You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Can't select 3G on iPhone 13 running iOS 15

I live in an area with weak 4G signal and yet the iPhone selects 4G whereas with my previous phone I could get a stable signal by selecting 3G - this is no longer available. Very disappointing. I might have to degrade back to my old phone.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Sep 24, 2021 12:13 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 12, 2021 12:20 PM

My carrier is refusing to make changes. You need to change the defaults so it works. Alternatively make the algorithm work better that switches between 4G and 3G. It chooses 4G when 3G behaves better with a stronger signal - this is Apple's fault not the carrier. Please fix it,, my old iPhone 6 is still better than my new iPhone 13 - this is not acceptable.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 12, 2021 12:20 PM in response to robinjewsbury

My carrier is refusing to make changes. You need to change the defaults so it works. Alternatively make the algorithm work better that switches between 4G and 3G. It chooses 4G when 3G behaves better with a stronger signal - this is Apple's fault not the carrier. Please fix it,, my old iPhone 6 is still better than my new iPhone 13 - this is not acceptable.

Oct 3, 2021 11:20 AM in response to robinjewsbury

I see you have not replied. This one of those things where the customer is sitting in the middle of Apple and the Carrier with Apple saying it's the Carrier's fault and the Carrier saying its Apple's fault. That is not helpful for me the customer at all.


I think the way out of this is that you tell me what it is the Carrier needs to do to define the menu with the 3G option as well as the 5G, 5G Auto and 4G menu options. I think it's something to do the SIM although I could see it could also be the file that delivers the Carrier login details. Please tell me the tech details of what the carrier must do to implement the menu correctly and I will pass that info to my carrier.

Sep 30, 2021 12:31 AM in response to Ijustwanttolookattheforums

I contacted my carrier and got this answer:


"If the Apple handset does not give you the option to select 3G this is an apple issue nothing to do with your giffgaff sim or 02. The best way to confirm this is a handset issue is to try the sim in another unlocked handset and trying to select 3G."


and yes, the same sim in my old phone has the options for 3G and 2G.


So this is the case of two groups each blaming the other. BUT its clear to me even if my carrier thinks its Apple and even if it's not then its Apples fault for lack of communication. I think this is a common problem with this new phone. I even heard Jim Cramer on CNBC complaining his wife's new phone does not support 3G.

Can't select 3G on iPhone 13 running iOS 15

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.