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If you have an iPhone and a limited amount of data on your cell phone plan, you should know about a new setting that you need to turn off now. iOS 9, the new operating system for the iPhone, is filled with useful features. But one new feature that is turned on by default may turn out to be very expensive for you: Wi-Fi Assist.
What Wi-Fi Assist Is
Wi-Fi Assist was introduced in iOS 9 and is designed to allow your iPhone to get the best Internet connection possible. If your phone is connected to a slow Wi-Fi network, Wi-Fi Assist will automatically switch to a faster cellular connection.
By using Wi-Fi Assist you can have a stronger Internet connection on your iPhone to watch videos, stream music, play online games and do other things that require fast connections. Wi-Fi Assist works in the background so the transfer from Wi-Fi to a cellular Internet connection happens without your knowledge.
Wi-Fi Assist is turned on by default.
You don’t have to activate Wi-Fi Assist in Settings. If you’ve updated your iPhone to iOS 9 and haven’t turned off Wi-Fi Assist, it is turned on for your phone.
Don’t miss => iOS 9 Updates and Features — What You Need to Know
The Problem with Wi-Fi Assist
Wi-Fi Assist could be quite costly for you if you don’t have an unlimited data plan for your iPhone. If you have a monthly data allowance for your cell phone plan, Wi-Fi Assist could use up your monthly data much more quickly than you realize.
Because Wi-Fi Assist is turned on by default and works automatically, without telling you it has switched you from Wi-Fi to cellular, you probably have no idea when you are using up your monthly cellular data. You may think you’re connected to Wi-Fi when instead you’re using your data.
You’re viewing your favorite YouTube videos, streaming Apple Music or Spotify, binge-watching Mad Men on Netflix, downloading Amazon Prime Videos, or doing some other data-hungry activity on your phone, thinking you’re using Wi-Fi. Instead, Wi-Fi Assist automatically switches you to cellular data in order to get a faster connection.
You may not realize that you’ve just blown through your monthly data allowance because you thought you were connected to Wi-Fi.
Oops.
The next time you get a bill from your carrier might be the first time you realize that you went over your monthly data allowance.
[tip] If you have an unlimited data plan (as I do), you may want to leave Wi-Fi Assist turned on. Wi-Fi Assist can help make sure you’re getting a faster Internet connection.
See, Liss Is More My Favorite iOS 9 Trick [/tip]
How to Turn Off Wi-Fi Assist
Wi-Fi Assist is turned on by default but you can turn off the feature in Settings. By turning off Wi-Fi Assist you will be able control whether you are connected to the Internet using Wi-Fi or cellular data.
To turn off Wi-Fi Assist go to:
Settings => Cellular => Wi-Fi Assist Off
Wi-Fi Assist is at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down to swipe the Wi-Fi Assist switch off.
[note] One of the more helpful new features of iOS 9 is the ability to search in Settings. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi Assist doesn’t show up in search results so be sure to follow the steps above to turn off Wi-Fi Assist. [/tip]
How to Switch from Wi-Fi to Cellular Without Wi-Fi Assist
With Wi-Fi Assist turned off you can still switch from Wi-Fi to your cellular connection manually if your Wi-Fi network speed is slow.
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal Control Center. Tap the Wi-Fi icon to disconnect from Wi-Fi and use cellular instead.
See, 13 Super Shortcuts for Your iPhone – in Control Center
How to Prevent Apps Using Cellular Data
While you’re in Settings to turn off Wi-Fi Assist, take a moment to check which apps have your permission to use cellular data.
Go to Settings => Cellular Data
and switch off any apps you don’t need to use on cellular data. If you can wait to use the apps until you’re connected to Wi-Fi, turning off cellular data will preserve your monthly data allowance.
Some apps refresh in the background, connecting to the Internet even when you’re not using them.
See, Background App Refresh – Make the Best Use of Your Apps
By turning off cellular data for apps you can make sure that apps refresh only when they’re connected to Wi-Fi.
Your Thoughts
Have you updated to iOS 9? Have you noticed an increase in your data usage? Did you realize Wi-Fi Assist was turned on? Have you turned it off yet? Do you have an unlimited data plan?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
Going Home with Tony
Tune in tonight at 6 pm EDT to hear me talk tech on the Going Home with Tony Internet radio show. I’ll be discussing cell phone etiquette, the topic of Monday’s article here at The Wonder of Tech: Yes, You’re Annoying People When You’re Using Your Phone.
