How to turn off 5g on phone

5G cellular service is expanding across all carriers and works with the iPhone 12, 13, 14, and SE 3. Apple uses a “5G Auto” setting as the default that aims to give users a balance between network speed and battery life. But you can also manage the settings manually to optimize for what you need in a given moment. Follow along for how to turn 5G on/off on iPhone.

Table of Contents Show

iPhone default 5G setting
How to turn 5G on/off on iPhone
Turn 5G on/off: what’s this icon?
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About the Author
Michael Potuck
How do you turn off 5G on iPhone?
Should I turn off 5G on my phone?
How do I turn my 5G off and back to 4G?
How can I use 4G instead of 5G?

If you’re curious about what kind of 5G performance you’ll see with your iPhone, that will vary depending on where you live and your carrier. In the US, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all have 5G available nationwide and top speeds can reach beyond 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) however, that won’t be the norm for most.

But, iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are quite a bit faster for cellular speeds:

iPhone 14 Pro has 50% faster download speeds vs iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22

There are several types of 5G. mmWave offers the fastest speeds but has a quite limited range and Sub-6Ghz 5G which has a better range but speeds closer to 4G LTE. And only iPhone 12, 13, and 14 support both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G.

However, one downside to 5G is it uses more battery than LTE. Some tests have shown iPhone lasting from 1-2.5 hours longer when sticking with 4G LTE vs 5G.

iPhone default 5G setting

5G is on by default with compatible iPhones, but won’t be used permanently (even if available). It uses what Apple calls “Smart Data mode” that tries to automatically strike the best balance between 5G/LTE and battery life. Apple even says it takes into account your data plan:

The default settings for 5G on iPhone are optimized for battery life and data usage based on your data plan. You can customize these options for when to use 5G and how much data to use in some apps.

However, inside the cellular settings, you can choose to turn 5G on/off on iPhone manually to optimize for speed or battery life.

How to turn 5G on/off on iPhone

Head to the Settings app on your iPhone (5G available on iPhone 12, 13, and SE 3)
Tap Cellular
Choose Cellular Data Options
Tap Voice & Data
With 5G Auto as the default, you can choose 5G On to use it anytime it’s available for faster speeds
Alternatively, if you want to turn 5G off completely, tap LTE for better battery life

You can also tap Data Mode in the cellular settings and pick Allow More Data on 5G for higher quality video for streaming and things like FaceTime. And the opposite, Low Data Mode for when you want to conserve.

Here’s how this looks:

Turn 5G on/off: what’s this icon?

With the different types of 5G service (sub-6Ghz, mmWave, etc.) Apple has four different icons in the iPhone status bar to denote what you’re using (no matter if you turn 5G on manually or use the 5G Auto/Smart Data mode).

Verizon uses 5G UW to note mmWave and other high-frequency 5G connections, AT&T uses 5G+, and T-Mobile labels it 5G UC (ultra capacity). If you see the plain “5G’ in your status bar, that’s signaling you’re on the lower spectrum (greater range and coverage, slower speeds comparatively).

Note: iPhone SE 3 isn’t compatible with mmWave 5G service, just sub-6GHz. iPhone 12, 13, and 14 support both mmWave and sub-6GHz.

iPhone

Introduced in 2007 by Steve Jobs, iPhone is Apple's flagship iOS device and easily its most popular product around the world. The iPhone runs iOS and includes a large collection of mobile apps through the App Store.

How To

A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

About the Author

Michael Potuck

@michaelpotuck

Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.

How do you turn off 5G on iPhone?

Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options or Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options. If you see this screen, your device has 5G activated. If you don't see this screen, contact your carrier to confirm that your plan supports 5G. Turn on Airplane Mode, then turn it off.

Should I turn off 5G on my phone?

Turning Off 5G Has Some Benefits Turning off 5G on your Galaxy S22 or S21 will primarily help when your phone's battery life is being hammered by poor network connectivity. By disabling 5G, your phone will connect to a 4G network, leading to better connectivity and longer battery life for your device.