03-10-2021 05:31 PM - edited 01-06-2022 02:16 AM
I have an iPhone 11 and I'm on the $15/m plan with 250MB of data. Over the past few months, my phone occasionally uses a large amount of cellular data that is categorized under "System Services → Documents & Sync". Recently my phone used up my entire monthly data allowance in 1 day from this service.
I want a way to get more specific information on what app or service is using so much data which is assigned to "Documents & Sync". Is this data logged anywhere on my phone? Am I able to get more specific data from Public Mobile if I ask them for logs of cell data request during a specific time period? Is there an app that can log/snitch cellular data requests?
Please note; I have already done all the normal things to limit cellular data usage. I've set my connection to low data mode, I've turned of WiFi assist, I've set background app refresh to Wifi only, I've turned off cellular data for many apps including social media apps and video apps like YouTube. Cellular data for iCloud Drive is off.
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03-14-2021 01:11 PM
Self-Serve usage summaries are the best breakdown any of us outside Public Mobile will ever get without a court order, lol.
If you want finer details then you'll have to log them with software installed on the device itself.
And you may never be able to fully audit or control hidden telemetry, forced syncs/updates, or other embedded data usages without rooting/jailbreaking the device. As usual these days.
03-10-2021 08:31 PM
1. You can do a range of dates search of usage in My Account and you can select on the top bar what usage that you want grouped sequentially.
2. Good on you for minimizing data use on iPhone. I do believe in settings, data that you can find usage by app. That is if you do a reset every month....which I fail to do.
3. Have data off all the time and only turn on to use and back off. I have only gone over once, understandably, on vacation....but otherwise never over 100mb.
03-10-2021 06:57 PM - edited 03-10-2021 07:01 PM
@Gene_Parmesan I also have an iPhone 11 and I'm looking at my Settings/Cellular/Cellular data. Current period (Mar 1 to today, so 10 days) I've used 2.9GB data and of that 1.3GB data is used by "System Services". I'm on wifi and haven't left my house! So where is the data being used? On my phone, most is from Safari, FaceTime and App Store, in that order. Those 3 account for 1.1GB of the 1.3 "System Services" used so far. So look at the particular apps/systems that use lots of data and turn the data off on those, see if that helps conserve. Of course, you can also turn off your cellular data under Settings and rely on Wifi when you are at home and in Wifi range. You just have to remember to turn on Cellular Data when you go out. Also, look at @gpixel reply to you, has good suggestions on how to conserve data on the phone.
03-10-2021 06:29 PM
@Gene_Parmesan follow these instructions please
Disable apps auto update
iTunes & App Stores > Turn Off Use Cellular / Mobile Data
Disable background data
Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Turn it Off entirely or by selective Apps
Disable iCloud sync
Go to Settings > Cellular / Mobile Data > Turn Off iCloud Drive
Disable Wifi Assist
Go to Settings > Cellular / Mobile Data > scroll to bottom > Wi-Fi Assist > turn OFF
Disable data on certain apps
Go to Settings > Cellular > Scroll through and disable applications you don't want to used your Cellular Data
03-10-2021 06:12 PM
Other than looking at your usage history to determine how much data is consumed daily, public mobile would unlikely supply real-time records of data use.
Would likely need to search out an app which might provide that level of detail for you.
03-10-2021 06:07 PM
Here is a thread I found on Apple's website. Hopefully it will help you with the data problem: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8506298
03-10-2021 05:41 PM
@Gene_Parmesan : I would very much doubt Public Mobile would log such details. They're just providing you a conduit to the internet. What you do with it is your business (well...within the T&C's) I would ask Apple. I'm sure someone here would have better ideas. I'm not an Apple guy.