This article explains how to turn off the 5G option on the iPhone 12 and other compatible iPhone models. It also explores why you may want to consider shutting off an iPhone’s 5G option and also how to turn 5G back on.
How to Shut Off 5G on iPhone
Turning off 5G on an iPhone can be done at any time and with just a few taps. Here’s how.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone smartphone and tap Mobile.
Tap Mobile Data Options.
Tap Voice & Data.
Tap 4G to keep 5G turned off all of the time.
Depending on your cellular provider, you may have LTE listed instead of 4G. Selecting this will perform the same function by disabling 5G.
If you’re worried about battery life, you may want to select 5G Auto. This option lets you benefit from 5G speeds most of the time, but it will switch to 4G if your battery is low on juice.
Tap Back to get back to the Mobile Data Options screen and tap Data Mode. From this screen, you can further customize your iPhone data usage when using 5G and when connecting to lower speed signals.
The 5G Auto and Standard default settings are usually fine for most iPhone owners.
How Do I Turn On My 5G on My iPhone?
To turn on 5G on your iPhone smartphone, repeat the above steps and select one of the various 5G options within the Settings app.
Even with 5G turned on, it’s unlikely you’ll get 5G service all of the time due to 5G towers only being in limited areas. It’s completely normal for your iPhone to switch to LTE or 4G when out of range of a 5G tower.
Can 5G Be Turned Off on iPhone 12?
Apple’s iPhone 12 series of smartphones were the first iPhones to support 5G cellular connectivity. As of April 2021, the iPhone 12 series contains the base iPhone 12 model, the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Every phone in the iPhone 12 series allows for the enabling and disabling of 5G. We assume all future iPhone models will as well, whether they’re part of the iPhone 12 line of phones or an entry in a future product line such as the eventual iPhone 13.
Can I Shut Off 5G on All iPhone Models?
Only the iPhone 12 series of smartphones, and those released afterward, support 5G. You can turn off 5G on all of these phones.
Older iPhone models, such as the iPhone 11 and lower, are unable to connect to 5G. Technically, you can’t turn off 5G on these devices, but that's because the hardware is not in older phones. You can, however, turn off all cellular activity on all iPhones though doing so will naturally disable the ability to make and answer phone calls.
How Do I Change From 5G to LTE or 4G?
Your iPhone should automatically switch to an alternative cellular signal such as 4G or LTE when out of range of a 5G tower. There’s nothing you need to do in this case.
If you’re having trouble with your 5G connection, like it's not downloading or uploading data, you can manually switch to an alternative option. Open Settings and tap Mobile > Mobile Data Options > Voice & Data and choose your preferred connection.
Most providers no longer provide you with the option to choose a slower connection. These signals typically act as an automatic backup if the 4G connection fails.
Should I Turn Off 5G on My iPhone?
5G offers upload and download speeds significantly faster than traditional cellular connections.
Due to these facts, it’s unlikely you’ll ever find a need to disable 5G on your iPhone for any significant length of time, but there are some reasons people choose to.
Apple’s iPhone 12 series is the first generation of the company’s mobile devices to feature 5G technology. This is critical for future-proofing your new phone for the next five years or so. It seems to have been key for 5G’s growth too, as Counterpoint Research proclaimed the iPhone 12 the best selling 5G smartphone within the first two weeks, accounting for nearly 25% of all smartphone sales in October 2020 and justifying the iPhone 12 Pro‘s position as the best 5G smartphone.
Contents
- How to turn off 5G in the iPhone 12
- Why turn 5G off?
5G takes advantage of accelerated connection speeds. While support for the next-generation network becomes available in more locations, there are still plenty of places where 5G does not yet exist, as connectivity also depends on the carrier as well as the location, so you’ll want to use the current 5G selectively for now. In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile now offer 5G nationwide, but you’ll find most of the coverage in and around major metro areas with considerable population density.
Basically, you need to balance your need. Faster connection speeds, while unnecessary for scrolling through your Twitter feed, could prove extremely convenient for downloading a full-length movie. It’s up to you how you want to use the iPhone 12’s 5G capabilities, and Apple has made it flexible and easy to customize. While on Apple’s iPhone 12, 5G is on by default, governed by a Smart Data Mode designed to balance network speed and your battery, you can turn it off. Here’s how to turn off 5G in the iPhone 12.
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How to turn off 5G in the iPhone 12
These instructions will work on the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
- Go to Settings > Cellular.
- Tap on Cellular Data Options.
- Tap on Voice & Data. Most likely, it will be on the 5G Auto setting.
- Tap on LTE to prevent the phone from using 5G. You can switch it back whenever you want.
Why turn 5G off?
It’s probably best to stick with the 5G Auto setting, so you can leverage faster speeds where it’s available and conserve battery life where it’s not. If extra speed is not critical, and you have long-term concerns about battery life, just leave 5G completely off for now. The 5G On setting automatically uses 5G wherever it’s available, without regard to battery life. Conversely, 5G Auto uses the network only when it doesn’t significantly impact battery life.
What should you do? Apple’s default choices are the most efficient for most people, so don’t feel compelled to monkey with the settings. Between the phone and carrier, network usage likely delivers the best combination of speed and battery usage. You can also set your data mode to Allow More Data on 5G from the default Standard, which lets the phone use 5G for everything possible, including maximizing streaming video quality or video chatting.
Whatever you do, be sure to double-check with your carrier to ensure your plan supports 5G, or whether you need to adjust your plan or even replace your SIM card to accommodate the new networking tech.