A quick question about data usage :

[Cole25]

I have an iPhone 15 plus with a $22/mo non data public mobile plan that includes picture messaging. I understand that to send pictures you must turn on the cellular data but it is strictly limited to picture messaging and the reason I am confused is because on my phone it says that other apps like YouTube and Safari are accessing data. I don’t understand why this is happening because the data is limited to picture messaging and it doesn’t act like a wifi network that you can browse content on (I tested this). Mind you this is all happening when my phone screen is off and these apps ate up around 700mb of data in only 1-3 days when the data isn’t used for wifi. Any explanation would be appreciated 🙂

Cole

[Cole25]

Thank you for the suggestion but I just switched to public mobile. Plus I don’t really want a yearly plan. I am subscribing to a PM plan with data next month but I like the flexibility of PM because I can basically choose a different plan for any given month and they change usually so I might get a great deal on a plan.

Cole

[BKNS27]

@Cole25 

If you don’t need data. Why don’t you port your number over to the Koodo prepaid plan for $100/year ($8.34/month plus taxes) or the Koodo prepaid plan for $150/year ($12.50/month plus taxes) with 30gb of data/year (2.5gb/month).

You need to pay for the full year plan.

[Cole25]

Oh I just sent a picture and left it on I guess. Thanks for explaining though, it makes more sense to me now. 
Cole 

[slusagm · Accepted solution]

Actually, iOS tracks per-app cellular data attempts, not whether those attempts were successful.  So, even if your mobile plan includes 0 MB, apps may still try to:

check for updates, refresh content, send analytics,load notifications, sync in the background

PM could be  blocking  the data, but iOS still logs the attempted usage.

On the other hand, since your plan has no data, why not disable mobile data on the phone?

[Cole25]

Here is my plan 

 

[Cole25]

 

I did reset the data usage at the start of the 30 day cycle but I can attach a screenshot.

[slusagm]

so, you have the $22 voice only plan with no data at all?  First,  I wouldn't worry too much.  Since PM is a prepaid provider, if the plan has no data, there is no chance that your phone has used mobile data at all (other than for MMS, which is included), and you wouldn't need to pay extra at all

But where you see how much data Youtube used?

can you open Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Data), and scroll down to the YouTube app. Then check what it says and send us a screenshot

And I suggest you to Reset your iPhone mobile data tracker and start tracking again:
To reset your iPhone's data usage statistics, open Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Data), and scroll to the bottom to tap Reset Statistics