I am currently on a share everything family plan on verizon with 10Gb and 2GB bonus so total 12GB overall each month we reach up to 9-10GB and have 2-3GB left over. This month I've been using the watch and already we are at 22GB so basically went 10GB over my data plan. Is this a watch problem or might be a verizon problem? Anyone with this similar problem. And it's $15 for 1GB after you pass your limit so my bill will come $150 extra this month. Ridiculous.
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Apple Watch causing Overage data usage?
- Thread starter xRYD3Rx
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I've noticed the same thing on mine. I'm on AT&T 3 GB shared data and after 5 days of having Apple watch, I literally used up 1 GB in 5 days. So I just turned off cellular data and just relying on Wifi.
I will most likely keep cellular data off and only turn it on when I really need it when I'm not in the wifi area.
I will most likely keep cellular data off and only turn it on when I really need it when I'm not in the wifi area.
It hasn't affected my data usage. Amount of data the AW pulls is so minute.
It's not the watch. Check your phones for apps downloading data in the background. Check for newly installed apps or changes you might have made.
Most likely it is a coincidence. It must be some App on you iPhone or more likely another family member has picked up a new behavior/App. If your
Watch was using this much data the battery would likely only last a few hours each day.I live with data-limited WiFi (I live on a mountain, it's ok I knew what I was sacrificing). I get 60gb a month for WiFi and 15gb for my phone.
What that means is that I am a data hawk. I have about a dozen devices which use data and I can check each one individually to make sure nothing will cause an overage. Here is what I know:
1) The Apple Watch does connect to the internet independent of the iPhone while on WiFi, but only uses about 350kb (that's kilobyte, tiny) a month.
2) So, knowing that, I can safely say 99% of the Apple Watch's data usage (WiFi or LTE) goes through the phone.
3) During periods when I don't use my phone for anything, my data usage is very small. Basically, polling for email/iMessages/snapchats etc. Usage during these periods is around 2-3mb per hour or less. This number did not seem to change when I added the Apple Watch three months ago.
4) Rationally, I don't see the Watch adding anything to data usage beyond polling for weather data more frequently. But weather data is very small, probably less than 100kb per check (it's so small I have very little ability to estimate it, and my estimate is based on my smart thermostat's weather checking, not my Apple Watch).
If you went over your data plan by 12gb, I'd say it's a safe bet your watch had nothing to do with it. If you want to be a data hawk with your phone (since you probably have unlimited WiFi you lucky person), try using the battery usage breakdown in Settings. If a rogue app is running through data, it's more than likely eating your battery too. And watch out for the spinning circle next to the LTE/WiFi icon, especially when you don't think you're drawing data. Also be wary of anything which automatically downloads (turn LTE data off for all that stuff), and anything with video applications. You can't go 12gb over without video playing a role somewhere in the equation.
What that means is that I am a data hawk. I have about a dozen devices which use data and I can check each one individually to make sure nothing will cause an overage. Here is what I know:
1) The Apple Watch does connect to the internet independent of the iPhone while on WiFi, but only uses about 350kb (that's kilobyte, tiny) a month.
2) So, knowing that, I can safely say 99% of the Apple Watch's data usage (WiFi or LTE) goes through the phone.
3) During periods when I don't use my phone for anything, my data usage is very small. Basically, polling for email/iMessages/snapchats etc. Usage during these periods is around 2-3mb per hour or less. This number did not seem to change when I added the Apple Watch three months ago.
4) Rationally, I don't see the Watch adding anything to data usage beyond polling for weather data more frequently. But weather data is very small, probably less than 100kb per check (it's so small I have very little ability to estimate it, and my estimate is based on my smart thermostat's weather checking, not my Apple Watch).
If you went over your data plan by 12gb, I'd say it's a safe bet your watch had nothing to do with it. If you want to be a data hawk with your phone (since you probably have unlimited WiFi you lucky person), try using the battery usage breakdown in Settings. If a rogue app is running through data, it's more than likely eating your battery too. And watch out for the spinning circle next to the LTE/WiFi icon, especially when you don't think you're drawing data. Also be wary of anything which automatically downloads (turn LTE data off for all that stuff), and anything with video applications. You can't go 12gb over without video playing a role somewhere in the equation.
No issues here either, my limit was 3gb of high speed data (recently upgraded to 5gb) and my watch has only used 4.3mb since the beginning of this month.
In my opinion (also at&t guy), their way of tracking your data usage is incredibly basic and almost always wrong! I've had issues where I've used 3gb one month and 1gb the next, yet I'm 110% positive i use it the same amount every day (which is minimal. All you do is call up, tell them they are incredibly WRONG, and that by checking your normal data usage in previous months, you never come close to that total. they will more than likely give a good discount on these things.
Yes, I call them a lot because honestly, who knows how much they should be charging, compared to what they actually charge in regards to data usage.