Is anybody experiencing high data usage from Whatsapp on Android?

Question

My data usage from whatsapp has suddenly gone through the roof! My own usage pattern hasn't changed, I don't even leave data open all day but somehow whatsapp has chewed through 20MB since the start of the month, according to my Data Manager app. Last month whatsapp used 4MB - in fact it has never been higher than 5MB for a single month. I have not been downloading any picture or media above what I normally do - less than normal in fact. Stranger still is the fact that whatsapp itself says I've only ever had 18.7MB Network Usage - and thats in TOTAL, not just for one month.

tendyfish · Answer 1 · 2013-03-11T14:35:12+0000

did u recently update to a newer version of whatsapp, i think it could be it or if u sent or received a lot of pictures and multimedia during that month,...other wise it could be a problem with your data counter

same problem wid me in 5 mins i lost 10 mb data just on whatsapp ....
rather only on text messages no audio or video messages
wtf ... kindly fix this problem — shubhangi, Feb 24, 2014

tafmak3000 · Answer 2 · 2013-08-15T19:57:06+0000

i think i have figure it out, Checking my records, The data is referred to as background data and peaks until about 40mb is downloaded then it resumes to normal usage. I'd like to imagine this is whats app conducting a clandestine (secret) update. Don't uninstall it, rather find a wifi hotspot or buy at least 50meg of data and let whats app do its deed. It should return to normal usage afterwards

macdonald.chipunza · Answer 3 · 2013-03-08T22:16:55+0000

What phone have you got because on mine its even less 1mb nearing a month usage. Highest is chrome coz lm always on net. Followed by Tango coz l make a lot of video calls the viber.

Look again.

anonymous · Answer 4 · 2013-03-11T10:31:36+0000

Have you done an OS update maybe? Or maybe it is your network provider that has made changes on their systems, I used to be on Vodacom and I can tell you the usage they deduct for posting a facebook status is higher than what MTN or 8ta charge. Not sure if possible but might be a calibration on their servers not your part, its all about making money, milking the cow (you).

anonymous · Answer 5 · 2013-03-11T10:45:35+0000

might just be inaccuracy on the part of your data counting app. I use my antivirus as a Data Manager and i have noticed that it doesnt exactly tally with my actually credit usage.

Adrian Hung · Answer 6 · 2013-08-16T06:57:26+0000

Try uninstalling your whatsapp. And re-get one from the play store, no other untrusted source.

fmzondiwa · Answer 7 · 2013-09-22T16:08:45+0000

Geez this is not fair. Whatsapp just sucked 30 MB of data in just ten minutes. When I checked it says background data. I think whatsapp should stop this clandestine app updating because it overrode my settings were I forced apps to update via wifi only.

What's ur fone's Os ... If it's android er iz a solution nd whats e version on that whatsapp — tinaed, Sep 22, 2013
Android 4.0.1 and am sure its a new version coz I just installed it a month ago — fmzondiwa, Sep 23, 2013

LJ · Answer 8 · 2014-03-14T17:34:02+0000

I am facing the same issue with my Windows Phone. I used to have max 500 MB data being used every month by all apps on my phone, but this time it soared to 3GB. I analyzed the trend of data being used, and found that the Data usage has exponentially increased since Feb 22, 2014, after WhatsApp server went down. This makes me conclude that something has gone really bad on WhatsApp Server Fix and that is causing such a drastic increase in my WhatsApp Data Usage. After disabling the WhatsApp Background Services, the Data Usage is back to normal for last 2 days. I have already sent an email to WhatsApp support team and awaiting their response.

djhseen · Answer 9 · 2014-03-23T14:13:01+0000

i just signed up here to write this reply

i was facing the same problem & while googling it i got here,,
while reading answers & using WhatsApp at the same time WhatsApp showed a pop up requires confirmation to install the new WhatsApp version,
so everything is clear now, Whatsapp was downloading the update secretly & that's it, now everything's just fine.

anonymous · Answer 10 · 2014-06-28T16:54:03+0000

Yes, Whatsapp is doing automatic background updates. When using the Safari browser on iPhones a Whatsapp page for a background update pops up and it is impossible to remove this page. The browser has to be closed down but when it is reopened the Whatsapp download page reappears. This renders Safari unusable unless you agree to the Whatsapp download. Whatsapp is very useful but I will delete it and switch to BBM if they continue doing this. I want to be able to choose when I download anything because they can be expensive and use up one's data allowance

Is anybody experiencing high data usage from Whatsapp on Android?

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