To turn off 5G on an iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data and choose LTE. To turn 5G back on, choose 5G Auto (saves battery) or 5G On (always uses 5G when available).
This works on 5G-capable iPhones, including iPhone 13 and iPhone 15, and you need a carrier and plan that support 5G. The options come from Apple’s Use 5G with your iPhone article.
How to Turn Off 5G on iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular, then Cellular Data Options. In some regions these are called Mobile Data and Mobile Data Options. With Dual SIM, choose the number you want to change.
- Tap Voice & Data.
- Choose LTE.
Your iPhone uses only LTE, even where 5G is available, and the 5G icon disappears from the status bar. If your Cellular screen lists your phone numbers under SIMs, open the line you want to change and look for Voice & Data. Menu grouping can vary with your cellular setup.
If you want a separate work or travel number, see our guide to adding a second phone number to an iPhone. It explains carrier SIM/eSIM activation, line labels, and choosing the data line before adjusting that line’s 5G settings.
How to Turn 5G Back On
- Open the same line’s Voice & Data screen using the route above.
- Choose 5G Auto or 5G On.
5G is allowed again on that line when the carrier, plan and coverage support it. With 5G Auto, the phone may still choose LTE when 5G offers no noticeable benefit. Apple says the default 5G settings are tuned for battery life and data use based on your plan, so 5G Auto is a good choice for most people.
The 5G Choices Explained
- 5G Auto: Apple’s Smart Data mode. When 5G speeds don’t give a noticeably better experience, your iPhone switches to LTE, which saves battery life.
- 5G On: always uses the 5G network when it’s available. Apple warns this might reduce battery life.
- LTE: uses only the LTE network, even when 5G is available.
Apple adds that settings such as 5G Standalone and Voice Over 5G Standalone may appear in some markets. Ask your carrier what they do on your plan.
Use More (or Less) Data on 5G
In Cellular Data Options > Data Mode, Apple offers three choices:
- Allow More Data on 5G: turns on higher data-use features such as higher-quality FaceTime, HD content on Apple TV, iOS updates over cellular, and automatic iCloud backups. Apple says your iPhone may also use 5G instead of slow or insecure Wi-Fi on networks you visit occasionally.
- Standard: allows automatic updates and background tasks on cellular with standard video and FaceTime quality. This is generally the default.
- Low Data Mode: pauses automatic updates and background tasks to reduce data use.
If you’re trying to save data rather than battery, see how to reduce cellular data use on iPhone.
Why Turn Off 5G?
- Battery life: Apple warns that 5G On may reduce battery life. Try LTE and compare your own usage; your battery life may or may not improve.
- Unreliable coverage: if 5G is unreliable but LTE works at your location, try LTE. Selecting it cannot create coverage where your carrier has none.
- Low Power Mode: you may not need to change anything. Apple’s Low Power Mode guidance says this mode disables 5G except in some cases, like video streaming and large downloads, on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models.
Don’t See 5G Options?
- Confirm with your carrier that they support 5G and that your plan includes it. Apple notes some carriers charge an activation fee.
- Make sure you’re in an area with 5G coverage.
- Check that your exact iPhone model supports 5G, then look for Voice & Data on the correct cellular line. A Cellular Data Options screen alone is not a useful model check.
- Turn Airplane Mode on, then off.
- If you still don’t have 5G, contact your carrier.
If you moved from an older iPhone, Apple says you may need your carrier to set up your existing SIM for 5G. For Dual SIM on iPhone 12 models, you need iOS 14.5 or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off 5G turn off cellular data?
No. Choosing LTE only switches the network type. To stop using cellular data entirely, turn off Cellular Data on the main Cellular screen.
Will 5G work when I travel?
Apple says many carriers support 5G roaming. If yours doesn’t, you can use 4G or LTE, or get a local SIM or eSIM with 5G where available.
Related: how to turn on Low Power Mode on iPhone and how to turn off cellular data for Safari.
Choose LTE to stop using 5G, or return to 5G Auto or 5G On when you want it available again. The setting is reversible and does not require a factory reset.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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