Why iOS 9 Users Are Getting High Bills

Users may want to shut off Wi-Fi Assist
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 28, 2015 4:00 PM CDT
Why iOS 9 Users Are Getting High Bills
Customers try out a new Apple iPhone 6S at an Apple store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

If you're using iOS 9 and your data rates are reaching new highs, watch out for an otherwise-useful feature called "Wi-Fi Assist." It automatically allows your phone to download data via your cellular plan when Wi-Fi coverage isn't great, ZDNet explains, which is fine—but can lead to high bills if, say, your office Wi-Fi is poor. You can turn it off at Settings > Cellular (called Mobile Data in certain areas) by scrolling to the bottom of the page for the toggle. (A Gizmodo blogger and iPhone user suggests you do so.) You can also go to Settings > Cellular to see how much data you've already consumed this month, Quartz notes. Some users have already found surprises there:

  • I usually use 1-2GB of mobile data a month, this month I’m up to 7. I suspect iOS 9 wifi assist, anybody else?— Jim Ray (@jimray) September 24, 2015
  • Pretty certain ios9's "wifi assist" is responsible for my last huge 4g data bill. http://t.co/NNFRkX7kgn— Dan Walsh (@travors) September 24, 2015
See how crazy sales are for the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. (More Apple stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X