If your iPhone software is up to date, meaning iOS 9 and the most recent iOS 10, then you have “WiFi Assist”. WiFi Assist is a feature that allows you to stay connected to the internet even when the WiFi connection is poor. Meaning that if a webpage is having trouble loading or your Instagram won’t refresh due to poor internet connection, the cellular data on your smartphone will step in to bridge the gap. When this feature is turned on you will see the cellular data icon in the status bar on your device. Apple’s website warns that because of the obvious (the feature is using cellular data here) you might use more cellular data than usual, but should only be a “small percentage higher than previous usage”. Despite what Apple recommends, I read a decent amount of hoopla from consumers outraged by the increase in data usage when their phone bill arrived at the end of the month.
I turned my WiFi Assist feature off, and I have noticed no difference in my performance. However, I have a strong WiFi connection both at my house and my office – hey I do work for an MSP after all 🙂 !
I will be interested to see how it holds up in other environments. Regardless I can always turn the feature back on.
Want to turn off WiFi Assist and maybe save a little cash? Watch my video!
Settings > Cellular > Scroll alllllll the way down till the end of your apps > WiFi Assist toggle
If you would like to learn more about the information presented in this blog post please visit:Â https://support.apple.com