Join in the discussion and let us know how you feel about people using cell phones in front of you.
You can listen live or later to the podcast at this link: Going Home with Tony radio show.
Voice of America
If you’re learning English, check out my article at Voice of America Learning English: Cell Phone Use Among Friends? How Rude!
The article is written in simple English and includes a podcast that helps you learn how to pronounce words in American English.
Hi Carolyn,
I shut off my wifi assist a few days ago and it seems to be working but I still check my data
usage daily to be sure.
BTW there is a free apt you can download to your iPhone that checks your data usage for you.
Carlo
Hi Carlo, I’m glad you were able to turn off Wi-Fi Assist and that it helped to reduce the use of your monthly data.
Yes, there are some apps that let you monitor your data usage. They may be helpful to keep track of how much data you’re using if you want to keep Wi-Fi Assist turned on or if you’re away from Wi-Fi often.
Wow! Thank you. I have been having a lot of problems with data. That may have been the issue! I am making sure all my family turns off this feature.
Hi Stephanie, Great idea. Make sure Wi-Fi Assist is turned off for your phone as well as your family member’s iPhones.
I heard from someone yesterday who usually uses about 3-4 GB of data a month. So far this month he used 17 GB! He’s turning Wi-Fi Assist off.
This setting works in the background so people don’t even realize that their data is being used. They think they’re using Wi-Fi but they may be switched automatically to data because of Wi-Fi Assist, which is on by default.
I predict that an iOS update will be released that makes the default setting off for Wi-Fi Assist. Most people don’t have unlimited data plans and are going to be getting surprising cell phone bills soon.
Never thought of it doing that. luckily i don’t use any online video or music a lot.
Hi Cole, Excellent point. Even if you don’t use a lot of online video or music, your apps could be refreshing in the background.
Look at the section above at the end of this article about background app refresh. Take a moment to go to Settings turn off Wi-Fi Assist and check which apps have your permission to use cellular data. No need to have apps using up your cellular data allowance if you can wait until you get to Wi-Fi.
I am a die hard android fans but Its good to know something about Iphone. Who knows, I may own one in the future.
HI Gilbert, Yes, thanks. Even if you don’t own an iPhone, you probably know someone who does. Please help spread the word about this new setting that people with iPhones should turn off now (unless they have a truly unlimited data plan).
Thanks for this tip. I just upgraded yesterday to the iPhone 6S and am looking for as much as possible to know what I might be missing. Fortunately, this was not turned on.
What about the cellular option? Is it best to keep that off too Carolyn?
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for letting me know about this. I have unlimited data on my cell phone plan, but my kids don’t.
Hi Jens, Great point. Yes, you should definitely turn off this setting on your children’s phones since they don’t have unlimited data.
Hey Carolyn,
Wow, I’m glad I don’t have the latest version. I’m on my brother’s family plan so I’m sure he’s be contacting me telling me that I was wracking up some charges and to tone it down or pay up. LOL!!!
The first time I went totally wireless I did get a wake up call. I guess I wasn’t thinking about the people who were calling me still from landlines to my cell so I did owe him extra money until I could figure out an alternative which I did.
Sorry I missed you on the radio program, I bet you did great though.
Hope your week got started on the right note and be sure that you continue to enjoy it as well.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Feel free to update to iOS 9, just turn off Wi-Fi Assist as soon as you are finished updating. That way you can be sure you’re using Wi-Fi when you’re connected to your network.
Also, even though you haven’t updated, you may want to go into Settings, as described above, to turn off cellular data for any apps you want to connect using Wi-Fi only. That way you can be sure that you’re not using any cellular data unnecessarily on your brother’s plan.
Even though you aren’t using apps they can still update in the background using cellular data unless you turn off cellular data for apps in Settings.
I know what you mean about talking on the phone. Many plans have unlimited minutes for talking but some don’t. If you have limited minutes each month then you do have to mind your minutes!
By the way, you can listen to the podcast at Blog Talk Radio: Carolyn Nicander Mohr on Going Home with Tony. It was a fun show!
Just wanted you to know that I still have the iPhone 5 and you can’t upgrade with that version plus I have all my settings in place.
Thanks for the recording link by the way, I’ll have to listen to that one.
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for checking out the Going Home with Tony show I was on last week.
Yes, you can update the iPhone 5 to iOS 9. Just be sure to turn off Wi-Fi Assist after you update.
