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AT&T iPhone 5 May Also Be Using LTE Instead of Wi-Fi

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The data leak bug that had been afflicting the Verizon iPhone 5 until a patch was issued to correct the fix may also be affecting the AT&T iPhone 5 as well.

According to 9to5Mac and posts on Apple’s Discussion forums, the data leak issue where cellular data is being used even when the device is connected to Wi-Fi, may be happening to owners of AT&T’s iPhone 5.

Owners of the device are saying that their AT&T Phone 5 is racking up lots of data over cellular even when the device isn’t on cellular. It’s the same issue that was once thought to be a Verizon iPhone 5 issue only but it looks like it may be found on AT&T’s iPhone 5 and quite possibly on Sprint’s iPhone 5 as well.

Read: Apple Releases Patch for Verizon iPhone 5.

iPhone 5 review hero

The AT&T iPhone 5 may be affected by the data leak bug as well.

This is a huge problem as many iPhone 5 owners are on tiered data plans with data usage limits and penalties for overages. Some owners are reporting that they have gone over their tiered data plan and now have racked up huge overage charges due to the bug.

Fortunately, Apple released a patch for the Verizon iPhone 5 that seems to have cleared things up. As of yet, AT&T and Sprint iPhone 5 models have yet to receive such a patch which means owners are still dealing with this issue.

Those who own the Verizon iPhone 5 are encouraged to get the patch up and running as soon as possible so as not to incur any more cellular data usage over Wi-Fi.

Read: How to Check Data Usage on the AT&T iPhone.

iPhone 5 owners on AT&T and Sprint who may be experiencing a similar issue may see a patch roll out soon if there is indeed an issue plaguing the device.

I can confirm that I am not seeing any abnormalities on my AT&T iPhone 5, at least not yet.

Are any of you with AT&T or Sprint iPhone 5’s seeing this issue with your cellular data? And if so, have you gone over your usage limit?

25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. Sung

    10/01/2012 at 11:03 am

    I haven’t seen any serious data leak, but I just noticed it this morning.

    I constantly check my data usage at myAT&T to understand my usage pattern & how much it takes for web browsing, using maps app, etc. Most of the time I find the note under the data usage bar saying something like “The LTE Data usage is current as of October 1, 2012, 5:43:35 AM” related to my actual usage.

    But,,, that particular note, that I found today, saying I was using LTE Data at 5:43 in the morning, when I must’ve been asleep at home where I have Wi-fi, made me think something’s fishy..

    Apple should definitely release a fix for this..

    • Sung

      10/01/2012 at 11:08 am

      I meant to say “I noticed this this morning, although I haven’t seen any serious data leak.”

      When I checked the statistics for Cellular Network Data on my phone (which I reset last night), the data transmission was like this:
      Sent 23.0 KB
      Received 35.0 KB

  2. Luis

    10/01/2012 at 12:15 pm

    I have Att and My iphone 5 is been using data even when I’m on Wifi I’m already close to my limit and still have 23 days on my next billing.

  3. TPM50

    10/01/2012 at 2:07 pm

    I just love all the apple fan media that praises apple on their strict adherence to product release dates. Sounds to me they should have delayed this one, and a few others come to mind as well.

  4. hawaiiopihi

    10/02/2012 at 1:46 pm

    I just tested and verified I’m getting a “leak” on my AT&T iPhone 5. At least that’s what the cellular usage gauge in SETTINGS tell me. Here’s the sequence I used:

    1. Connected to Wifi
    2. Cleared cellular usage states in SETTINGS
    3. Surfed web
    4. Checked usage and shows usage in both down/up
    5. Disable Cellular Data Usage (in SETTINGS)
    6. Cleared usage again
    7. Surfed web
    8. Checked usage, shows 0 usage both up/down

    It’s consistent. Not sure if AT&T is actually charging me for this, but it’s what my iPhone is reporting.

  5. Geno

    10/03/2012 at 9:20 am

    I am experiencing issues with my AT&T iphone where cell data is being used while on wifi. I called Apple, they told me to turn cell data off and call AT&T. I called AT&T and they told me to call Apple. Seems like no one wants to be accountable for the issue. Very disappointing.

  6. Mark Aquino (@aquinom85)

    10/04/2012 at 4:24 pm

    I think this problem is definitely real. Yesterday I somehow ate up 2GB of cell data in one day alone while on WiFi the entire time. The kicker is that I downloaded a 500Mb movie file, so how I used 2GB is even more mysterious. Luckily I have an unlimited plan, but now it’s throttled as I passed the 5GB soft-cap.

