How to turn off 5g on iphone 12 pro max

26

26 people found this article helpful

You can change from 5G to LTE or 4G on iPhone with just a few quick taps

What to Know

• Turn off 5G on iPhone by opening Settings, tapping Mobile > Mobile Data Options > Voice & Data, and selecting an alternative connection.
• Your iPhone will automatically turn off 5G if a 5G tower is unavailable.
• Only iPhone models in the iPhone 12 series and above support 5G.

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.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone smartphone and tap Mobile.

2. Tap Mobile Data Options.

3. Tap Voice & Data.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

• Conflicting 5G towers. An iPhone or 5G broadband device trying to connect to multiple 5G towers within equal range can often cause conflicts and even complete disconnections.
• Bad 5G service. The 5G signal may be connected but could be overwhelmed with too many users, which can cause slow 5G speeds.
• Mobile plan data limits. Fast downloads are great, but you could be reaching your monthly data limit, which can end up being expensive depending on your provider and selected plan.
• Bragging about 5G speeds to your friends. Turning your 5G on and off again to show your friends and family how big a difference it makes can be very entertaining and informative.

Thanks for letting us know!

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

Subscribe