That’s great you have adjusted your settings so you don’t use cellular data for apps that can wait for Wi-Fi. Well done!
Hi, Carolyn,
Not sure my comments are getting through. . . but will try again on this post. 🙂
Thank you for this awesome tip!
I emailed my adult kids with the link to your site, so they could fix their settings too.
Very helpful indeed. So glad you’re watching out for anything that can harm or help, so thanks for being our watchguard!!
Hope you’re having a great start to your week.
Take care,
~Carol
Hi Carol, I’m so glad this was helpful to you and your family. I’ve been hearing from so very many people whose data has been disappearing because of Wi-Fi Assist.
You’re right, that’s exactly what I do here at The Wonder of Tech, watch out for tech that can help or hurt us. Thanks so much for your wonderful comment, Carol!
Hi Carolyn,
I’m so glad that I came across this post! I upgraded to iOS 9 this morning and didn’t know about the Wi-Fi Assist being turned on by default. Your directions were very clear and easy to follow.
Thank you! I will be sharing this with everyone I know that has an iPhone!
~ Robin
Hi Robin, I’m so glad you found this article helpful and that you turned off Wi-Fi Assist. No need to run through your monthly data, you can control when you switch off Wi-Fi.
Thanks for your comment and for sharing this article, Robin!
HiCarolyn,
I’ve known people complain when they have a new android phone that is is connected to data by default and so all their data allowance is used quickly. There are all sorts of practices to part us with money. I hate phone systems that answer and then put you on hold for 30 minutes!
Hi Mike, Yes, anyone who gets charged for using more data than their monthly allowance is bound to be upset. We may have an idea of how many minutes we talk on the phone or how many text messages we send, but probably not of how much data we use.
I completely agree with you about being put on hold. Wait times on the phone can be so frustrating. Put your phone on speaker and then try to do something else while you’re waiting.
I Like This “Going Home With Tony” And I Listen This Going Home With Tony.
Hi Ma’am
Great post, Wi-fi Assist should be turned off especially when you don’t have unlimited data plans. Furthermore, there are other few settings which might affect the data plans, we should turn them either.
Regards,
Mohit
Hi Mohit, Yes, people should turn off cellular data for any unimportant apps. Better to wait until you’re connected to Wi-Fi to use your apps!
I think every iPhone user must know this setting becuse by help of this way he can save lots of data and money.. thanks for share with us..
Regards
Mohd Arif
Hi Mohd, Yes, people who have unlimited data plans might want to keep Wi-Fi Assist turned on. That way they can get the best connection.
Other people, who are on limited data plans, may want to turn off Wi-Fi Assist.
Thanks Carolyn for bringing this to our awareness.
IMO, Apple should keep it off by default as most people are not using unlimited data connection plan. People who like this feature can turn it on.
The feature itself is good though and can come in handy, as sometimes you end up with a poor WiFi connection and would want to use cellular network instead to get a faster streaming or browsing.
If you are using a limited data plan and your have a built-in settings to cap how much data you can use every month, that would be wonderful. You can specify a warning cap and a limit cap. Then you will be notified when you are close to the current limit as well as when you have exceed the current limit of your data plan. This will be helpful to save you from exceeding the data limit unintentionally
HI Peter, You’re right, having Wi-Fi Assist turned off would save people from billing surprises at the end of the month. I like your idea of a data cap, your phone would use Wi-Fi Assist only up to X GB of data a month. Perhaps Apple will do that in a future iOS update!
hey i am a android user and my brother is iphone user so i don’t have much knowledge on it. but its really useful and interesting information for any iphone user.
Hi Sheetal, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech!
You’re right, Android users don’t need this information but you should let your brother know about it in case he doesn’t have Wi-Fi Access turned off yet.
Hi Carolyn,
Wow… Thanks for this amazing info, I honestly never knew about this, it will really go a long way to help.
I appreciate this “Wi-Fi Assist could be quite costly for you if you don’t have an unlimited data plan for your iPhone. If you have a monthly data allowance for your cell phone plan, Wi-Fi Assist could use up your monthly data much more quickly than you realize.”
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers.
Dan
Hello Dan, Yes, the individual article I wrote on turning off Wi-Fi Assist was incredibly popular so I wanted to include it in this article too. Turning off this feature is very important if you don’t have unlimited data on your cell phone plan.
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad this article was helpful to you!