A reliable cellular data connection can be convenient and cost effective when you’re away from home. However, a strong Wi-Fi network is ideal in many situations, such as downloading large files, controlling smart home devices, and streaming content. These tasks are best accomplished with a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection on your iPhone.
Sometimes your iPhone can automatically switch between Wi-Fi and cellular. While this is not a major issue, it may result in unexpected data charges or slow speeds. Fortunately, there are simple solutions to this problem. Below are troubleshooting tips to help keep your iPhone from switching between Wi-Fi and cellular automatically.
1. Make sure the router is turned on
The first thing you should do is make sure your Wi-Fi router is turned on. It is also possible that you are too far away from the router or out of range.
To be sure, you can reboot your router by turning it off and back on after a few minutes. If this still doesn’t work, update your Wi-Fi router to the latest firmware.
2. Check Wi-Fi settings
On an iPhone, go to Settings → Wi-Fi. A blue checkmark next to a network means you’re connected.
To make your device automatically connect to the network next time, do the following:
- Go to “Settings”→ “Wi-Fi”.
- Click the Info button (i) next to the selected network.
- Then turn on auto join.
Check Wi-Fi connection strength
You can also try running a speed test to see if your Wi-Fi connection is slow. You can also check your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In the event of a failure, your Wi-Fi may not work and you may want to switch to cellular data to stay connected.
Forget your network and reconnect
If you’re already connected to a Wi-Fi network and have no issues with your ISP or signal, forgetting your Wi-Fi network can also help. Please note that this will completely remove this Wi-Fi network information from your device, so you will need to enter your password again.
- Go to “Settings”→ “Wi-Fi”.
- Click the Info button (i) next to your Wi-Fi network → Forget This Network.
- Then reconnect to it by selecting it from your networks and entering your password when prompted.
Check if there are any problems with your Wi-Fi network.
If your iPhone detects a problem with your Wi-Fi, you will most likely see a recommendation under its name. You may find No internet connection. Tap a Wi-Fi network to view more details.
3. Disable Cellular Data
You can turn off cellular data to have your device use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data.
4. Disable Low Data Mode
Low Data Mode is a feature that helps reduce data usage on certain Wi-Fi networks. When enabled, your iPhone will disable automatic updates and background tasks such as photo syncing.
If your Wi-Fi connection is in low data mode and Wi-Fi Assistance is turned on (more on that later), your iPhone may switch to cellular data if it offers a stronger connection, especially when performing a data-intensive task.
5. Disable Wi-Fi Assistance
To give you the best browsing experience, your iPhone will always look for the best and fastest connection. So every time your device sees that your mobile data connection is more stable and faster than your Wi-Fi, it might switch to it.
This feature, called Wi-Fi Assist, is available on iPhones running iOS9 and later. When this feature is enabled, it works when the Wi-Fi connection is poor. It is enabled on your device by default. If you want to disable it:
- Go to Settings → Cellular Data.
- Scroll down to find Wi-Fi Assist and turn it off.
6. Disable VPN
Connecting to a VPN can slow down your internet connection, causing Wi-Fi to drop out. To disable it:
- Open “Settings”on your iPhone.
- Click “General”→ “VPN and Device Management”.
- Make sure the VPN is not connected.
In addition, some users have reported that third-party VPN apps (even if they don’t actively use them) can cause connection issues by preventing their iPhone from properly connecting to Wi-Fi.
7. Turn on network and wireless
The Network & Wireless feature under Privacy can affect your Wi-Fi and other connections. This feature is enabled by default, but there’s nothing wrong with double-checking if it’s enabled on your device.
- To check, go to Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Turn on location services → scroll down and tap on System Services.
- Scroll down and tap on System Services → enable Network and Wireless if it is disabled.
8. Update iOS
Your iPhone that is constantly switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data can be the cause of errors and minor glitches. Updating the software to the latest version may help resolve this issue.
- Just open “Settings”→ “General”.
- Tap Software Update.
- If there is an update, click the Download and Install button to install it.
9. Restart your iPhone
Rebooting your iPhone is another common remedy for minor glitches and issues. The way to restart your iPhone depends on your device. Here is our guide on how to reset all iPhone models.
10. Reset network settings
When all of the above methods fail, the next step is to reset the network settings. This resets all your Wi-Fi networks and passwords, including APN and VPN settings. Don’t worry; this will not delete any of your files.
If you’re using an iPhone with iOS 15 or later:
- Click “Settings”→ “General”.
- Select Transfer or reset [device] → Reset.
- Double tap “Reset network settings”to confirm.
Completion…
The above methods should help your iPhone not switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data. Let us know which method worked for you!