Mobile Background Data usage - confused!

JohnB47

I know, from searching, that this sort of issue is widespread but I though I'd just get some help, if possible. My data usage isn't excessive, just confusing.

I have had an EE PAYG contract for years and recently I decided to purchase a Pack (because EE now has decided that I can't simply turn on Mobile Data for a minute or so and just pay for that from my PAYG credit).

So I bought a Talk pack, for £1 a week, which gives me 10Mb data, 100 texts and 200mins.

At the start of the first week, I turned on Mobile Data and found that I'd used up the data in only two days -during most of which I was at home with wifi turned on. So I searched and found that you could limit data use by turning off Background Data in each app (or the ones that will let you do it). So I went through every app on my phone and turned off Background Data.

However, I'm still finding that I'm using up data - without me actually using the phone when out and about. I switch Mobile Data on when I leave the house and turn it off when I return.

I've also downloaded an app called Data Usage, which is very good and shows me what is using the data.

Chrome seems to be a culprit - I used 3.2Mb two days ago, with Mobile Data turned on for the afternoon and without me using the phone at all. I've checked countless times and Chromes Background Data is definitely turned off. Also, Android System uses some, but I can't actually turn off Background Data for that.

Another odd thing - I'm sure Data Usage told me, yesterday, that there was minimum, if any, data usage two days ago and now it's showing the 3.2Mb figure. Why did that suddenly appear?

Can anyone shed any light on this?

I know that 10Mb is a really low data figure in the first place but it would disappear instantly if I actually used Mobile Data.

Thanks.

Browntoa

You don't say what type of phone but must will search for updates to the firmware on the phone and Google play will search for app updates

JohnB47

Thanks. It's a Moto G7 Play. I've turned Background Data off for all of the various Google apps.

Here's an example. Yesterday I turned on Mobile data around midday, while out for the day and off again around 17:30. I didn't use the phone at all in that time.

The Data Usage app says Android System used 669.2 Kb, Outlook used 527.5 Kb, Google used 253.6 Kb, Maps 25.3 Kb and a few more used very small amounts. All of these apps , except for Android System, have Background Data turned off.

This makes no sense to me.

nick74

It seems quite common for smartphones to use tiny amounts of mobile data, even when mobile data is technically turned off.
One solution is to hobble the APN settings, or set up a 'dummy' APN with settings that don't actually work, so that the phone physically has no way of connecting to mobile data any more. Obviously if you then decide you need mobile data you will need to change these settings back to get a data connection.

flaneurs_lobster

nick74 said:

It seems quite common for smartphones to use tiny amounts of mobile data, even when mobile data is technically turned off.
One solution is to hobble the APN settings, or set up a 'dummy' APN with settings that don't actually work, so that the phone physically has no way of connecting to mobile data any more. Obviously if you then decide you need mobile data you will need to change these settings back to get a data connection.

Easier to stick the sim in a £15 "feature" (no mobile data) phone, and use the smartphone as a wifi-only small-screen tablet.

nick74

gavinbaxter said:

nick74 said:

It seems quite common for smartphones to use tiny amounts of mobile data, even when mobile data is technically turned off.
One solution is to hobble the APN settings, or set up a 'dummy' APN with settings that don't actually work, so that the phone physically has no way of connecting to mobile data any more. Obviously if you then decide you need mobile data you will need to change these settings back to get a data connection.

Easier to stick the sim in a £15 "feature" (no mobile data) phone, and use the smartphone as a wifi-only small-screen tablet.

That's certainly an alternative, although I'm not convinced that buying an additional device instead of just changing a setting on the one you already have is 'easier'!

Deleting the APN wouldn't stop it working for basic calls and texts, or stop it connecting to wifi, so no real need to use a second phone?

flaneurs_lobster

Good point, well made. 

Rodders53

£1 a week pack = £4 a month.  Lebara do a sim with 1GB and 300 minutes for that sum (via vodafone).

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

For another £1 you can get a decent data and unlimited calls from other networks/mvnos.
EE has 250Mb, 200 min and 500 texts for a £5 - but that's poor vfm.

If you need EE coverage as other networks are poor, their mvnos would cost from £6 - e.g. Plusnet for a decent amount of data.

JohnB47

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

flaneurs_lobster

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

How about free? https://rwgmobile.wales/rates/

tinker411

JohnB47 said:

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm stuck with the current situation then - paying for data I'm not using. Perhaps I need to see if I can change to a better pack - there's no way I will use 100 texts or 200 mins of talk time in a week anyway.

Can you not turn mobile data off full stop when not using it?

Here's an online guide as to how on a Moto (for G7 plus granted, but as I recall it was a similar process on my old G5 so shouldn't be too different):

https://deviceguides.vodafone.co.uk/motorola/moto-g7-plus-android-9-0/connectivity/turn-mobile-data-on-or-off/