Mystery data usage

[Lgiesbrecht3]

I keep getting text notifications that my data is nearly used up. When I go to my account page, it shows up as web under data usage. My data has never been turned on, nor has my phone been turned off/on. The time of day that it shows data usage have been times when I'm sleeping and not using my phone. With my data constantly turned off, how is there data usage on my phone? 

[Jb456]

@Lgiesbrecht3   the other thing pointed out by @dude65 .

What kind of do you have you have? Android or iPhone?

Do you use iMessage or RCS? To text and send pictures? That doesn't use the traditional system it uses wifi or data.

Also another thing. You should also check your sync settings. Example you take a picture of something funny then your phone syncs it to your cloud if that setting is on. So it's on your phone and in your cloud if you delete it from phone. That would use data also if not around a wifi network.

Also alot of other sync options.

There's so many things. The only way to lock it all down is to find some time and go through each setting on your phone one by one.  Then do the same through each app.

I'm on 250MB as well. I've fixed all the settings on my phone so that it will never use data unless I initiated it. Not even a 1 mb discrepancy.

Take the time to go through everything on your phone and if you are using iMessage or RCS. Turn them off (I know the fancy .... ..... When people are typing and the other neat features it comes with) is fun but it does not use the traditional text system.

[dude65]

@Lgiesbrecht3 ... do you send picture/video texts?

[Anonymous]

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@Lgiesbrecht3 wrote:

The data history I was referring to was also under the view my usage tab. I work nights and sleep during the day so it's strange that the usage would be in the afternoon. My data is definitely ALWAYS turned off as I ONLY use wifi. I only have the 250mbs that came with the plan. 

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The usage details are not sync'd with proper time and nor do they list immediately.

Find the failover options and turn it off. Jb456 gave you the Android ways.

[Lgiesbrecht3]

The data history I was referring to was also under the view my usage tab. I work nights and sleep during the day so it's strange that the usage would be in the afternoon. My data is definitely ALWAYS turned off as I ONLY use wifi. I only have the 250mbs that came with the plan. 

[Triguy]

Make sure to disable auto updates for apps and social media.  

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/ns/get-help/articles/managing-your-data-usage

[Jb456]

@Lgiesbrecht3  we don't even know your phone. You can go through all your settings to find each different setting on your phone. You can use Google and search "How to do xxxx on this type of phone".

[Lgiesbrecht3]

How do I turn off the failover options and set the updates to only occur over wifi?

[Jb456]

@Lgiesbrecht3 

Note. All times are Eastern Standard Time. Incase you're in another timezone.

WiFi + or Wi-Fi Assist. Turn it off.

In developer options. Look for Mobile Data Always On. Turn that off.

  

Go through each app you have on your phone. Set which ones to use only wi-fi or only data or both.

Turn off background data for apps.

Go in playstore (if android) or iPhone app store and set to update stuff only on wifi.

Go into system settings and also set settings to only update on wifi.

If you use Google maps. Download "Offline Maps" then set it to use Wi-Fi only. FYI you just won't get real time traffic doing it this way. Everything else remains the same.

[Dunkman]

@Lgiesbrecht3 

Which plan do you have?  The $15 plan with 250 mb data?  The data tracker is usually fairly accurate.  It is easier to use up 250 mb data.    

Might be some background phone process that is happening overnight.  Double check your phone settings to see if you are allowing some background process to happen with your phone.  

[HALIMACS]

Hi @Lgiesbrecht3 

Data updates on PM's usage history usually as the last line entry before the start of the next day for any data used within the past day.

That is why it's populating that history while you're asleep - even if phone is off.

Now as to why you're even consuming data if in fact your Mobile Data is switched off, that's another matter.   Are you claiming you NEVER use data and your data is ALWAYS off at the phone.   Or is it possible it's sometimes on during the day?

[EDIT:   Just for clairy, @Lgiesbrecht3 , the data consumption showing under the landing page for your self-serve IS very much real-time consumption as @Anonymous points out.   The data history I'm referring to above is under the View My Usage tab, which also contains phone & text history.]

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

 @Lgiesbrecht3 : Android and iOS have ways to failover to cell data when wifi is weak or out of range. The overview page counter is the thing to trust.

Turn off the failover options and set OS and app updates to only do so when on wifi.

Edit: I rarely use data on my main account. Yesterday mid-afternoon I was fiddling with MMS. The MMS line items and the data usage had no time relation to when that was going on. Not even PT/ET. I generally don't bother even looking at the usage details.