topic Re: Facebook using excessive data in Pay Monthly

Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:07:47 GMT

I had a look at MyO2 and I've used 76MB of data since I set up my iPhone 5S this afternoon and over 63MB that was Facebook but I've been on wifi most of this time so I'm at a loss as to why it would use that much. I've now turned off location services for FB (which I didn't on my iPhone 5) but does anyone have any ideas a) why it's doing this and b) what I can do to stop it?

I know about iPhones using data if they come out of sleep mode but I've never had this sort of problem before. I've searched but can't find anything about Facebook - apologies if I've missed something.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:10:40 GMT

Did you have to install fb app? Cos if you did that uses up about 30mb I believe plus the first time you use it it will download your history.

Just a thought

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:12:38 GMT

Aaahh yes, I did have to install it. I presumed it would do it on wifi but obviously not!

Thanks!

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:13:30 GMT

And I had to do it twice as I had to restore my phone as it crashed after doing an update...

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:15:14 GMT

If you were connected to wifi then it would have used that.

I don't know the iphones so my knowledge is limited. Perhaps @MI5 can help on this one?

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:19:03 GMT

No worries, it's nowhere near as limited as mine as you can tell!

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:20:58 GMT

Was mobile data switched off when you downloaded Fb?

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:23:17 GMT

No, it was on when I did the download. I suppose it must have used data instead of wifi?

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:32:34 GMT

You'd think it would of used wifi instead. My mobile data at home is always off.

Can't figure out why would it use mobile data.

Make sure all apps are closed after you finished using them as they still run in the backround.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:37:05 GMT

I've always left mine on even when I'm at home but I think I'll have to get in the habit of turning it off!

Thanks for your help

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:41:42 GMT

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

It's a good idea to have mobile data switched off at night because of o2 and apps updates and that uses a fair bit.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:58:07 GMT

I don't know about iPhone but on my s4 I can set it to only update apps over wifi would have thought that to be pretty basic setting

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 23:51:42 GMT

Apparently on another post tonight if the iphone goes to sleep mode it goes back to 3g instead of wifi. It may or not be the case here Tracey but if it is you need to set apps to update over wifi only or turn gsm networks off over night.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

MI5 — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:04:26 GMT

It's probably syncing all your photos and contacts etc which it will continue to do in the background until complete. If screen goes off it will convert to using mobile data unless you keep your charger plugged in, in which case it will stay on wifi.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 06:45:28 GMT

Just remember to toggle mobile data back on when you leave your wifi connection area !

It does become habit.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:19:09 GMT

Erm problem solved - it wasn't Facebook after all! As I've now got 4G I decided to download a speed test app and have been playing about with it - to the tune of 120GB of usage...

Sorry for the confusion and thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Oh and by the way, I only get download speeds of 17meg after all that!

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:22:44 GMT

Hi Tracey,

I have read on an apple discussion forum that some apps, inc FB, prioritize mobile data over wifi, most likely why so much of your phone data was used when you downloaded the app, even tho connected to wifi.

If I remember correctly, when I downloaded FB on my 5s, I was 50mg short even tho connected to wifi myself!

Best thing to do, as you know now, is to switch mobile data off when using wifi.

Have a lovely weekend.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

MI5 — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:23:05 GMT

Speedtest is 40 to 50 mb per test
17mbps is about average, depending on usage in your area.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:37:29 GMT

Things hopefully will improve ref the Network Future.

I'm grateful for the brilliant 4G download speeds I achieve.

Re: Facebook using excessive data

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 14:07:28 GMT

17meg is brilliant really - the best wifi download speed was, wait for it, 2.78meg! Earlier in the day it was 0.41!