iPhone X EXCESSIVE data usage

Question

Level 1

5 points

iPhone X EXCESSIVE data usage

This is my second IPhone X. The first one burned through 18GB of data in 5days. My plan is 10, with 4 bonus gig, which IVE NEVER EVER FONE OVER...

Just got home from the apple store with my NEW PHONE.

WiFi connected

WiFi assist off.

Fb messenger has used 9.2KB while on WiFi, with WiFi assist OFF. It’s the only app that has eaten data.

In 5 mins system services has used 799kb. In 2 hours it used an additional 3gig. I’m not even on the darn thing. It’s sitting on my counter! Verizon tech working with me is at a loss. Gave me open data to try and work through it. Apple store? They haven’t a clue what to do either. I’ve shut off all non essential apps for cellular. I feel like I’m back using a Motorola Star TAC. This phone is just burning data like it is a tinder box. Tech support? I’ve been on the phone with them every night this week. All say the same:

Network setting reset

Erase, reformat, back up from iCloud

Erase, reformat, use as new phone.

All ends up burning data. Apple, I expected more. Really. when I buy apple, I expect it to work WITH OUT issue. Someone is rolling in his grave.

Anyone have any solutions since the Apple is completely unaware there is an issue here? Even a simple google search shows that it’s not just me!

Posted on Dec 7, 2017 6:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

bam7722 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 7, 2017 8:55 PM in response to askbarnabas

Maybe I am not being clear so let me try to explain as best I can.

My carrier is Verizon. For $x.xx per month I get unlimited talk, and 14gig of data to surf the net, use apps, etc while I’m not connected to WiFi.

My phone, used 18gig of data in 4 days. 99% of the usage was from “cellular services” and not from using apps like Facebook, or fb messenger.

Cellular data needs to be turned on to use apps like wayze and such while driving and not connected to WiFi.

The issue is that my phone ran through my ENTIRE cellular data plan, all 14gig of data plus more in 4 days. My normal usual usage is 4 gig of or less of my data plan!

So IPhone X is burning my data. Is that more clear?

Verizon tech said that this is pretty shocking at the rate that X is eating data considering in the last 12 months I used 42 gig of data from my cell plan, and as of this evening I have used about half of my yearly usage.

So in short, when I go over my 14 gig of data from Verizon, I have to pay extra because I have an overusage.... but the tech reversed the fees, because they are trying to see why cellular services is using so much.

Also, WiFi assist is turned off. Cellular data shouldn’t be being used at all, as I am home, connected to WiFi, to use the internet and such.

In the few mins I have been typing this, cellular data has gone from 804kb to 1.5mb while connected to WiFi via router in my home.

Reply

Answer 2

bam7722 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 8, 2017 5:00 AM in response to sberman

Sorry if I am coming across as less than thankful for all responses. Absolutely NOT my intention.

I have roaming on because I often travel outside the US. I can shut it off, these are the settings that my iPhone 7plus had.

As of this am, the phone has used 3.2g of cellular data, while connected to WiFi.

I’ll shut Roaming off to see if it helps. Messenger is the only app using cell data while connected to WiFi at this time but admittedly, this phone has been sitting on the nightstand finishing installing from ICloud....

Reply

Answer 3

bam7722 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 16, 2017 1:50 PM in response to sammergee

So,

I haven’t reset my data at all since getting the new phone. Apple store swapped it out. Funny, the last 3 of my iCloud backups were some how corrupted. I got the new phone and I restored it from a back up from over a month ago. No More data issues that I know of. System services still eats a bunch of data....

Reply

Answer 4

sberman

Level 10

268,371 points

Dec 7, 2017 10:26 PM in response to bam7722

Is there a special reason why you have set:

Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options = "Roaming On"?

I have used iPhones for many years, and have never done that anywhere within the U.S. I suggest turning it to "Roaming Off" - unless you happen to travel internationally frequently and are fully aware of the consequences of your action.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201643

Reply

Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

268,371 points

Dec 8, 2017 12:39 PM in response to bam7722

Yes, please report back how you did with cellular use during your trip.

Here's one other thought - from the "Get Help" section of this article:

Check the cellular data usage on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support

Do you happen to be using an Exchange ActiveSync account? If so, that might explain ...

