Solved: iPhone Switching From Wi-Fi to Cellular Data

It’s almost comical how my iPhone sneakily switches from Wi-Fi to cellular data. Feels like my provider’s plotting against me! But the laugh stopped when, during a Pro Evolution Soccer download, my Wi-Fi connection dropped, and my cellular data vanished into thin air. Clearly, my iPhone’s auto-switching habit had struck again, and fiddling with Wi-Fi settings wasn’t cutting it. Luckily, my curiosity led to a foolproof fix. Stick around, and I’ll show you how to stop your iPhone from switching to cellular data.

Why Does My iPhone Keep Switching From Wi-Fi to Cellular Data?

Your iPhone keeps switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data because Wi-Fi Assist is enabled or you are too far from your router. Also, an outdated Wi-Fi router or glitches in your iPhone’s network settings can cause this situation.

• Wi-Fi Assist Enabled: Wi-Fi Assist is a feature that automatically switches your iPhone to cellular data when your Wi-Fi connection is weak or unreliable. While helpful in areas with poor Wi-Fi coverage, it can lead to unexpected data usage.
• Distance from Wi-Fi Router: If you’re too far from your Wi-Fi router, your iPhone may switch to cellular data to maintain a stronger internet connection. Stay within your Wi-Fi router’s range to avoid this issue.
• Outdated Wi-Fi Router: An outdated Wi-Fi router can sometimes cause connectivity problems, including switching to cellular data.
• iPhone’s Network Settings Issues: Glitches in your iPhone’s network settings can occasionally cause it to switch to cellular data unexpectedly.

How Do I Stop My iPhone From Switching From Wi-Fi to Cellular Data?

You can prevent your iPhone from switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data by disabling Wi-Fi Assist. Before doing that, I’ll encourage you to restart your iPhone and check your Wi-Fi settings. If you have a VPN on, turn it off:

• Restart your iPhone and router: Restarting your iPhone is a common yet effective solution for minor issues and glitches. Turn off your router and turn it back on.
• Check Wi-Fi Settings: Ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi by going to Settings > Wi-Fi.
• Turn off VPN: A VPN may slow your internet connection, causing your iPhone to switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management to disable the VPN.

Once done, follow the methods below:

1. Disable Wi-Fi Assist

Wi-Fi Assist is an iPhone feature that helps you get the strongest internet connection at all times. It does this by automatically switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data whenever it detects a weak Wi-Fi network.

2. Turn Off Wi-Fi Low Data Mode

Putting your iPhone’s Wi-Fi in low data mode interferes with internet connectivity. This may make your iPhone switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data. To prevent this, turn off low data mode for the Wi-Fi network.

1. Open the Settings App on your iPhone’s home screen.
   
2. Tap Mobile Service.
   
3. Next, tap Mobile Data Options.
   
4. Finally, toggle off Low Data Mode.
   

3. Reconnect Wi-Fi Network

If your iPhone keeps switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data, forget and reconnect the Wi-Fi network. This step helps troubleshoot common network glitches and prevent your iPhone from switching to mobile data. To forget and reconnect the Wi-Fi network.

1. Open Settings > Wi-Fi > Info symbol (i) > Forget This Network.
2. You’ll be asked to confirm your choice. Select Forget.
3. Finally, reconnect to the same network.

Now, check if your iPhone still switches from a Wi-Fi network to cellular data. If it still does, then proceed to the next fix.

4. Turn Off Limit IP Address Tracking

Apple offers an add-on called iCloud Private Relay to iCloud+ and Apple One subscribers. This feature helps you hide your IP address from trackers in the Mail app and Safari. Note that this option is enabled by default for your connected Wi-Fi network.

Now, when Apple servers are down, you may notice an iCloud Private Relay is unavailable. When this happens, your iPhone may automatically switch to mobile data to complete pending tasks. To prevent this from happening, you need to turn off the option for your Wi-Fi network. To do this:

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Select Limit IP Address Tracking and toggle it off.

5. Switch off Your Mobile Data

Another way to prevent Wi-Fi from switching to cellular data is by simply turning off the latter. To do this:

1. Open the Settings App > Mobile Data or Cellular Data.
2. Select Mobile Data again, and on the next screen, tap Off.

Another similar fix is for you to enable Airplane Mode. This will automatically turn off Mobile data, and you can keep using your iPhone’s Wi-Fi network. Kindly note, however, that enabling Airplane Mode will also prevent you from being able to receive calls. So, even if you use this method, it should be a temporary fix.

6. Reset Network Settings

You can also prevent your iPhone from switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data by resetting your Network Settings. This should be your last resort. You should know that the Reset Network Settings feature will reset all your Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, including your VPN and APN settings. To reset your Network Settings:

1. Open the Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

You will be prompted to input your password. Input it and tap the Reset Network Settings to confirm your choice.

7. Contact Your Internet Service Provider

Suppose your internet service provider(ISP) is facing downtime. In that case, Wi-Fi may not work. Your iPhone will automatically switch to mobile data. To ascertain if your poor network is from your ISP, visit Downdetector and search for your local ISP.

Which Solution Worked For You?

We have come to the end of this troubleshooting guide. Now, you can avoid the surprise of using cellular data when you expect to be on Wi-Fi. Disabling Wi-Fi Assist helped me stop this menace. Which solution worked for you? Share your experience in the comment section.