As an advanced user, I've exhausted all advanced and basic troubleshooting steps – network resets, factory resets, toggling various settings and none have resolved the persistent cellular data drain on my iPhone from General. I've asked AI, I've asked Apple, and all I get are these scripted responses to reset network settings, reset the phone to factory, and the usual "disable this and that." None of which have worked. Interestingly, Apple can't/won't say what is actually part of "General".
The root cause of this infuriating data consumption is in the the "General" category within System Cellular Services on iPhone XS Max I've observed since iOS 18.3 or 4.
Out of nowhere, when connected via cellular sometimes even with Wi-Fi enabled (and without Wi-Fi assist, so we can't blame that and other background processes which are disabled), this "General" category inexplicably sucks up significant data, like 112 MB, just like that in seconds. when there has not been more than 5-10 MB of data used for the date via apps. This happened today when I was out and I turned on my phone at home with Wi-Fi enabled. I reset my "statistics" to zero. There was no issue with General. I was disconnected from Wi-Fi and accessed Gasbuddy briefly and the stats show around 3 MB consumed. General only had no usage at all
Additionally, if you notice the pic I uploaded it's showing other System services working in the background despite disabling background and the phone in power save mode. There is absolutely no need to access cellular for most of these services and I don't have a corporate account.
Most people probably don't realize this issue (assuming they have it) because the option is disabled by default under Cellular > Enable Cellular Usage Statistics. For the curious, I urge you to enable that and see if you, too, experience a major drain under "General."
I've meticulously gone through every cellular option, toggling off all system services for cellular whenever possible, but this "General" usage persists.
I know some might suggest getting an "unlimited" data plan, but that's simply not a solution, especially if you're traveling and have a strict data limit with a foreign SIM or eSIM. This issue is very new, and I'm merely posting about it for archival purposes, hoping to shed light on a genuine problem. Apple won't say what "General" is, but it's clearly a massive data consumer, that much I'm certain.
It goes without say, it's incredibly frustrating to be met with the same generic, scripted responses that fail to address the core problem. These type of response is pretty much gaslighting and deflection. Anyways, I am posting for archival/reference purposes only for others to know they're not alone.
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The root cause of this infuriating data consumption is in the the "General" category within System Cellular Services on iPhone XS Max I've observed since iOS 18.3 or 4.
Out of nowhere, when connected via cellular sometimes even with Wi-Fi enabled (and without Wi-Fi assist, so we can't blame that and other background processes which are disabled), this "General" category inexplicably sucks up significant data, like 112 MB, just like that in seconds. when there has not been more than 5-10 MB of data used for the date via apps. This happened today when I was out and I turned on my phone at home with Wi-Fi enabled. I reset my "statistics" to zero. There was no issue with General. I was disconnected from Wi-Fi and accessed Gasbuddy briefly and the stats show around 3 MB consumed. General only had no usage at all
Additionally, if you notice the pic I uploaded it's showing other System services working in the background despite disabling background and the phone in power save mode. There is absolutely no need to access cellular for most of these services and I don't have a corporate account.
Most people probably don't realize this issue (assuming they have it) because the option is disabled by default under Cellular > Enable Cellular Usage Statistics. For the curious, I urge you to enable that and see if you, too, experience a major drain under "General."
I've meticulously gone through every cellular option, toggling off all system services for cellular whenever possible, but this "General" usage persists.
I know some might suggest getting an "unlimited" data plan, but that's simply not a solution, especially if you're traveling and have a strict data limit with a foreign SIM or eSIM. This issue is very new, and I'm merely posting about it for archival purposes, hoping to shed light on a genuine problem. Apple won't say what "General" is, but it's clearly a massive data consumer, that much I'm certain.
It goes without say, it's incredibly frustrating to be met with the same generic, scripted responses that fail to address the core problem. These type of response is pretty much gaslighting and deflection. Anyways, I am posting for archival/reference purposes only for others to know they're not alone.