  7. George

    10/04/2012 at 6:54 pm

    I’m having the same issue. I have gone through more than 3GB of data with my iPhone 5 in 3 weeks. This is impossible. I had 2GB of data when I had my iPhone 4, and I rarely used up more than 1GB every month for the two years that I had it.

  8. Pinto

    10/05/2012 at 9:27 am

    AT & T is surely having issues and they dont want to say they want to fix the issue. The AT&T CSA started giving me options to upgrade my data plan, like what..?? dude you need to fix the problem, dont ask for more money. He gave all the BS crap but nohting to resolve. then I explicitly asked him “Is AT & T planning to release any fix like Verizon?” He said (This is important) – “Yes, in couple of months”. Either that was BS or AT&Ts trick plan to get all users to compulsorily upgrade and then release the fix. AT& T is turning out to be worst company. Next contract release I am switching…

  9. STEELER

    10/05/2012 at 9:34 am

    Geno : This seems like Apple and ATTs problem. I think apple wants money to release any patch for ATT and ATT does not want to pay for it and have business opportunity. Why would apple release fix for only Verizon users. There is surely some mess these giants are hiding and we are paying for it. I think its time to switch to either Android or Microsoft phones and ATT has become just huge to kill the 99% with more charges. “you go to pee with your phone, you will need to pay the charges or please upgrade plan”

  10. Pinto

    10/05/2012 at 9:37 am

    I think this APPLE’s LTE data is a biggest joke. The speed is for data usage not the contents.
    LTE – “Lets Take Everything”

  11. Pinto

    10/05/2012 at 9:39 am

    You are right Steeler, that CSA was not even attempting to resolve my problem, but asking me to upgrade.

  12. Katherine Miranda

    10/06/2012 at 6:13 am

    I got my phone last Friday and updated to 3GB of data as I thought maybe for the LTE and since it’s 4G the 2GB from my iPhone 4 might now be enough. That was not at all the issue. With my iPhone 4 I never went past 1.5 GB of data, I’ve had this phone for 7 days and my data is already at 2GB. I hope Apple does something about this for AT&T very soon. I still have 16 days left for this billing and I need my phone and data for my job. This will be an issue.

  13. Eric Olson

    10/07/2012 at 6:21 pm

    My usage has gone through the roof since I upgraded to iPhone 5. I’m on wifi at work and at home, yet every day I use 60-80MB. At this rate, I risk going over toward the end of my monthly term. I have not changed my habits, and I’m on wifi nearly all the time. I’m glad to know I’m not alone on AT&T, but since it seems to be rare, I’m betting this one will be slow to fix.

  14. David

    10/09/2012 at 12:27 pm

    I appear to be having data leak as well on AT&T iPhone 5. What caught my attention was that data usage indicators on the various mediums do not agree.

    1. got txt and e-mail advising at 65% of data plan.
    2. did a data# on iPhone and it shows < 50 %
    3. go to on-line AT&T account and in the summary, it shows at 65%
    4. go to on-line and data details and it sums up to < 50%
    5. called AT&T cust svc. They advise at < 50%. When told of the txt/email rcvd at 65%. They advised to go with the higher #.
    6. Showed AT&T store mgr my various descrepancies and he had no answers. When I informed him of the possible data issue it was the 1st he heard of it.

  15. Rick

    10/10/2012 at 8:43 am

    I already used 1.6 GB of data an I’m only 7 days into my billing cycle. Normally with my iPhone 4, I typically use maybe 0.7GB in the whole month

  16. Josh

    10/21/2012 at 7:08 pm

    Just a heads up, that I am experience a similar issue on Optus in Australia…

  17. stoof102

    10/25/2012 at 2:13 am

    My iPhone showed “LTE” at the upper left of the screen, also. I went to Settings, Wifi, and it indicated I was connected to my home Wi-Fi network. I then went to Settings, General, and turned off my cellular data. The “LTE” disappeared from my screen, but was not replaced by a Wi-Fi icon. I then tried and was able to browse several webpages and access internet-dependent apps! It appears my iPhone 5 is accessing my Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi icon is not displaying.

