assist was (is) disabled.

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Answer 2

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Jul 15, 2016 10:25 AM in response to Bakhtina

No, I did not try that. I will do this Monday when I return to work and test it out. I found this behavior is irregular, too.

But, nothing changed -- that's what I don't understand. Why would my phone suddenly start behaving wonky?

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Answer 3

Bakhtina

Level 3

746 points

Jul 15, 2016 10:34 AM in response to Forrest

To be honest, I don't know.

I felt sick the other day. Maybe it's because of something I ate, maybe it's because of a germ or virus, maybe it was just because I've had a stressful week at work. Either way, I made noodle soup and drank a lot of herbal tea and I felt way better the following morning. I don't know what caused the issue, but it's solved now.

If my iPhone had a bug and I solved it by resetting the network settings, I would just tell myself it must have been some software issue and I wouldn't think much of it. Of course, if the bug came back every week after that, I'd look more into it and I'd probably backup and restore my iPhone. But if the bug didn't come back, I would just forget about it.

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Answer 4

Jul 15, 2016 5:13 PM in response to Forrest

I've found usage taking place overnight, while I am sleeping (you can pull the reports from Verizon). Apparently there are a number of apps that may be working, particularly if you leave them up, while not being used. The iPhone will select the best available connection. When the phone goes to sleep, the Wifi does as well, making cellular the best connection (the only connection). I think it's downright silly wifi goes to sleep and cellular does not but it seems this is the way it is. Anyway - a few things I've learned:

1. shut down apps, particularly those that play video automatically (Instagram, Facebook etc).

2. disable cellular access to any app that you would not need to access while on cellular

3. if you think of it, turn off cellular when on a wifi network or when you go to sleep. Yes, a bit of a pain, but it will insure your data is not being used.

Good luck

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Answer 5

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Aug 2, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Forrest

I disabled some services from utilizing cellular data, including music. After which, some songs on my iPhone will not play, they skip to the next playable file. However, I do not use iCloud for any music; I verified this.

Seems like something wonky is occurring but I can't seem to narrow it down. I'm barely into the month and I already received a 90% utilization warning from Verizon. I am finding that hard to believe.

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Answer 6

Malignance

Level 5

4,511 points

Aug 2, 2016 4:06 PM in response to Forrest

There are two settings that I would check. The first enables the device to check for Wi-Fi networks and the second allows the device to inform you when there is near by Wi-Fi, that is not a know network, that you can join.

Settings > Privacy > Location Sevices > (scroll down) System Services > Wi-Fi Networking

Settings > Wi-Fi > Ask to Join Network

Toogle both settings on and see if that helps.

Mal

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Answer 7

Aug 2, 2016 5:45 PM in response to Forcefour

Forcefour wrote:

I've found usage taking place overnight, while I am sleeping (you can pull the reports from Verizon).

The reports from Verizon do not tell you when the data usage actually occurred; the time stamps on the Verizon site are the times that the network nodes report your cumulative usage for each node to the billing system. That usage could have occurred any time in the previous 24 hours (although most of the time it will be from the previous 6 hours).

To track usage go to Settings/Cellular and take periodic screen shots. Also, note which apps have used data and go after the ones that seem high.

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Answer 8

Forrest Author

Level 2

204 points

Aug 4, 2016 1:45 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I never subscribed my Music to iCloud, that much I can verify.

The "Ask to Join WIFI" was not toggled, but the other was. I toggled it, but I don't know how that will affect this -- it would seem that whilst I was driving, when I listen to music from the phone, this was when it was somehow streaming. At least, when I disabled cellular data access to Music is when I started noticing that half my "stored" music won't play.

Methinks I stumbled upon a bug, as my haven't gone through and deleted a bunch of music either.

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Answer 9

Bakhtina

Level 3

746 points

Jul 15, 2016 10:14 AM in response to Forrest

Can you turn off Wi-Fi Assist (see About Wi-Fi Assist - Apple Support) and see if it helps?

Which number do you see under this option?

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Answer 10

Bakhtina

Level 3

746 points

Jul 15, 2016 10:20 AM in response to Forrest

Have you tried resetting the network settings? You can do so in Settings/General/Reset. NOTE : Your iPhone will forget all your Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, you'll have to set them up again.

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Answer 11

Aug 12, 2016 12:49 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

The window is tighter than this when exporting data to a spreadsheet. I have line items minutes apart.

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