Slow down stop data usage on an Android Motorola e5 smart phone.
We have a phone through Consumer Cellular with unlimited text and calls and 500MB of data per month. We got an alert that we were close to using up all the data. On Dec. 18th it was 450mb. I spoke to a CC rep for a good while and they explained that data can come from "updates" of all kinds "but" as long as we are using Wi-Fi there won't be any data charges. Also when the phone is turned off no data used and no data piling up waiting on us to turn our phone on.
The new bill shows 465mb so we have to call them about being auto billed for over 500mb.
My phone sits within 3 feet of the desktop computer which should be Wi-Fi and no data. I told the rep. I'd turn the phone off until after the 20th the end of the billing cycle so as to stay under the 500mb.
I checked the account today and we already have 0.61 gb after being auto upgraded to 3 gig data though the plans below don't show 3 gig.. With over 400mb of it being on Dec. 24th.
The rep said go in and disable (I assume disable) updates for apps. There were 71 apps and I started uninstalling the ones never used and disabled others and now have about 55. Now I can't use the phone because of "Google keeps stopping" and close or send feedback are the only choices. A lifetime of experience tells me sending Google feedback is worthless.
I disabled these Google related items:
FM Radio
Gboard
Google Korean input
Google Japanese input
Google Pinyin input
Google play music
Google TV
Meet
Youtube
The rep said if the phone is turned off no data can be used.
I wonder why over 400 show up at 6am Dec. 24th.
The phone was off between say 8pm the 23rd and back on around 10am the 24th.
I'm not clearly trusting this carrier though it is the best choice for retired people. The new bill shows these options:
1 gig $20
5 gig $25
10 gig $35
15 gig $40
20 gig $45
unlimited data $50
I'm need answers are how to stop or slowdown the data. The rep looked at our account history and it clearly showed that the 400 mb Dec. 16 thru18 were not consistent with our normal usage going back 3+ years.
Now as the new billing period has started on Dec. 21st in the first 4 days of the new billing cycle we have already used 20% of our 3 gig. Not sure where the 3 gig comes from since it's not one of the plans above.
I heard their explanation on data. I want to hear explanations from multiple EE members.
Why has large junks of data begun after all these years?
Dec. 16-18 over 400mb
Dec. 21-25 over 600mb and 20% of the 3 gig allowance on the new plan.
Thanks.
ASKER
We have high speed internet through the local ISP and the cable modem.
The phone provider said no data if the phone is off. Is that correct?
Does the computer, though turned off at night, continue to be wi-fi enabled 24/7?
Do updates etc. continue to pile up when the phone is turned off?
When I turn the phone on every day are a few series of sound alerts that something is being uploaded, downloaded or other going on.
Over 600mb in the last 4 days has to be curtailed. At that rate we'd use over 4gig and approach the numbers that the phone provider likes to "sell" to customers.
ASKER
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I disabled these Google related items:
FM Radio
Gboard
Google Korean input
Google Japanese input
Google Pinyin input
Google play music
Google TV
Meet
Youtube
Do any of the items I disabled on the list above be the reason Google stops working when I turn the phone on and try to take actions? The actual message is "Google stopped working"
Unless you have installed a non standard virtual keyboard app, Gboard should be enabled, as otherwise you can't enter anything that would require you to enter any letters, numbers or other characters.
ASKER
I hope to locate the sources of these large chunks of data usage and eliminate them if it is even possible to locate precise sources.
After review I think we were not billed for going over 500mb during Nov-Dec.
We got auto upgraded once our Dec-Jan data usage went over 500mb and sadly it went over on Dec. 24 when the new cycle only started the 20th.
More data usage in those 5 days than in any other period of time EVER. Something changed.
I'll leave the phone off unless needed and check data usage every few days.
I do need to get rid of "Google stopped working"
Maybe Google is offended because we removed Youtube.
ASKER
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It's 8:15 Dec. 28 and I've turned the phone on for the first time since Dec. 26. I've heard a small number of sound alerts and they are heard if there is a new text or new voice mail. Also the first time it is turned on each morning there can be sound alerts for "other" things unknown to me.
5 minutes and one phone call and I'll see how many MB used in the 5 minutes. Google keeps closing and I get that message on every screen. Makes the phone unfriendly. I did re-enable G Board and I hope that is the physical keyboard and in the past I have alot of trouble getting rid of the 100% worthless voice as the only way to send a text. The settings are there and there are more than one in more than one place that control the physical keyboard.
I left the others items on the above list disabled. Something on that list must be causing Google to stop since that has never happened in the 2-3 years of owning and using the phone.
The lame carrier auto upgraded us to 3 gig because we had used 0.61 gig in the first 4 days of the new billing period and that raised the price by 25%. Per a call to CS they could revert back to the 1 gig and reverse the 25% extra if we accept online billing. I went ahead and left the plan at 3 gig since I had used 0.61 between Dec. 21-25.
I'll hookup my laptop and try wi-fi. Since owning this phone it has stayed on and near the computer for 6-8 hours a day. Never in the history of this phone has there been any data usage approaching the 500mb limit. Until Dec. 16-18 when we got an email alerting us to the approach of the 500mb with 2-3 days left. There has never been any usage issues before and the same apps we use periodically stay the same.
ASKER
First you should connect to a WLan Device (AP, Router etc.). Once you are connected to it, look through all settings, particularly App settings. Many of them allow you to only connect or update via WiFi rather than your Phone Provider. Make sure you have changed all those settings.