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4G mobile data being used even when ALL mobile data setting is off.

My phone provider says that I'm being charged for data internet connections because although ALL menu options relating to Mobile Data are turned off (and there are quite a few). I also verified the mobile connection is off by also turning my WiFi connection off and trying to browse the internet, whereupon a message directs me to Settings to either turn on mobile data or WiFi, as I am not connected to the internet. Yet this service provider insists that by leaving 4G on, even with WiFi AND Mobile Data off, the phone can somehow magically still make internet connections resulting in me being charged for a full day's internet usage. (I'm on a Pay As You Go service).


I read the following on an Android site. Is this true? "You may have mobile data disabled and restricted and yet this switching back and forth from 4G to 3G uses small amounts of data each time." Ie, they are saying that after a voice call, your phone makes a data connection to the service provider, which looks to them like an internet connection, even though Mobile Data is turned off.


Anyone clarify?


Regards


Jon

Posted on Apr 8, 2017 6:48 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 29, 2017 4:12 AM

A bit late, but for thoroughness:


In the end these are all the places you have to turn Mobile Data off:



1. Settings/Mobile Data/Mobile Data > OFF

Mobile Data Options > Voice > 3G not 4G (ISP says 4G makes cell data connection even with everything else Cell Data related OFF!)

Settings/Mobile Data/WiFi Assist > OFF



2. Settings/Apple ID/iTunes & App Stores/Use Mobile Data > OFF

All Automatic downloads > OFF



3. Settings/iTunes & App Stores/Use Mobile Data > OFF

All Automatic downloads > OFF

Music > OFF

Apps > OFF

Books & Audiobooks > OFF

Updates > OFF



4: Settings/Safari/Use Mobile Data > OFF (Scroll to bottom, under Reading List)

(Removed in iOS 11)



5: Settings/Music/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Music/Show Apple Music > OFF

Settings/Music/Genius > OFF

Settings/Music/Home Sharing > Not signed in



6: Settings/TV/Use Mobile Data for Playback > OFF

Settings/TV/Home Sharing > Not signed in



7: Settings/iBooks/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Location > Never

Settings/iBooks/Sync Bookmarks and Notes > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Sync Collections > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Online Content > OFF



8: Settings/Podcasts/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Location > Never

Settings/Podcasts/Background App Refresh > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Sync Podcasts > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Only Download on Wi-Fi > ON

Settings/iBooks/Sync Collections > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Online Content > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Defaults to Manually and OFF



9: Settings/Facebook/Settings/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Location > Never

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Background App Refresh > OFF

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Notifications > OFF

Upload Video HD and Photo HD > both OFF



10: List of individual Apps, under Settings/(List of Apps). Turn off all individually:

Location > Never

Notifications > OFF

Background App Refresh > OFF

Mobile Data > OFF



11. Settings/Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store (top menu)

Settings/Apple ID/iCloud Drive/ > OFF



12. Settings/Apple ID/iCloud Backup > OFF



13. Settings/Mail/Accounts/Fetch New Data > OFF



14: Settings/Photos & Camera/iCloud Photo Library > OFF

Settings/Photos & Camera/My Photo Stream > OFF

Settings/Photos & Camera/iCloud Photo Sharing > OFF



15. Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay > Not activated



16: Settings/iTunes U/Location > Never

Settings/iTunes U/Sync Notes > OFF



17: Settings/Game Center/Nearby Players > OFF



18. Settings/General/Date & Time > updates automatically.



19. Settings/General/Background App Refresh > OFF



20. Settings/Notifications/ > OFF. List of Apps you can turn off Notifications for.



21. Settings/Privacy/Analytics/Share iPhone Analytics > OFF

Settings/Privacy/Analytics/Share iCloud Analytics > OFF



22. Settings/Privacy/Location Services > ON

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/Share My Location > OFF

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/Maps > NEVER

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/System Services/ > List of items to turn off:

