Oddly high data usage today

[JJP2]

My unlimited data plan renewed today. 

I live alone, slept in till 09.00, cooked breakfast, and have been catching up on the general news and sports news on TV.

Not used my phone much at all so far today. Yet somehow, just before 12 midday, I have apparently used 1.1 GB of data ! 🧐

I currently have my phone locked on to 4G connectivity too, so not using 5G either. 

Now, because I have an unlimited data plan, the amount of data I use isn’t going to hit me in the pocket, but, having recently read a few posts from people saying they have experienced higher than their usual data usage after moving to Smarty, my findings re my data usage this morning have gotten me thinking as to whether Smarty users are somehow using more data, or whether it’s being over estimated.

 

[MSF]

@JJP2  Any updates on apps or the system itself or any backups?

[JJP2]

No, updated to the latest version of iOS , namely 16.6, a while ago, and no app updates, not so far today, anyway.

[MSF]

@JJP2 Is it an iPhone perhaps doing back-ups? Do you have photos backing up to something like Amazon Drive or iCloud?

[WelshPaul]

Turn off background app refresh and background data for apps. It will tell you within iOS Mobile Data what’s using what.

There is other activities such as iCloud syncing and backups. 

[jassingh]

@JJP2 not sure if this possible on iOS but you can get data accounting apps (My Data Manager etc) to see where this data drain is coming from. I use GlassWire on my Android to keep an eye on every KB of 'phantom' data coming out 😁 .. though since you have unlimited I guess its not a worry. 

I was going to ask if maybe you were seeing this despite being connected to Wifi (some phones retain the mobile data connection despite Wifi enabled which can also use up data allowances (at least in the case of Android it is fast network switching, not sure how it works on iOS but could be something similar). 

Re. Three customers using more data - I have read this in a few articles actually though I believe in some cases the 'opposite' is happening - people used like 20-30GB and then WFH happened and now use 2GB etc. However Ofcom's study suggests that the average Three customer used 21.5GB of data per month (in 2022) compared to 19.5GB for EE, 18.5GB for Vodafone and 17.5GB for O2. Maybe cos of:
- Generous data allowances
- Three has a strong focus on 4G and 5G coverage
- Relatively young network (like EE) and so customer base more likely to be made up of heavier data users

[Michael_T]

@JJP2 I had a similar experience the first month I was using SMARTY, but everything settled down the second month.  I’d certainly check that your phone is not backing up in the background using your mobile data…

Settings-> [Click on your name ie  account at the top] -> iCloud -> iCloud backup and make sure the settings is off for backup over mobile data

[Michael_T]

@JJP2  equally, check your apps are not updating over mobile data…Settings->AppStore and make sure the tick isn’t checked for automatic downloads on mobile data

 

[Michael_T]

Experience wise.  I’m on a 4GB plan.  I have data always switched on, and it’s 5G where I live most of the time.  Have social network apps, stream Spotify in the car and on foot with headphones on, send the odd picture and video iMessages out and about.  I utilise Wi-Fi hotspots, and I use on average around 2-3GB per month.

I think it’s a case of how you use your phone when out and about…for example I have Facebook set to not auto play videos when I’m on mobile data…it’s about whether you want everything singing and dancing immediately or whether you wish to be savvy with that data.