Mobile data usage

[Halo1]

I don't use my phone much, just for a few calls, SMS, pics which I upload to dropbox.  I'm on a small plan of 256MB and up until last month was almost always within that limit.  Last month, I went over and was charged an extra $50 (more than the monthly plan amount!); this month already they are saying I'm up to 300MB and only 4 days into the cycle.  I haven't done anything different and can't understand what is going on.

[ProfessorPhone]

It's possible that your phone and apps are doing background updates.

[Halo1]

I only have one app on my phone but how can I tell if that is happening?

[cf4 · Accepted solution]

If you have an Android phone this site shows you how to check data usage and which apps are using the data.

https://www.wikihow.tech/Know-Your-Data-Usage-on-Your-Android

If you have an IOS device this site shows how to check usage.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201299

256 MB data allowance is very small. I suggest you change your plan.

There are pospaid plans with 15 GB of data for $50

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/sim-only-plans

Prepaid plans for $30 with 10 GB of data

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/offers-and-rates

[Halo1]

thank you.  I did upgrade yesterday but will follow up on your suggestion above.  I had gone for a couple of years, rarely going over that data amount, then since the beginning of December, my use suddenly more than doubled but I hadn't made any changes in the way I use the phone.  I want to know what's going on and stop it if it isn't something I'm in control of.

[ProfessorPhone]

If you go into Connections, then Data Usage then Mobile Data Usage, you can scroll down how  data was used.

You  can also go into Device maintenance and click on "Optimise Now"  which will close unused apps etc.

[Halo1]

I found that it was Google Play Store.  I have never even opened it before and it's as though it just came to life of its own accord on Dec 1 and started gobbling all the data allowance.  I have disabled it.

[Ozmoz]

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@Halo1 wrote:

I don't use my phone much, just for a few calls, SMS, pics which I upload to dropbox.  I'm on a small plan of 256MB and up until last month was almost always within that limit.  Last month, I went over and was charged an extra $50 (more than the monthly plan amount!); this month already they are saying I'm up to 300MB and only 4 days into the cycle.  I haven't done anything different and can't understand what is going on.

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@Halo1 Have you looked at Telstra's little bother Belong Mobile? They offer a $10 a month plan that includes unlimited calls/SMS's and 1GIG of data per month with any unused data going into a data bank for use later.

And going into the Play Store app, then accessing those settings it is best to set updating apps to WiFi only.