Increase in mobile data usage after updating to iOS 9? Try this fix

BY Killian Bell

Published 28 Sep 2015

Wi-Fi assist feature

After updating to iOS 9, your iPhone will automatically switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks to provide you with the best possible connection at all times. The downside to this is that your iPhone could end up using a lot more data than you anticipated.

Business Insider reports that some users are seeing a significant increase in data usage after upgrading to iOS 9, without any change in their browsing habits. As Twitter user Jim Ray points out, he has seen data usage increase to 7GB from 1-2GB after upgrading to iOS 9, and he suspects it is because of the WiFi Assist feature.

https://twitter.com/jimray/status/647072965008343040

If you’ve noticed your device is gobbling up your allowance for no apparent reason, it’s likely Wi-Fi Assist is to blame. Here’s how you can disable it.

Fortunately, the process is super simple and takes just a couple of steps:

  1. Open the Settings app and tap ‘Mobile Data/Cellular’.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and disable ‘Wi-Fi Assist’.

Wi-Fi Assit

It’s that easy! With Wi-Fi Assist turned off, your iPhone will no longer switch to a 3G or 4G network automatically when your Wi-Fi connection is spotty, which should prevent unexpected data usage. You will still be able to use 3G and 4G networks when you’re away from a Wi-Fi network, however.

You can go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Usage section to keep track of the mobile data usage on your iPhone. If disabling Wi-Fi Assist doesn’t help then check our post for more tips on how to reduce data usage on your iPhone.

➤ 7 Tips to reduce high data usage on your iPhone in iOS 9

Have you seen an increase in mobile data usage after upgrading to iOS 9?