Unusually high data usage megathread

If you have the xFi app, you can get some (somewhat vague) indication of which device is using the most data.  Many/most devices are able to tell you how much data they have used in the last 30 days.  Some owned routers can break it down by device.  Some DIY routers running open source software can get REALLY specific.

@kduffey01,

You say you " watch a lot of Netflix" and that is certainly a way to use data.  However, there are a lot of definitions of "a lot" and there is an endless list of ways to use a lot of data.  Do the math and see how much of your use is explained by Netflix.  If it's only a small percentage, move on to other things. 

There really is no "normal".  Everyone uses different stuff and in different amounts.  And sometimes people don't even know all the stuff that is going on on their home network until something like this makes them look.  Sometimes it's a bug, malware, or a "feature".  I read on a Windows forum recently that someone checked the box in Windows that lets your Windows machine share updates with anyone and his data use went up 4.5TB/month.

Got the same data cap warning email as some of you guys.  We average about 700GB each month.  Suddenly May/June were over 1200GB each.  I'm currently at 1165GB for July.  Our usage habits haven't changed.  It showed we used 29GB just today even though we intentionally cut everything off.  Went through (3) different representatives and the only thing suggested was to go to their unlimited plan.  Very frustrating.

Graph of my usage attached

1,024 GB / 31 days = 33 GB / day

In my situation, on July 1, Xfinity reported usage of 175 GB,

I figured it was a glitch,

or the “extra” 0.2 TB / month we are getting.

It almost looks like the usage meter defaults to ~32 GB / day,

IOW, just below the cap,

but then doubles up actual usage as well.

When I saw all the posts, I started tracking my usage

@suryamanikar

The meter says it may not show data used within the last 24 hours, so data showing up overnight doesn't mean it was actually used at night. 

It's not really a time-of-day thing.  For example, if you want to see if a specific device is contributing to excess use, you can: Shut it down, and wait at least 24 hours, record the meter value (after the first 24 hours) to establish a baseline, then wait at least 24 hours more and note that meter value.  If you read the meter in small time intervals you may only confuse yourself as to what's going on.  For example, if you just shut down for 8 hours, part or all of the change to the meter might have occurred during those 8 hours, or the 16 hours before that.  You just don't know for sure.

Why is my internet data going up higher this month when my family is back to work. It makes ZERO sense unless you guys are trying to make it go higher. I check my data every day and chart what we watch so I dare you to tell me I'm confused on this

I have been with Comcast for a very long time.  I have only internet since March, we don't watch much TV at my house.  I have never, ever been even close to reaching, let alone going over my data usage. Now all of a sudden I have not only reached my increased limit of 1.2TB but have exceeded it before this month's billing cycle has ended.  Can someone please explain to me how that is even possible. Especially since I was gone, out of town for all of June and half of July.  I would like to see a breakdown of what devices, or what use of the data all of a sudden increased so dramatically starting at the same time that COVID 19 began!!!!