Skip to main content

PSA: Keep an eye on your mobile data if you ever use poor-quality WiFi

If you ever use your iPhone on poor-quality WiFi networks, you may want to check your mobile data usage. As Quartz noted, a new feature introduced with iOS 9 is leading some people to see dramatic increases in their mobile data usage.

Wi-Fi Assist means that iOS recognizes slow WiFi and supplements it with mobile data. Great for ensuring your browsing experience doesn’t suffer, but it can come at a cost, with some users reporting that their iPhone is now using literally gigabytes more mobile data since upgrading. Unless you have unlimited data, that can get expensive.

Wi-Fi Assist is on by default, and rather hidden away in Settings, so here’s how to switch it off … 

You can switch it off in Settings > Mobile Data (or, on Verizon phones, Settings > Cellular > WiFi Assist) – but you could be forgiven for not noticing it, because unlike other system-wide toggles which appear at the top of the screen, Wi-Fi Assist is tucked away at the bottom, underneath all the app-specific toggles.

This settings screen is also where you can check out your mobile data usage.

Apple reported a week ago that iOS 9 has experienced the fastest adoption rate of any version of its mobile operating system. If you still haven’t had time to explore it fully, check out our walk-through of the new features.

Via Business Insider

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Stetch´s Photo - 9 years ago

    Yeah .. I have 12GB surf every month. I rarely go over 5Gb but this time all the 12Gb went away :/ So this function will be deactivated.

    • srgmac - 9 years ago

      Damn…how much does that cost? I still have the 30$ unlimited plan from Verizon…I have to pay full price every time I want a new phone but it’s so worth it; some months when I travel I download at least 100-200 GB…they would probably charge me an arm and a leg for that!

  2. nana (@purplemaize) - 9 years ago

    With my plan I get 6GB for 2 of my phones, I do a lot of beta testing and download plenty on Wi-Fi assist, has not affected me at all, my phone bill has been the same.

    • fistsoffrost123 - 9 years ago

      Jeez, turn it off to be precautionary. I can’t believe someone at Apple thought it would be a good idea to turn this on by default.

  3. Graham Brotherton - 9 years ago

    This was NOT enabled by default on my phone, I went in and enabled it

  4. Randy Isdahl (@epee4fun) - 9 years ago

    On my iphone 6 (Verizon) the switch was under Settings-Cellular-WiFi Assist. It was at the bottom of the screen as the writer stated.

    • Robert F Corbin - 9 years ago

      Thank you! I originally couldn’t find it to turn it off…

    • gkbrown - 9 years ago

      Same here (T-Mobile).

    • 89p13 - 9 years ago

      Ditto!

      I thought it had been removed in the Developer 9.1 Beta – but then I saw your post and it’s still there and was still enabled!

      Thank you

    • jamessmooth - 9 years ago

      Thank you! I was going crazy trying to find it. For once, Lovejoy confused me. :)

  5. jxslepton - 9 years ago

    att grandfathered unlimited data plan ftw

  6. modeyabsolom - 9 years ago

    A useful tip – thanks.

  7. proudinfidelusmc - 9 years ago

    T-Mobile Unlimited Data FTW!

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications