Excessive Data Usage Using Wifi Through My Phone

[Tubbycoates]

Hi all,

I haven't got the internet at home, so I use my phone as a WiFi hub. I'm with Tesco mobile and I get 6GB a month. The only sites I access don't use much, and I usually use no more than 0.2 GB per day.
A couple of months ago I lost all my data allowance in the space of a day, so I asked Tesco what had used it. They refused to tell me, but they did advise me to turn off my data connection when I wasn't using the internet. This appeared to work. However, I've now gone through 2.4 GB in the last day. I haven't tried to access any sites other than my normal ones.
Is there any way I can find out what is using so much data? Can I find out a breakdown of my data usage? Could it be that something has been installed on my laptop without my knowledge that is using the data?

Thanks all in advance.

[barry1010]

Did your phone update? That can use a lot of data.
You haven't said what phone you have. If it is an iPhone
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201299

If it is an Android
https://www.technipages.com/why-is-my-android-using-so-much-data

[barry1010]

I've just thought - if you are tethering your phone so other devices can connect to the internet, maybe the devices were updating

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps delete one app at a time to check if it notably reduces use ? In any case some might be auto updating. 6 Gig is a lot to account for though. Are you using the mobile to create a hot spot ? Apart from that, in your shoes, I'd check what apps were available for download to monitor use.

[Ellipsis]

There are various ways to see which apps and programs are using data.

Windows:

https://www.howtogeek.com/427344/how-to-see-the-applications-using-your-network-on-windows-10/

Android:

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-check-app-usage-on-android?r=US&IR=T

iOS:

https://www.citymac.com/blog/2016/04/16/how-to-see-which-apps-use-the-most-data

[TheChair]

If your Windows computer is tethered to you phone via WiFi, unless you set it as a metered connection, Windows Update is likely to max out your bandwidth.

[Buenchico]

As TheChair indicates, the fairly frequent updates for Windows 10 typically amount to between about 1 GB of data and 2.5 GB each. If you're using any type of metered connection it's vital that you tell your computer that you're doing so, in order that it can then only download absolutely essential updates:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/metered-connections-in-windows-10-7b33928f-a144-b265-97b6-f2e95a87c408

[Buenchico]

BTW: A 6GB per month bundle with Tesco Mobile costs £17.50. There are far cheaper deals available. For example, I pay £10 per month for 7GB with Asda Mobile. ( https://mobile.asda.com/bundles ). GiffGaff is even cheaper. ( https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals ). Time to change your phone provider, perhaps?

[Tubbycoates]

Thanks all.

I had a Windows 10 update a couple of days ago, so I assume that was it.

BTW, my Tesco deal is 6GB for £10. My girlfriend has got 20GB for £15. They are now advertising 20GB for £12.50, but they won't let her or me change to the new deal because we are existing customers.
Barmy, isn't it?
a change to Asda looks likely when my deal runs out.

[JimF]

Or, alternatively, get broadband at home.

[barry1010]

Jim, not everyone can get broadband at home