topic Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on in Get Support

Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

on2wheels — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 20:57:04 GMT

Edit: 2021-12-22 This issue appears to be fixed since the November or October Android 12 security patch. My 4a no longer has this bug.

Make sure you're on the latest update of android 11 as of october 28th.

April 2021 edit: Still happening as of April 21 2021, on most current security patch.

1. disable mobile data

2. disable wifi

3. verify and ensure that data is in fact off by testing internet access

4. verify the "send & receive MMS messages when data is off" function is turned on in the public mobile network settings.

4.5 verify that RCS chat features are turned off in google messenges and has been off for at least a few minutes. restart messenges app possibly as well (this may not matter, i don't use that feature at all)

5. send an MMS message to a contact (or your own number) using google messages

6. verify that data has been turned back on by trying an app or browser but all data settings remain the same: turned off.

This is exactly what happened to me today. I believe the "MMS messages send & receive..." function is what controls mobile data being turned on again.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

kb_mv — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:46:23 GMT

@on2wheels I may be wrong but I believe unless the person you are sending the MMS to is also using the new Google Messenger (which can use RCS similar to iMessage) that it has to use data to do, hence it turning the data on. Not having the ability to upgrade that high in Android though means take this with a grain of salt.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

on2wheels — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:48:01 GMT

I added a step to verify RCS is off, thanks for the reminder.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

kb_mv — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:49:31 GMT

@on2wheels If you aren't using RCS, data has to be turned on to send and receive MMS messages.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:01:29 GMT

@on2wheels wrote:
I added a step to verify RCS is off, thanks for the reminder.

In an earlier thread you said you can't get ANY internet to work if that "nice" setting is off and you turn on other internet connections. Is this correct? Or did I mis-read?

I would certainly be talking to Google to fix this peculiar bug. But if they can't repeat it and nobody else here repeats it then you're an outlier unfortunately.

But it's not Public Mobile if that's what you might wonder.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

Jb456 — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:45:15 GMT

@on2wheels Go into developer options and turn off "mobile data always active".

I agree with @Anonymous that this should be a topic for Google Pixel and not with PM community support forums.

On another topic from reading people's replies. To clarify things on text and RCS.

Sending SMS/MMS through the traditional method to send an MMS data needs to be turned on (some phones have some type of built in setting that if data is turned off it flips on automatically for a second to send the MMS and turns back off. My old Honor 6x did something like this as I always had data off and was able to send/receive MMS).

When an MMS is sent usage history says "Data Event"..MMS. Which does not count towards your data as MMS are included.

As for RCS this feature has nothing to do with the traditional text messaging system. It's basically like iMessage or messenger where you have chat bubbles, read receipts, when a person is typing you see .... .... While they are typing.

Using RCS runs on wifi or data. So that will use your data and it will likely show as "web" in usage history.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

on2wheels — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 18:20:24 GMT

@Jb456 I do have that setting off in Dev Options.

@Anonymous you misread. I'll have to edit my other post, this thread is the most accurate.

I have sent a bug report to Google. Initially they wanted me to test a different carrier sim, but I've since sent them the instructions from this thread to test on another pixel 4a, and am awaiting their response. I didn't think it was something at PM's end either.

FWIW I've always had RCS off.

I wonder what will happen first: they patch this bug or someone with a 4a sees this thread! 🙂

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:06:53 GMT

@Jb456 wrote:

I agree with @Anonymous that this should be a topic for Google Pixel and not with PM community support forums.

@Jb456

I was actually meaning that it's not likely the "fault" of Public Mobile.

I think it's reasonable for people to come here with questions about the operation of their phones. We're all kinda enthusiasts here in one way or another.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

gpixel — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:43:53 GMT

@on2wheels

open your Google messages, go to settings>advanced and check to see if auto download mms is enabled even though you've disabled it in "mobile network"

when did you purchase the device and how many software updates have you installed since then?

you can factory reset the device and try and see if the bug still persists

if there's a big update and it's more than 500mb, I usually factory reset my phone

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

TE — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 00:43:06 GMT

Hi on2wheels. I have the 4a running Android 11. I tried the selections as you suggested and my results were as follows.

