Help Data usage has dropped 80MB in 1 day, any ideas why?

[GiGiWu]

Hi,

I've had my Nexus (on contract) just over a week now and just yesterday my Data Usage was on 245MB (my monthly contract at the moment is just 500MB). However I checked again this morning and the usage is now down to 165MB. I know this might not be related to the Nexus itself but really don't understand whats just happened. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[saywhatt]

there must've been an error

-it never hurts to hit on thanks!

 

[GiGiWu]

So confused, its dropped down to 161MB now..

 

[pool_shark]

Seems like you have something running that updates and/or syncs.
Facebook, picasa, weather, news, music, etc?

 

[saywhatt]

there must've been auto-updates

 

[GiGiWu]

Before it was on 245MB but now it says:
"5-12 May: about 161MB used"

Wouldn't updates use up more bandwidth, not lower the figure?

 

[TheyCallMeBT]

I understand what you're asking. You're sure the place you're looking doesn't say how much data you have LEFT from your plan, not how much you've USED? It's either that, or must be an error on their side.

 

[jkc120]

Before it was on 245MB but now it says:
"5-12 May: about 161MB used"

Wouldn't updates use up more bandwidth, not lower the figure?

What app are you using to view this information? If it's not an app provided by your wireless carrier, it could be that you rebooted or just a buggy local app that's not properly calculating the data consumed. What does your ISP say you used?

 

[GiGiWu]

Thanks for the replies btw. :]

No, its not an application I've installed but through the settings on the phone. To check the usage I go in to 'Settings' then select 'Data Usage' which is under the 'Wireless & Networks" section. The page has 'Mobile data' which I've now turned off until I find out what is happening, then 'Data usage cycle' as '5 May - 4Jun' which then shows a graph of my usage which I've set the warning as 450MB, its after the graph where it now tells me:
"5-12 May: about 121MB used"

(Its dropped another 40MB since my last post, this happened after I turned my 'Mobile data' to 'OFF')

I can screenshot this if you prefer? Do you think it would be worth calling my ISP (O2) and asking what might be causing the drop?

Thanks!

 

[wrecklass]

The phone's data usage gathering can be off. It even says the usage may differ from what you ISP says. I would call the carriers and find out what they say you are using.

Remind me to thank Sprint that I don't ever have to care about data usage.

 

[jkc120]

The phone's data usage gathering can be off. It even says the usage may differ from what you ISP says. I would call the carriers and find out what they say you are using.

Remind me to thank Sprint that I don't ever have to care about data usage.

Yeah, the one that matters is what the wireless carrier says. If the OP's carrier has something like the VZW usage widget, I'd highly recommend using that and not relying on the internal Android data usage collector.

 

[ssummer]

The built-in ICS data usage "app" can be misleading. Above the graph it states your data usage cycle (usually a month i.e. mine says Apr 27 - May 26). Below the graph it states "...about XX MB used". Be careful however and pay attention to the date range BELOW the graph which defaults to the past 7 days. You have to slide the vertical bars on the graph to encompass the entire month which should give you your total mobile data usage for the month-to-date.

To put it simply, the number you are seeing is only for the past 7 days so technically your data usage can "drop" if you used less data today than 8 days ago.

 

[GiGiWu]

Ah brilliant just got that sorted now!

Was confused as 5th was the first day I got it but I think it was dropping as the hours of that day went. Its back to 245MB now after dragging the bar back, I feel like a complete and utter tit now. But thank you!