Level 1

31 points

iPhone X Excessive Data Usage

I got the iPhone X exactly a week ago. Ever since, I have completely regretted it. All-in-all, the phone is amazing, and I love it... but I have never run into to many issues as I have in the past week with this phone, than I have over the past 5 years that I have owned iPhones.

The phone I had before the X was the 7... I use data once and awhile, but I never go over my data plan which is 4GB per month. The morning after I get the iPhone X, I curiously check my data usage through my cell provider, and I had used almost 1GB. Rogers had stated that I had used almost 1GB of data at 10:34am last Friday (I didn't even have my phone on me as I was in a meeting, and it was connected to WIFI). Ever since, the data usage has been insane on this phone, to the point where I have contacted Apple and they have told me to turn my data usage off so I do not go over my usage. Almost all of my apps have their data usage turned off, I have always had WIFI assist and iCloud drive turned off, as well as background app refresh. It doesn't seem to matter if I am connected to WIFI, the phone seems to still love to eat up the data. Apple has given me no answers, other than the fact that the iPhone X has enhancements that might use cellular data regardless of a wifi connection. But for these enhancements to use so much that I have to actually turn off my data is ridiculous... They haven't been able to give me a more reasonable answer. This phone has become virtually useless to me, the second I turn my cellular back on the feast of data begins. Has anyone else experienced this issue or have any answers? It's sad that this is what it's come to... Apple can't even give me an answer to an issue with their product.

iPhone X, iOS 11.2.1

Posted on Dec 15, 2017 7:43 PM

Top-ranking reply

JRoy1981

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 9, 2018 9:10 AM

My cellular data usage has dropped significantly by disabling iCloud drive and the Photo Library from uploading via cellular data. Now they only upload when connected to WiFi. Problem was I recorded some videos while I was away from a WiFi and it uploaded the videos to the Photo Library over the cellular connection. I checked my data usage after I got an alert from VZ stating I had reached 90% and I saw huge data usage the same times I was recording videos.

There may be some other oddities like Safari using 50MB to do a search, but I haven't noticed that yet. For the first time since getting the iPhone X, I now have extra data to rollover into next month's usage.

View in context

87 replies

Dec 21, 2017 11:20 AM in response to sammergee

I've been having this same issue. It started after the recent iOS 11 updates to my iPhone 7. Most of the usage comes from System Services under the "Apple ID Services" heading. It was hundreds of MB a day while still connected to WiFi. I have changed all the cellular settings like you, but Apple told me the same thing. They said it was a known issue and that the guys that made the software update saw it as a feature and not a bug. Their advice was to turn off cellular data but that pretty much prevents the phone from functioning as intended when off WiFi. This is frankly ridiculous that there isn't more of a solid answer from Apple. If their only answer is to upgrade my data plan then I'm ditching my iPhone.

Double check that the update didn't restore your Background App Refresh settings to WiFi + Cellular as it did for me. That was killing some data too.

sammergee Author

Level 1

31 points

Dec 21, 2017 12:11 PM in response to brendbast

I still have apple investigating the issue. They have taken logs of my data usage that I uploaded to them through their site that their engineers are looking in to. There is definitely something going on and apple has admitted to that, since my system services has been eating a lot more data than it should. However, the amount of data my phone burns seems to be on and off now... the past couple days have been fine, but then all of a sudden something in system services will eat up 500MB (usually itunes media services) which apple has also admitted doesn't make sense as I have almost every app turned off in my settings, including anything that would even be related to itunes, such as my music app.

Once they have finished their investigation and get back to me with the cause, I will let you know... hopefully they can get to the bottom of the issue.

madra31

Level 6

9,940 points

Dec 16, 2017 3:06 AM in response to sammergee

Your concern is understandable but there are ways to manage data usage to avoid surprises of an unpleasant nature.

If all your settings are similar to what you had before and your active use of data has not changed much, the fact you have the iPhone X and iOS 11.2.1 would not explain dramatic changes in data usage as recorded by your carrier.

Clearly, something different is happening and you can identify and control it by monitoring what is using your data.

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

There are many useful apps available to monitor data usage and provide timely alerts. By way of caution, however, no app is completely accurate in terms of data usage as measured by the carrier which is the only thing that matters when it comes to billing.

avrilmv

Level 1

4 points

Jan 4, 2018 11:18 PM in response to sammergee

Hi!
have you got any feedback from Apple about your concern?
I am having the same problem on my iPhone X.

Thanks!

JRoy1981

Level 1

4 points

Jan 8, 2018 4:00 PM in response to sammergee

Thank you Sammergee. I will do that.

Jan 16, 2018 6:19 PM in response to sammergee

What did they say when you took it in?

Jan 17, 2018 3:25 PM in response to JRoy1981

wait, photos and vids aren't saved locally anymore? what that mean? all my photos and vids are local. not on iCloud. what is apple doing to us

Feb 12, 2018 3:00 PM in response to Richard Caughlan

Oh, and I turned off Cellular Data completely for 2 days and it STILL used cellular data for Apple ID Services.

Feb 13, 2018 11:00 AM in response to 100404413863

sorry I cannot understand your writing. the problem remains unsolved. any constructive feedback is appreciated.

Mar 11, 2018 3:02 PM in response to AlejandroTurrco

Don't buy any of those apps offered to solve problems, they are all thieves.

lucy2702

Level 1

8 points

Apr 18, 2018 6:38 PM in response to sammergee

Did you get an answer from apple on how to fix the data usage? I’m having the same problem with my iPhone X.

Thx!

Onefaith

Level 1

4 points

May 12, 2018 7:10 PM in response to sammergee

My new Iphone x is using up all my data I just got my new lot of data and within minutes its all gone

Jun 1, 2018 9:24 PM in response to sammergee

I am using iphone 8plus and i noticed that it consumes my data faster than my iphone 6.. what did you do to solve your iphone x data problem?

Jun 25, 2018 3:05 PM in response to sammergee

Hi, I am having a same issue. iPhone X eating data like crazy I turned off all apps data but every 5 to 10 minutes it’s eating 2 to 3 mb data.

Jul 2, 2018 9:56 PM in response to sammergee

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone X Excessive Data Usage