Compass Calibration > OFF

Emergency SOS > OFF

Find My iPhone > OFF

HomeKit > OFF

Location-Based Ads > OFF

Location-Based Apple Ads > OFF

Location-Based Suggestions > OFF

Mobile Network Search > OFF

Motion Calibration & Distance > OFF

Setting Time Zone > OFF

Share My Location > OFF

Wi-Fi Networking > OFF

Frequent Locations > OFF

iPhone Analytics > OFF

Popular Near Me > OFF

Routing & Traffic > OFF

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 29, 2017 4:12 AM in response to Jonathan Dear

A bit late, but for thoroughness:


In the end these are all the places you have to turn Mobile Data off:



1. Settings/Mobile Data/Mobile Data > OFF

Mobile Data Options > Voice > 3G not 4G (ISP says 4G makes cell data connection even with everything else Cell Data related OFF!)

Settings/Mobile Data/WiFi Assist > OFF



2. Settings/Apple ID/iTunes & App Stores/Use Mobile Data > OFF

All Automatic downloads > OFF



3. Settings/iTunes & App Stores/Use Mobile Data > OFF

All Automatic downloads > OFF

Music > OFF

Apps > OFF

Books & Audiobooks > OFF

Updates > OFF



4: Settings/Safari/Use Mobile Data > OFF (Scroll to bottom, under Reading List)

(Removed in iOS 11)



5: Settings/Music/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Music/Show Apple Music > OFF

Settings/Music/Genius > OFF

Settings/Music/Home Sharing > Not signed in



6: Settings/TV/Use Mobile Data for Playback > OFF

Settings/TV/Home Sharing > Not signed in



7: Settings/iBooks/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Location > Never

Settings/iBooks/Sync Bookmarks and Notes > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Sync Collections > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Online Content > OFF



8: Settings/Podcasts/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Location > Never

Settings/Podcasts/Background App Refresh > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Sync Podcasts > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Only Download on Wi-Fi > ON

Settings/iBooks/Sync Collections > OFF

Settings/iBooks/Online Content > OFF

Settings/Podcasts/Defaults to Manually and OFF



9: Settings/Facebook/Settings/Mobile Data > OFF

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Location > Never

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Background App Refresh > OFF

Settings/Facebook/Settings/Notifications > OFF

Upload Video HD and Photo HD > both OFF



10: List of individual Apps, under Settings/(List of Apps). Turn off all individually:

Location > Never

Notifications > OFF

Background App Refresh > OFF

Mobile Data > OFF



11. Settings/Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store (top menu)

Settings/Apple ID/iCloud Drive/ > OFF



12. Settings/Apple ID/iCloud Backup > OFF



13. Settings/Mail/Accounts/Fetch New Data > OFF



14: Settings/Photos & Camera/iCloud Photo Library > OFF

Settings/Photos & Camera/My Photo Stream > OFF

Settings/Photos & Camera/iCloud Photo Sharing > OFF



15. Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay > Not activated



16: Settings/iTunes U/Location > Never

Settings/iTunes U/Sync Notes > OFF



17: Settings/Game Center/Nearby Players > OFF



18. Settings/General/Date & Time > updates automatically.



19. Settings/General/Background App Refresh > OFF



20. Settings/Notifications/ > OFF. List of Apps you can turn off Notifications for.



21. Settings/Privacy/Analytics/Share iPhone Analytics > OFF

Settings/Privacy/Analytics/Share iCloud Analytics > OFF



22. Settings/Privacy/Location Services > ON

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/Share My Location > OFF

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/Maps > NEVER

Settings/Privacy/Location Services/System Services/ > List of items to turn off:

Compass Calibration > OFF

Emergency SOS > OFF

Find My iPhone > OFF

HomeKit > OFF

Location-Based Ads > OFF

Location-Based Apple Ads > OFF

Location-Based Suggestions > OFF

Mobile Network Search > OFF

Motion Calibration & Distance > OFF

Setting Time Zone > OFF

Share My Location > OFF

Wi-Fi Networking > OFF

Frequent Locations > OFF

iPhone Analytics > OFF

Popular Near Me > OFF

Routing & Traffic > OFF

4G mobile data being used even when ALL mobile data setting is off.

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