Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted, how is this possible?

[AC Question]

Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Android OS v 5.0.
I have my mobile data ALWAYS off.
And still for the last 3 months I have data transferred.

Under Data Usage it says App usage - Android OS.
1st month - 331 KB
2nd month - 1.64 MB
3rd month - 176 KB

How is this possible?

 

[AlphaTango414]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Hello and welcome to Android Central! Is there a reason you are wanting your data to be exactly 0?

Those data sizes are very very small.

 

[horadrim]

Hi dumpedduce, I don't understand why you wrote your comment.
The reason why I want my data to 0 is NOT relevant to the question at all and to be honest is quite easy to guess - I don't want to be charged. I don't need it.
Then your second statement is a one that I find hard to comment at all. I'm telling you that I have a certain feature OFF and your reply is - but it's very small.
Do you understand the expected behaviour of a feature been OFF?

 

[AlphaTango414]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Apologies.

My best suggestion would be to turn air plane mode on.

Best of luck.

 

[horadrim]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

(edited by Moderator) The only thing I want off is already off. I'm asking why the OS is not respecting this setting. Is this an OS bug?
If I do what you suggest how on earth I will make calls, use the wi-fi and bluetooth?

Anyone? Why with mobile data OFF my phone still uses mobile data?

 

[Miller6386]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Just because it reports it used mobile doesn't mean it did. Best to check with your carrier and verify if any data was consumed.

 

[pluupy]

Hello!

Wifi and Mobile Data are treated as separate networks. Are you sure you are turning Mobile Data off?

If you head into settings and look under "Wireless & networks", select "Data Usage" (to see this option, you may need to click "More" to see more options available). Here, there should be an option to turn off "Cellular Data". This will turn off any and all mobile data communication from your device. This screen also will show any apps that have used any mobile data and the amount they have used, no matter how small.

Another way to verify if your device is using any mobile data is by directly contacting your carrier. If your device is reporting data usage, your carrier will likely have recorded information about it.

It should also be noted that mobile data may have been used for more than just personal internet use! Text messages may also consume mobile data. Android always accepts any and all text messages so there is nothing preventing them from using your mobile data IF they do. An example of a text message that consumes mobile data are multimedia messages. (pictures, audio, video, etc) Text messages which have multimedia files attached to the text message will consume mobile data from the sender and the receiver. (If mobile data is off, you shouldn't be able to receive these messages until you turn mobile data on)

 

[horadrim]

Miller6386 - yes I've been charged for data usage.

(edited by Moderator)

Anyone? Why with mobile data OFF my phone still uses mobile data (the usage is from a process named Android OS)?

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering why this is an issue, concerning being charged for the data. Every carrier I've seen (in the U.S. at least) requires a minimum data plan on any smart phone. So even if your data use was truly zero, you'd still be paying for some. Your usage is well below any minimum cap I've seen, so wouldn't expect you to see any additional charges from it. Are you saying you're on some sort of a la carte type plan instead of a traditional capped plan?

I'm with Pluupy, though. The only thing I can think of is MMS messaging. If you've still been sending/receiving those, that will use mobile data, even if on Wi-Fi. It also means your data isn't truly turned off. I guess there is the long shot that you have a software bug, but it's not one I've heard of before.

And since you don't really seem interested in any comments that don't immediately answer your question correctly, I suggest talking to your carrier. Hopefully they'll be able to better assist you. And if you are on an a la carte plan or whatever instead of a standard plan, they may even be able to put you on a data block. That way no mobile data is sent from them or accepted from your phone. Even if you left your mobile data turned on, you wouldn't be able to use any. I'm shooting in the dark there, but something to consider nonetheless. Your problem isn't exactly common.

 

[Javier P]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Hi Horadrim, welcome to the forums! I agree with some of the suggestions posted here, maybe your data usage is related to MMS or maybe it's just a bad reading. There are other possibilities though. Which phone do you have and what carrier?

Some phones, like Samsung's, have different types of Smart Network Switches that could be enabling your mobile data by their own. Same happens with some carriers, including this kind of apps in their bloatware.

 

[horadrim]

(edited by Moderator)



I'm not not sending MMS. from yesterday when I posted teh question it crept from 176 KB to 192 KB.

 

[horadrim]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

I have ulefone Be Pro and I'm with giff-gaff. If my phone was not showing any data then I would have asked the carrier but the thing is my phone is detecting data transfer so it's logical to be charged.

 

[Javier P]

I can see you have a dual SIM phone. Does the same problem occur in both cards or just with GiffGaff? I can think of two different possibilities from the information in that screenshot.

- Phone. There's a problem with your dual sim manager app (hardware or software) and mobile data stays on even when the toggle is off (3G on the status bar).

- Carrier. There's a problem with GiffGaff software. Did you install the GG app when setting up the card?

Whatever the problem is I'd recommend you another couple of things.

- Check all the settings in the dual SIM section, maybe there are two places to switch mobile on & off and they are conflicting.

- Check with GiffGaff support if they've heard about this problem. They will understand that with the toggle off there shouldn't be 3G on your status bar.

 

[horadrim]

The 3G on the status is the standard network connection. For mobile data there's another icon.
It doesn't matter if it's in dual sim mode or single sim. It still does it. I can't test it on the other card because it's prepaid and there's no credit on it. Even if it tries to connect it will be rejected by the carrier because of no credit.
I do not have any GG app installed.
The sim settings will only allow me to select which card is the one for Mobile Data , Calls (default), SMS (default). It will not allow me to disable the Mobile data from there. This is the ONLY place (on the pic) where I can disable mobile data.
As I said I don't want to ask on the GG forum because my device detects data. They will simply say that my device is the problem.
I have a system permissions app and all apps are denied right to use mobile data. But I cant control this process "Android OS" from it.
I have restrict background connections ON (the exclamation triangular).
I have mobile data OFF.

Can anyone give me a reasonable explanation how on earth my phone does mobile data after all?

 

[dpham00]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Mod Note :edited some posts. while I understand your frustration with your problem, please also keep in mind people here are volunteers. Please do not take your frustration out on them. They are just trying to help.

 

[horadrim]

Re: Mobile data is disabled but data is still transmitted

Mod Note :edited some posts. while I understand your frustration with your problem, please also keep in mind people here are volunteers. Please do not take your frustration out on them. They are just trying to help.

Note taken, my apologies, thanks.

 

[dpham00]

Did a quick search and found some others who had a similar problem, albeit on different devices. Hopefully it can help you some.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-samsung-galaxy-s4/285178-data-usage-while-wifi.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...n-wifi-connected-normal-att-rep-says-yes.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-4/452930-mobile-data-wifi-2.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-5/361183-mobile-data-off-but-using-mobile-data.html

 

[horadrim]

I went through the topics but unfortunately can't find any solution.