  18. Drusz

    10/26/2012 at 4:23 pm

    I just got off the phone with ATT and they put a note in the account to credit any overages and they’ll “look into it”. I was looking at the dates and times of the data leaks and they were all while sitting right at home in my wifi environment. Three iphone 5’s in the house and three massive data leaks. If I had to pay for this it’d cost me 4 figures a month!!!
    If they can’t fix it they better credit me everything or put me on the extinct unlimited plan!!!

  19. n8r0n

    10/30/2012 at 10:20 pm

    In just my 6th day of the billing month, I’m already at 1.35 GB of my monthly 2GB limit. Before I had the iPhone 5 (last phone was iPhone 4), I never went over 500MB a month.

    Now, I’m on track to use way more than my limit.

    This is garbage. I always connect to wifi at home, and the phone is clearly preferring to use the faster LTE network.

    I had even setup the Podcast app (which I have subscribed to multiple podcasts) to not use cellular data for iTunes. Clearly, the phone is not respecting that.

    AT&T is going to get an earful from me if a patch doesn’t come out before I get dinged with overage charges. It’s bad enough that they stick you with a $36 fee for the privilege of renewing your contract with them.

    Of course, this is really Apple’s fault. They released iOS 6 with a ton of garbage software. Just an awful product. I certainly won’t be upgrading my old iPhone 4 to iOS 6 any time soon.

  20. CJ

    10/31/2012 at 10:12 am

    From the first iPhone to my 3GS to my current 5, I’ve pretty much lived on WiFi. With the exception of usage while on vacation or for business, I’ve never used more than 50% of my current 200mb monthly limit.

    Got my 5 earlier this month and I was just notified yesterday that my SECOND 200mb overage was about to fill.

    OK, I had jury duty one day and was using my phone in the waiting room (never got on a trial) and probably used more than my average this month for that use. But, this last 200mb overage was all SINCE that date. This has all been time I’ve been heads down at work (and after hours at home) getting a project finished. I have cellular data use for times I’m asleep. (probably when automatic Email refreshes occur)

    Even with Hurricane Sandy, I’ve only been home roughly 5 hours without power in which I did not use my phone, so that can’t even apply.

    Something is wrong with the hardware or software on this new phone.

    Thankfully when I talked to AT&T, they took my history into account and removed the extra charges.

    However, now I’m running with Cellular Data turned off just to stop the data bleed.

    Apple needs to address this NOW.

    • Sung

      10/31/2012 at 10:28 am

      Last month, I had an overage charge. When I checked my usage (you can check your detailed data usage list with time, and how much data you used at each point at att.com), all big data transfer happened while I was home under my wifi.
      When I called ATT, they managed to change my plan from 300MB basic to 3GB temporarily for the last month (so I can just pay $30 instead of $20+20 for the overage). Perhaps if I had a good relationship with ATT, I might have gotten that over charge off as well (I’ve been with Verizon until I bought this iPhone 5).

      There definitely is a problem. I don’t see why it should be associated with the carrier. It must be with the phone system itself, because it’s the phone that keeps dropping out of wifi. Someone should start a petition to Apple.

  21. Zachary Bell

    02/16/2013 at 5:43 am

    Just another reason to go with VZW or SPRINT instead of AT&T… I see Verizon released patches for this very issue on the iPhone while AT&T did not. SPRINT has Unlimited Data, again AT&T does NOT. Friends don’t let friends subscribe to AT&T.

    BTW, 70% of AT&T’s “current” pocket computers (or smartphones for those who prefer that term) are running an old OS (e.g. Android 2.3 or Windows Phone 7)… while Verizon and SPRINT devices are more up-to-date. Talk about not releasing patches on time or paying out the rear to get something with current software! I guess that’s a STUPID TAX for people who subscribe to AT&T…

  22. Chris Edwards

    04/03/2013 at 10:30 am

    I am also having this issue. I usually use about 3-4 GB a month. Consistently. Since upgrading to 6.1.2 I am reaching my 5 GB limit in 7-10 days with no change in how I use the phone and no new apps that could be using the data. I am 2 days into my new month and I am already at 29% of my 5 GB soft-limit.

    Please read…2 DAYS!

  23. Lory

    05/08/2013 at 10:55 am

    Yes I have AT&T iPhone 5 and am having the same issue. We have cellular completely disabled and still are getting overage charges of HUNDREDS of dollars every month. I’m marching into the AT&T store Saturday. If they can’t compensate me and fix this, I’m switching carriers. Whats so irritating is that this is a KNOWN problem but AT&T customer support plays dumb about it.

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