How to Disable 5G on Your iPhone: Simple Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn how to make your iPhone use LTE, not 5G

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: July 3, 2024 Fact Checked

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Disabling 5G

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are you wondering if you can disable 5G on your iPhone? The answer is "yes"—and turning off 5G on your iPhone is pretty simple, too. Whether you want to turn off 5G to save battery life, cut down on data usage, or because you just don't prefer it, disabling it is a snap. In this article we'll teach you how to change your data settings to use LTE instead of 5G.

Disabling 5G on an iPhone

To completely turn off 5G on your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data, then select LTE. You can also change your settings in the Data Mode menu to Standard or Low Data Mode.

Section 1 of 2:

Disabling 5G

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The Cellular menu is near the top of your Settings app, with a green icon of a cell tower.
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Tap Voice & Data. Select LTE in this menu. 5G Auto won't always use 5G, but if you're looking to completely disable 5G then LTE is the better option.
- Tap < Back to go back to the main Cellular Data Options menu.
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Tap Data Mode. Select Standard or Low Data Mode. The Allow More Data on 5G may prioritize 5G over other connections.
- If you disable 5G in the Voice & Data menu, your phone shouldn't use 5G data at all. However, you can change your Data Mode options to be safe.

Section 2 of 2:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why would I want to turn off 5G? There are a number of reasons why you might want to turn off 5G:
- If you live in an area without much 5G coverage, it might be faster to use LTE instead.
- 5G may drain your phone's battery faster than using LTE.
- You may find that 5G uses more data than LTE.
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How can I tell if my iPhone can use 5G? There are a few ways you can determine if your phone can use 5G:
- If you have an iPhone 11 or earlier, your device doesn't support 5G.^{[1]
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- If your carrier doesn't support 5G, then your phone can't use 5G even if it supports it. To determine if your carrier supports 5G, contact them or check this page on Apple's support site.
- If you don't have a plan with 5G coverage, then your phone can't use 5G even if it supports it. To determine if you have a plan with 5G coverage, check your plan details with your carrier.
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Does using 5G pose any health risk? At this time, 5G has not been found to cause any health concerns. According to the National Cancer Institute, this includes cell phones in general, as well as 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.^{[2]
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- There is a lot of misinformation being spread on social media regarding the supposed health risks of 5G. Always make sure to verify the sources of claims you read online to ensure they are trustworthy.