samsung galaxy s4 excessive data usage

Legacy_user

Hi, I'm on o2 and have recently upgraded my phone. I used to have a htc one x with 500mb of data per month. I now have a Samsung galaxy s4 and 750mb of data and am continuously going over my allowance when I never did before with lower data allowance on my old phone. I can not understand why and o2 have not been able to help me either.

I haven't changed my habits such as browsing more which would account for the extra use. I've done the usual stuff such as turning of updates when not connected to wifi etc

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

DUTR

Check change the data settings, things like auto sync should be off.

MataNui

Have you checked your settings to see what apps are using data. In settings there should be an item called 'Data Usage'. It will give you a breakdown of usage by application. Its normally very accurate. If you cant identify what is causing the issue from there or it is very different from your bill then its either billing error, faulty phone/phone software or a malicious application.

JJ_Egan

Standard reply is auto updates in the background and syncing .

Malicious app unlikely but use Avast to test .

MataNui

auto sync handles email (headers only), online documents and small stuff like that. Unless you get 10s of thousands of emails, are on social media etc 24/7, editing documents with huge image files your talking 10s of megs not several hundred. Yes its the standard response but its very unlikely. It could be application updates BUT - the average size of an android application is about 40mb so unless you have quite a lot of apps updating your not going to use that much plus the default is to update on wifi only (but you need to check in settings that it is). Also the user would be aware of updates as they always appear in the notification area.

I would check to see if the 'data usage' in settings reports anything unusual. Make sure applications are set to update on wifi only and probably turn mobile data off until you actually need to use it. Samsung install so much crapware on phones its near impossible to know what all those apps are doing. Also dont forget that most games/free apps are downloading adverts and junk in the background. At the end of the day 750mb usage over a month is very average if you have 3g.

System

thanks for your reply guys. My apps only ever update when its connected the the wi fi. Most of my apps I have disabled background data use. I did have auto sync off but have turned it back on seeing as it only uses a small amount. I dont really want to have to keep turning data on and off when i get to use it i cam imagine what will become a pain. I have installed avast as recommended and see if that makes a difference.

forgotmyname

apps maybe wifi only but what about system updates and the samsung app store?

As already mentioned check the data usage and see what app downloaded how much on what day.

Settings / Data Usage scroll down...

You can even set a limit.

JJ_Egan

michael0fowler wrote: »

thanks for your reply guys. My apps only ever update when its connected the the wi fi. Most of my apps I have disabled background data use. I did have auto sync off but have turned it back on seeing as it only uses a small amount. I dont really want to have to keep turning data on and off when i get to use it i cam imagine what will become a pain. I have installed avast as recommended and see if that makes a difference.

Me WiFi is usually off and Mobile Data is always off .
Switched on when required takes seconds .

Updates are always over WiFi hence last six months Mobile Data bill 0 pence .But then again i dont have loads of fake friends on face book to keep up with .

System

sorted, I was on o2 refresh so cancelled my contract and got a pay as you go sim with unlimited data for £12 a month.

Thanks for your help guys I really appreciate it