Help S5 M'mallow HIGH data use

[Dingo Ct]

I have just upgraded from Lollipop to Marshmallow on a OTA upgrade through my Telstra carrier.
Previous to this I had a monthly data cap of 2.5gb and I would occasionally get close but the majority would be on wifi each month.
After the upgrade it reports my Android OS is using lots of backgroud data, in the first 10 days of the month it has used 4gb of cell and 6 gb of wifi. Its going to cost me a fortune !!
This is after the roll over after the upgrade, so that data is not included in the counts.
Anyone with any ideas as to why ?

 

[kate]

Welcome to the site!

You can see what apps are using data at Settings > Data Usage. Hard to say whats happening without seeing the phone, but here are two ideas:


Background data:
Some apps use background data, which means they use data when you're not using the app. You can disable background data on an app by app basis so they wont use your mobile data when you're not using them. Some phones might not have this option though.
1. Go to your phones Settings menu.
2. Tap Data Usage
3. Scroll down to the app and tap it.
4. Scroll down and tap to check Restrict Background Data.

For some apps you wont get some updates/notifications after after doing this when you're not using that app. Also I believe that only shows apps that have already used data so with a brand new phone there might not be many apps listed yet.

Or you can disable all background data > Settings > Data Usage > Menu > Restrict Background Data. If Restrict Background Data is turned on here you wont have the option to disable it for each app as described above. There is also an option to turn off Auto Sync Data.


App updates:
You can set your phone to only update apps over WiFi which will reduce your data usage. Here is how to change the Play Store settings for how apps are updated:

1. Open the Play Store.
2. In the top left corner tap the menu icon.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Auto Update Apps.
5. Tap the option you want. The WiFi option will only use WiFi. "Update apps anytime" can use your mobile data. "Do not auto update apps" will not update any apps.

 

[Dingo Ct]

Kate, thanks very much for your suggestions and your welcome.
I have been checking the data usage on my phone in the data manager and it list 95% of it from the Android OS, it does show small usage from other apps but the over all bulk is from the OS and all in background data.
All updates are set to be wifi only, with this being constant for the last 2 years. The only thing I can figure that has changed is Marshmallow.

 

[kate]

Android OS could be several things, I remember a while ago someone with a similar issue... I think their phone was backing up all their pictures/videos/data after an upgrade.

Check in Settings -> Backup & Reset.

 

[Dingo Ct]

That could make sense, but I have always had it set for wifi only and still is. 2nd I don't have over 10gb on my phone to back up.

still stumped

 

[kate]

My next suggestion would be to install a data usage app, some will provide more info then the built in one. They might be able to separate everything being counted under Android OS, but I've never tried it for that purpose.

 

[Mikestony]

A major OTA update from LL to MM may leave behind some remnants (sp?) that don't get removed or updated perhaps leading to this issue.
At the very worst, (maybe not worst but...) you may have to backup what needs to be backed up and do a factory reset.

Small OTA updates, but still within MM don't usually require a FDR (Factory Data Reset), but major OTA's sometimes necessitate a FDR.

To add to @kate 's suggestion about a data usage app, I like GSam battery monitor. It's free and I see it recommended quite a bit here, and I also use it to track down battery drains.