Reply

Answer 6

Jan 29, 2018 1:37 PM in response to sberman

Eric,

Here’s one of the discussion pages regarding this cell data issue in case you want to get up to speed on this.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8191005?answerId=32685518022#32685518022

Richard C.

Mobile: ***

Home: ***

Sent from mobile device.

Reply

Answer 7

sberman

Level 10

268,371 points

Dec 7, 2017 8:36 PM in response to bam7722

Especially given your response to welafever above, I don't understand your issue.

Your WiFi plan is not limited.
Your cellular data has a huge capacity.
You are concerned about a few megabytes of use per hour.
Why?

Reply

Answer 8

askbarnabas

Level 10

103,953 points

Dec 7, 2017 8:31 PM in response to bam7722

Is your wifi data limited or your cellular? you need to use wifi to prevent data from being used up. My wifi is connected to my internet service provider so there is no limit. cellular is 6gb limit for data.

Reply

Answer 9

bam7722 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 7, 2017 8:31 PM in response to askbarnabas

And the issue seams to be that system services is using cellular data, even WHILE I am connected to WiFi, with Assist off. It used 9more kB of cellular data while plugged in sitting on the counter with zero apps running.

Why is it using CELLULAR DATA, when I’m connected to WiFi with ASSIST clearly off ?

Reply

Answer 10

askbarnabas

Level 10

103,953 points

Dec 7, 2017 9:04 PM in response to bam7722

No, I read that, I was just trying to understand what is going on and to try and help. I know you are frustrated but there is something happening. I am going to let someone with more experience try to help you.

Reply

Answer 11

Dec 15, 2017 6:31 PM in response to bam7722

I have been having the exact same issue with my iPhone X. The amount of data it has been chewing through is INSANE. I had an iPhone 7 previously and never experienced this issue.. Even when I am connected to wifi it is eating through data. I won't even be using the phone and it will chew through 1GB of cellular within a minute WHILE connected to wifi! I have backed up my iPhone X to the exact settings as my old iPhone. I have contacted apple numerous times and they state "there are enhancements on the iPhone x that connects to more apple services than the iPhone 7". There is no way that these "enhancements" should be causing me to go over my monthly data usage within a few days. And if for some reason it is because of these enhancements, what is the point in even having this phone? I have to keep my cellular turned off so I can't even use the "cool" features that this phone has to offer.

Apple has not been able to figure out what is causing the excessive usage, and neither has my phone provider (ROGERS).

Did you by chance figure out what is causing this? It is driving me crazy. I don't even want the phone anymore!

Reply

Answer 12

Dec 15, 2017 7:03 PM in response to Abob

I have owned an iPhone for years, but then the day I switch to the iPhone X my data usage goes haywire.. nothing has changed other than the phone I am using.... I've never gone over my data usage. This phone has been using more data in a minute while connected to wifi with wifi assist off, than I was able to use in an entire month with my iPhone 7. It just doesn't make sense to me. Apple told me to "turn off my cellular data" to solve the problem. I don't understand why cellular data is being used why I am connected to wifi, and while most of my apps are turned off for cellular data.

Reply

Answer 13

Dec 16, 2017 5:16 PM in response to bam7722

I find that very interesting... the issues you had with your phone are basically identical to the issues I have been having. When I got the phone I tried to restore my backup from iCloud but the backup was corrupted as well. Once I finally restored the backup to my phone is when I experienced the issues. There must be some kind of bug in the software. I sent some logs to apple this evening so they can track where exactly the data is being used from. Hopefully that helps me.

Reply

Answer 14

bam7722 Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 17, 2017 6:50 PM in response to sammergee

I wouldn’t wait. Take it to an Apple store, you can show them this thread. The only thing that worked was a new phone. I restored from a back up a month previous. I haven’t had any issues since.

Even with it restarted as a new phone, not using a back up it was burning data.

Reply

Answer 15

Jan 10, 2018 8:43 PM in response to bam7722

The only thing I could recommend would be to disable location services, system services, background apps, and cellular in apps. That would be my temporary solution. Also anyone else post the individual services/apps that are using the data.

Reply