System Services Software Updates Cell Data Usage

Question

Level 1

14 points

System Services Software Updates Cell Data Usage

I have an IPhone 10 with iOS 16.3. 3 times over the last 4 weeks I have encountered cell data usages of over 300mb per occurrence (over 1GB total) under “software updates” under the System Services tab of Cellular in General Settings. Does anyone what is actually being updated and how do I prevent it from being updated by cellular data. I have looked at and turned off or on everything I can maybe think of. I have a minimal data plan and it keeps putting me into over my limit. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

iPhone XR, iOS 16

Posted on Feb 6, 2023 06:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

NinjaMonkey468

Level 1

9 points

Mar 16, 2023 03:43 PM in response to Kenjames2

I’m still having the same issue over the past couple months. iPhone 13, iOS 16.3.1 on the Rogers Network. Around 800MB of data used on software updates this month. Low data mode is on, Automatic updates are off. I just recently turned off automatically install security response & system files toggle. I didn’t see that toggle last month. I’ll see if it makes a difference.

There is also a forum post on Mac Rumors, so is not just a couple people having issues.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/high-usage-of-software-update-over-cellular.2377863/

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 5, 2023 04:25 PM in response to NinjaMonkey468

I have the same problem on my side. Using an iPhone 14 Pro and eSim.

Were you able to solve this somehow?

Reply

Answer 3

Kenjames2 Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 6, 2023 10:20 AM in response to Raicya

Thank you Raicya. I was pretty much aware of the information you gave me

regarding cellular data. I had all the apps

that used data turned off in settings and

low data mode turned on to help prevent

cell data usage. System services software updates are occurring and there is no information provided by the phone as to what specific system services are being updated and why they are being updated using cellular data as opposed to Wifi. Can you please try and provide an actual explanation to what you think might be the cause and how to fix it. I believe I have already combed through all of Apple’s relevant help articles related to cell data usage. Thx

Reply

Answer 4

MDBunnie

Level 1

4 points

Apr 12, 2023 08:16 PM in response to Kenjames2

I’ve had this issue ongoing since at least mid to late 2019. I’ve had multiple tickets open with Apple Support since December 2019 with no resolution to this day. They’ve run logs and diagnostics multiple times and I’m currently waiting on their Engineering team (again). It comes and goes regardless if there was an update to iOS or not. I’ve had multiple iPhone models and it keeps following me. I’ve been told it could be HomeKit related, but nothing definitive. Push notifications get into the GBs (not MBs) worth of cellular data per month even though I limit which apps can send notifications.

I always have it selected to off for cellular use for iCloud Drive, iCloud Drive Backup and Wifi Assist and I get into GBs worth used over cellular on iCloud.

I’ve been working with Apple for the last 3+ years on it, I can’t believe there has been no way for them to figure out the issue seeing the multiple threads of the same/similar issue.

I’m beyond frustrated over this.

Reply

Answer 5

Tomonaga

Level 1

8 points

Mar 7, 2023 09:36 AM in response to Kenjames2

I am having the same problem. Every time I turn on cellular the amount of data goes up very quickly. I just noticed under Settings General that the background app refresh setting was changed from wifi only to wifi and cellular. Check your settings for background app refresh. I don’t have much data left this month but I’ll test this change out tomorrow.

Reply