If I turned my wifi and mobile data off then apps could no longer access the internet. Switching the MMS on off had no impact. Switching wifi or Mobile data back on controlled the app access in accordance with my Data Saver Selection. In my case I use the Data Saver Option to prevent large downloads over my mobile data plan. IE: Radio Paradise App on Wifi Only.

This does not seem to align with your results. Not sure what is different. Hope this helps but as someone commented there is no notifications for you to see this.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

on2wheels — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:10:03 GMT

Thanks to anyone who's tried to help out, I appreciate it, really I do. I love the phone plan I have at PM and do not wish to leave.

@TE I'll ask that if you're still interested in testing, could you please perform the steps I've outlined in the first post to the letter. It really is the only way to prove out my theory. You started out correct, then just needed to continue at Step 4. (step 4.5 probably doesn't need to be done).

Since posting this thread I've exchanged the first 4a I had with Google under warranty and the new device performs exactly the same, so my current theory is that it's designed this way and the data connection will remain on for some set period of time until the operating system quietly turns it off, probably when the phone is idle long enough. I've described it to Google and they didn't have a problem exchanging the phone.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

gpixel — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:08:13 GMT

@on2wheels @TE

how's the battery life on that phone? have you tried the astrophotography mode

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

Korth — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:21:00 GMT

@gpixel wrote:
have you tried the astrophotography mode

Sounds neat. But can this astrophoto thing calculate your exact position (or time) by looking at the stars?

A version of it is included in my GrapheneOS build. But since I installed a modded version of this modded OS on a non-Google non-Pixel device (a Cat S61) my stellar photography seems to default on interesting but meaningless thermal imaging, lol.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

gpixel — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:20:47 GMT

@Korth if I'm reading correctly, time, yes, position, no.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

dumplodan — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 03:41:47 GMT

I am having the same issue. As soon as I send or receive an MMS it opens up the tap so to speak and everything uses data full tilt even if you have data shut off for the specific app. I noticed as soon as I sent or received an MMS then whattsapp message would come through. I even had a major system update download as a result overnight. Thankfully I barely use data and I managed. I'm paranoid now that if I ever get an MMS I restart my phone.

I will need to try and reach out to google. It seems like a problem with the phone/OS.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

Korth — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 04:01:01 GMT

@dumplodan

Google Wi-Fi Assistant can override data permissions for other apps. And a variety of Google Services (some obvious, some hidden) concerned with google "telemetry" (spyware) will override certain user data preferences. GrapheneOS is an option.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

gpixel — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 04:02:36 GMT

@dumplodan be careful with what's app. there's a malware spread apparently

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

on2wheels — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:17:43 GMT

Thankyou for testing and confirming dumplodan. I've already started a thread on the official pixel 4a forum, with very few replies and no official response. Their twitter account @madebygoogle has responded but only suggests rebooting the phone. Maybe now with someone else confirming the issue they will take notice. I'ts beyond me why they can't simply pick up a 4a and test it themselves.

Others suggesting workarounds or 3rd party apps might be helpful to some, the issue here is that the phone probably shouldn't operate this way, I'd be surprised if this is how Google intended.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

dumplodan — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 12:55:11 GMT

@gpixel I am trying to transition away from whattsapp, it seems however nobody else wants to do it. I may just have to dump it once their new terms of service goes into play.

@Korth I will have to look into that OS. Thanks for pointing it out.

@on2wheels Can you post or send me a message to that forum post? Might be better if I add to it rather than start a new one.

Re: Pixel 4a users can you help: mobile data turns itself back on

fov90 — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 19:05:13 GMT

Sorry to necro a thread, but I have this same issue with a pixel 3a that I confirmed within the last week.

Basically, if my data gets automatically turned on as a result of the "MMS messages - send & receive when mobile data is off", then I can open up any other apps and use data without limitations even though the UI for my phone still shows that mobile data is off.

From that point, if I toggle on cellular data, and then back off, I can no longer access the mobile data network until I get/receive another MMS, and the whole thing starts over. Phone's fully updated on the latest Android 11 version as of April 21 2021.