Unwanted Cell Data Use While Updating to 16.2

[Attirex]

Hello:

I have a 5GB/mo. VZW plan (yes, I know, I'm a cheap SOB), so have to aggressively manage cell data usage on my iPhone 14 Pro. I happened to check the Data Man app this morning and was shocked to see that my usage jumped from 6% to 20% in a couple of days. The VZW app indicated I used a chunk of data on Tuesday afternoon EST, right around the time I updated to 16.2. I know for a fact I was on my home wifi network at the time, and it was up and running (despite being Comcast). Why/how would my phone use cell data for the update? Is there a setting I should turn off to prevent this?

Thanks!

 

[AppleWes]

Did you accidently "agree" to use cell coverage to complete download if WiFi is not available? During the download process a quick pop up window may come up asking if you'd like to install update using cell coverage (or only WiFi)

*even if your WiFi network seemed ok phone might of of switched over to cell for some reason.

 

[Morac]

Check in Settings -> cellular. It shows everything that has used your cellular data ordered by size from most to least. This is cumulative since last reset, but it might give some idea.

 

[papbot]

Did you accidently "agree" to use cell coverage to complete download if WiFi is not available? During the download process a quick pop up window may come up asking if you'd like to install update using cell coverage (or only WiFi)

*even if your WiFi network seemed ok phone might of of switched over to cell for some reason.

I’ve only had that happen when an update couldn't be downloaded until after I had to leave my apartment. Something came up and I had to go so the download continued over the cell network once I left the very broad area my home wifi covers. But that was only once, normally I only do updates when at home and it never uses cell data.

 

[ManuCH]

That stuff happened to a friend of mine too. Even though he had good wifi signal at home, the iOS 16.1 update was downloaded over 5G. Not a problem as he has an unlimited plan, but it still happened.

For non-flat data users I recommend turning cellular data off while installing iOS updated just to be sure.

 

[AppleWes]

That stuff happened to a friend of mine too. Even though he had good wifi signal at home, the iOS 16.1 update was downloaded over 5G. Not a problem as he has an unlimited plan, but it still happened.

Same, when update was first starting to download my phone asked right away if I would like to use 5G even though my WiFi was strong signal and working fine.

I selected to stay on WiFi only for download and then it worked.... but I could see people quickly clicking past that screen and end up using cell signal. That's why I brought up to OP if they might of 'accidently' downloaded over 5G without really knowing.

 

[Attirex]

Thanks for info! It is entirely possible I accidentally enabled cellular download of the update (I've seen that dialog box before). Hm.

What's odd is that I checked cell data usage in Settings > Cellular and OS indicates Software Updates have used about 77mb to date, while the VZW app indicates that I used 165mb just on Tuesday afternoon.

 

[Morac]

Thanks for info! It is entirely possible I accidentally enabled cellular download of the update (I've seen that dialog box before). Hm.

What's odd is that I checked cell data usage in Settings > Cellular and OS indicates Software Updates have used about 77mb to date, while the VZW app indicates that I used 165mb just on Tuesday afternoon.

Check the “Wi-Fi assist” usage.

 

[Attirex]

Check the “Wi-Fi assist” usage.

383mb. Maybe need to turn that off.