3G on iPhone 12

They allow usage of it but you cannot select 3G as your preferred setting, you get an option of 5G or LTE. Both companies will turn off their 3G access at the end of this year.

I missed the window to edit my post, I meant to type that 3G is NOW working. Took 3 Sims to unfortunately get here (original sim, eSim and physical sim)

Contact your cell service provider to see what APN settings, etc. are included in their carrier settings file.

In the uk, all the carriers allows auto switching to 3G but not manually.

although that’s only the big 4 but even then, the smaller carriers use the big boys networks anyway.

Do you and your friend use the same carrier? If yes check the Carrier Settings version on each of you phones and see if they are different.

@deggie I would have to agree on that, The settings are provided by the carrier, not Apple, it’s up to the carrier to decide on which technologies to be used on the iPhone.

@POLEKING are you saying that your iPhone 12 Pro Max shows the 3G icon in the top? When you go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data what options are listed there?

I called apple they said you have to talk to your cellphone carrier

and I am sure they are not going to put 5G for me I my area even LTE is not strong enough.

so bought iPhone pro max yesterday and will return it on Monday

I will advice people not buy it until they have 3G option

This option that people are desperate for is redundant. The phone will automatically connect to 3G. The option is there to limit 5G if you wish or to use 4G and below. I don’t understand how people are not understanding that.

beyond me

I spent hours on the phone between my carrier and apple both pointing to each other, eventually apple support agreed there was nothing that could be done (currently) without hardware to boost the signal in the house. The issue for me and possibly others is that there is unreliable 4G available. I have 1 bar and very slow speeds LTE compared to 3g, so I'd just like to have the phone use 3g (4 bars) when in this area and I don't mind setting it myself if I have to, if only there was the option...

Lawrence, this is not exactly true, at least for Verizon - my iPhone 12 would not connect to any network here at my house while my XR next to it would connect to 3G.

I spoke with Senior tech from Apple - he said I needed to get senior tech at VZW on the line and ask him to activate the MEID to enable 3G access. Verizon was not willing to do this.

I moved to T-Mobile - very happy!

So I have the same situation. The phone is perfectly capable of connecting to 3G networks. Or even 4G networks but not LTE. I have no 5G and a crappy LTE signal in my house, but 4G (non LTE) and 3G come in fine. I have no option to turn off LTE. It constantly chooses the poor LTE signal over the stronger, slower one. If I go to my basement I can get it to connect to 4G non LTE but after 10 minutes of coming back upstairs it goes back. We need the option to turn off LTE. Is this something Apple controls?

Hi,i bought iPhone 12 pro,but I phone 12 pro badly disappointed me that is not supported 3G &2g ,that’s why my phone crash so many times,if I am on phone and my phone is showing 3G on screen and if someone else ring me then I can’t pick up second call and if I try to pick up second call then both calls get failed,I raised this issue with apple they said ring your carrier then he said let me check that may be your carrier support 3G ,he checked and confirmed that they support 3G and he said I am going to raise this issue with software engineer and we will contact with you within 5 days but they not contacted me bk,and also iPhone 12 pro have no option in mobile data option Volte on/off option,apple software engineer needs to send new update and solve this issue

i have experience with my old phone x and 11 if I put my phone VoLTE off we don’t have this issue,now in iPhone 12 pro apple didn’t have this option that’s why its making big issue,my all working college have same problem then I told them turn off VoLTE off they did and issue resolved.it’s not carrier issue it’s apple issue

No I am not agree with you because this is not carrier it’s apple if you go to mobile faults option it’s only give you option for 4G and 5G,use to in option if you choose to turn off VoLTE off,your iPhone stay on 4G and when you make calls it’s goes to 3G and you can make conference calls as well but now if is 4G is not strong you can’t make conference calls and also you can’t pick up second calls