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sammergee Author

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

brendbast

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Dec 21, 2017 11:20 AM

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.

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87 replies

bjdodi58

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2018 8:05 AM in response to sammergee

Hi to all,

The majority of related comments are talking about cellular data usage, and turning that off, go and using Wifi for everything. What if you have a package from your service provider (as I do, due to temporary adress) with a limited frame (50GB) for Wifi data?

My girlfriend just got an iphone X not long ago, and the data of 50 GB were more than enough till than for both of us for the period of one month. I have an iphone 5s, just cuz I love it. Now, her phone with the same settings as mine had used an excessive amount of data. I am not comparing the usage to mine, I am comparing it to what is maybe considered normal -> 1,5GB for couple of hours besides just browsing is definitely not. And please, lets skip through the "try to turn this and that off" and "monitor your data usage" types of answers, they really dont provide much of a solution to this problem.

Can anyone explain me, why is iphone X (with very same settings) has excessive data usage over other apple devices?

I would much appreciate an exact answer. Thanks a lot

Sep 19, 2018 9:48 AM in response to syarost

On my iPhone SE, iOS 11.4, I went to

Settings:iTunes & App Stores:Automatic Downloads

And turned off Music, Apps, Books & Audiotapes, Updates

Settings:iTunes & App Stores:

Use Cellular Data,

Video Autoplay and

Offload Unused Apps

are also now set to OFF

I now manually update apps and do updates when I’m not on a pay-per-MB connection.

G_N_3

Level 1

4 points

Oct 13, 2018 1:42 AM in response to sammergee

I just got the XS a couple of weeks ago and am having the same issue! I called Apple and they advices to turn various things off and make an appt. Wll I’ve turned everything possible off and the only thing which prevents the excessive data usage is having Cell Data off. Well that’s just ridiculous! I won’t be able to do anything outside of the house and off of WiFi without that on. I’ve been tracking things and have found for me it is all coming from System Services - parts of System Services that can’t be turned off - and it only seems to use this data when I unlock the phone - no other time. I have an appt set, but I see no point in going based on everyone else’s remarks about unhelpful appts. Seriously on the verge of leaving iPhone after having been a loyal iPhone user since its inception. Ugh.

ritz25

Level 1

4 points

Oct 16, 2018 2:58 AM in response to sammergee

This is happening with my new iPhone XS. It’s eating up huge amount of mobile data regardless of wifi. The phone used up 17.6 GB of data when I was in roaming in the span of an hour in the middle of the night when I was sleeping and phone was connected to wifi!! I was handed a bill if $14,000 by my service provider Optus and Apple has no answer till date!! I have gone to the Apple store, to Apple Support and till date they have nothing to say, other than keep the mobile data switched off!! Why have I bought a smart phone then if I can’t use it while travelling???