Running out of date too quickly - why?

alabastron

I’ve received a text telling me that I’ve used over 80% my my data allowance, although it is less than two weeks since my current goodybag started. The same thing happened last month. It has never happened before: I use very little data, and usually have a great deal left over at the end of the month. It must be to do with my phone-perhaps an app running that shouldn’t be, but I don’t know what to do about it. I hope someone can suggest something to help. Thank you.

natty88

alabastron sounding like software updates check all apps and software updates are set to update via Wi-Fi only keep all apps of that your not using and switch of Wi-Fi assist if have it

clikasarus

alabastron

Welcome to giffgaff and the community

you may have background apps running without you knowing here are two guides I have found online to assist you in your problem 1 for ISO and 1 for android here ⬇️

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.iphonehacks.com/2015/10/tips-to-reduce-high-data-usage-on-iphone-ios-9.html/amp?client=safari

Or Here ⬇️

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-apps-background-kill/?amp

You need to set only update apps on wifi

I hope they are of some help for you 👍🏻

muddycalhoun

alabastron Hi, You are probably on the right track, it is most likely a new app that is data hungry always connecting with its home servers or possibly an existing app that is applying some weighty updates.
Whatever the culprit the best course of action for now and the future is to either.
Choose a good data management app to install on your phone, this will allow you to both monitor what apps are using data in the background and also give you control over these internet connections.
Or if you have an Android device you can get a very good idea where your data has been going by going to your settings and into “mobile network” then look through the “app data usage” section if you notice any apps that you don’t use that are clocking up high data usage totals they are probably the culprit and you could either uninstall or block them accessing the internet without gaining consent first (this is what the data managing app does well)
I hope that helps you get to the nub of the problem and you can put a stop to any unnecessary data use.

netfax

alabastron Hi there. There might be an app on your phone using more data than it should? Maybe take a look at this which.co.uk article for details on how to monitor data use on your smartphone.

Also… Apps running in the background and/or updating via mobile data might have used your data balance (on top of your known usage). To prevent this from happening in the future, please make sure that within your Apps Store settings, you select the option for Apps to update using WiFi only. Furthermore, it’s probably best to switch mobile data off when you don’t need it.

Using an iPhone or a phone that has a ‘WiFi Assist’ feature? If you are using an iPhone or a phone that has a ‘WiFi Assist’ feature, please switch off the Wi-Fi Assist feature, as this uses a Wi-Fi/Mobile Data combination to increase data speeds, even if mobile data is switched off. If you are using an iPhone, please see the official Apple instructions for full details on how to switch WiFi Assist off.

However… If none of the above apply to you and you believe that your data balance is incorrect, please raise an an agent case and they’ll look into this for you. It can take up to 24 hours for a giffgaff agent to reply.

When a giffgaff Agent responds to your enquiry, you will receive your reply within your dashboard’s message section.

Many thanks.

eddiehk6

alabastron

If your phone appears to be using lots of data, you will need to work out where it is being used by yourself.

To determine this, investigate the data used per app since the start of your goodybag, for example:

On iPhone: Settings -> Mobile data
On Android: Settings -> Network & Internet -> Data usage
Or install a separate data monitoring app

Once you work out the offending apps, try to configure them so they update less, or over Wi-Fi only. Or even uninstall them if you don’t actually need them.

It’s also worth considering keeping your phone’s mobile data turned off, and only turn it on as and when you need it.

823677

alabastron
Hello and thanks for contacting Help & Support. Your phone could be using data for app updates, Google maps or other apps running in background. To prevent this from happening turn data off in your phone’s settings when not required or set apps to update via WiFi only in Playstore settings. Hope this helps.

sunflower36

alabastron Sounds like you have background data switched on.

niniey2

alabastron try setting the apps which you don’t need to wifi only, also check what apps are using data this may indicate which ones you need to consider. Perhaps a cull of apps maybe in order.

tonyj3

alabastron hiya, turn data off and try and do as much as you can on wifi when out of range of wifi go back to data, make sure you come close any app you was using before you go back to data.

scjon24

clikasarus Found the ‘Data Usage’ app and all the data headings are ‘restricted’ except ’Mobile Data, which appears to be set irrevocably to 35.84kb, and Android OS which is set at 35.09kb.

mrbergstrom1967

Good Morning @alabastron

If you have a smartphone/iphone and the apps or software have been updating, then this can use a lot of data.

he22ie

Go to settings /mobile data and check the app usage. This should tell you what is sucking the life out of your account. If not, check you kill apps at the end of the day and ensure you only update the phone on wifi. I only have mobile data switched on when I needed need it. That gives me full control of how it goes out. This is a good strategy

scjon24

he22ie there’s no ‘settings/mobile data’ heading on the phone.

scjon24

he22ie no ‘Mobile data’ to be found on my phone

scjon24

he22ie found set of graph axes for ‘Android OS’ on my phone for data usage - the date axis shows Jul - Aug and the graph is entirely blank under the ‘mobile data’ heading - there is a facility to enter a mobile usage data limit but that is disabled. there is a numeric on the header of the graph axes diagram that says 35.84 KB

scjon24

eddiehk6 Don’t have network and internet -> data usage on my phone. cant find any of the headings you have provided

scjon24

sunflower36 and that means?

eddiehk6

scjon24

Are you also trying to work out your own phone’s data usage?

If so, it would help to know which phone you have so more specific advice can be given. However if you have a smartphone it should be built in. You need to search around within the settings to find it

scjon24

scjon24 no ‘app data usage’ or ‘mobile network’ found on any of my settings folder.

scjon24

niniey2

scjon24

eddiehk6 -

eddiehk6 it’s a galaxy GT-19506 S-4

freezing77

scjon24 no ‘app data usage’ or ‘mobile network’ found on any of my settings folder.

what is the make and model of your device?????

eddiehk6

scjon24

The exact instructions will be different for each device, however they will be similar to Apps -> Settings -> Connections -> Data usage

Also see the following guide, click through the sub-sections: https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-check-data-usage-on-my-samsung-galaxy-device/

Keep searching around within your phone’s settings, it will be there.

freezing77

scjon24 it’s a galaxy GT-19506 S-4

settings, network connections, data usage.

this is on an S4

scjon24

eddiehk6 Went to the website - fell at the first fence - found ‘Data Usage’ heading but it then asks me to go to ‘Billing Cycle’ and there’s nothing on my phone that says that.