How to turn off LTE on iPhone iOS 15

Just adding this note to hopefully clear things up and summarize some info already presented in this thread.

I have an iPhone 8, which is not 5G compatible. A few days after upgrading my phone to iOS 15 I discovered that the option to switch between networks in the Cellular Data Options window was missing. I naturally assumed it was a feature Apple had removed, since they're kind of notorious for taking away features without offering any warning or replacement.

Some folks in this thread mentioned it was because AT&T is preparing to shut down their 3G network, which didn't make sense to me, because the options available to me in that screen before the iOS upgrade were: 4G and LTE. Why should AT&T shutting down 3G services change that?

Well it's apparently because the option labeled "4G" on that screen was AT&T's misleadingly-branded network that's actually a 3G variant. So when I selected "4G" on my phone, I was actually choosing 3G, and the "LTE" option was real 4G.

To summarize: If you're an AT&T iPhone user who used to be able to switch networks in your data options, it's because our 4G option was REALLY 3G, and AT&T is going to turn 3G off in February 2022. In order to get back the ability to switch networks, we'll have to get newer phones with 4G/5G support. It still sucks, but at least it makes sense now.

Dang, couldn't figure out how to edit my own post. Anyway, I'm hearing that even people with 5G-capable iPhones have lost the ability to switch networks too, but consensus is still that this is AT&T's doing rather than Apple's (taking away the ability for customers to switch networks). Wish I still had an iOS 14 phone to see if the option was still there. Regardless of whose decision this was, it's rather upsetting. There have been several cases where my phone was unusable on one network but worked fine on the other. I never like having useful options taken away from products/services I pay for.

Ultimate Outsider wrote:

I never like having useful options taken away from products/services I pay for.

You are correct that it is AT&T, it is their carrier file on the iPhone that controls that, since they are the cellular carrier you use. As far as the statement I quoted above from your post, you can discuss that with an AT&T representative to let them know how you feel and explain if you are experiencing connection issues.

tmmatheny wrote:

I find it hard - no, impossible to believe AT&T changed their data setup at the exact same time Apple rolled out a new version of iOS

The thing is, T-Mobile iPhone 12 users with iOS 15 still have the option to switch networks, but AT&T users don't. If it is indeed a carrier-specific issue, my take is that AT&T had to provide new configuration files for iOS 15 builds versus whatever they provided for iOS 14 (possibly a different file format or new options unique to iOS 15?), and the configuration they provided Apple for iOS 15 lacks the network switching options.

But that could explain how the change could coincide with the iOS update; a new config file for a new OS.

I downloaded 15.1 on my iPhone 11 and lost ability to select 4G service in cellular data. It is not ATT because my wife has not downloaded 15.1 yet and still has ability to select 4G service. I have reset everything imaginable on my phone and still only get LTE service. This has to be a bug with the update and not a problem with AT&T

If you have read through this, you will see that the carrier, in your case AT&T provides a carrier file to Apple to send with iOS updates. Your phone has a new carrier update. For AT&T, which I also have, it is probably 48.0. You can verify that by going to Settings>General>Carrier. What are you seeing there now? LTE is 4G, what AT&T labeled as 4G in the past was actually an enhanced 3G network, and they are closing down all of their 3G networks. AT&T is the one that chooses what settings you see in the cellular section, not Apple, nor is it linked to an iOS update.

@Garrett357 - Here's the thing, though: The iOS Updates themselves include the settings for your carrier (AT&T). When you installed iOS 15 you got the new carrier settings. So, it's not Apple's iOS that causes the problem, but their updates are the way the new phone configuration gets installed on your system.

So yes, it's AT&T who made the change, but the delivery method is the iOS update/upgrade process.

Again, if you had read this thread in its entirety, you would understand the latest updates also including carrier files from the wireless carrier and contained updates to how you choose settings in the cellular section. Older iOS is not going to contain the newer settings. Please take the time to read through everything provided here so you understand what is happening.

To expand on what @ChrisJ4203 was saying, true 5G is different from AT&T's so-called "5GE" which is really still 4G. (My iPhone 8 reports "5GE" when it connects to the network, but it obviously is not a 5G phone.)

Unless you bought your phone locked to a particular carrier, there's no need to wait for your next phone to switch; for example an iPhone 13 purchased through the Apple Store works on a variety of phone networks.

You do know this is BS and it was actually Apple who removed the user control, since this is a worldwide issue after the IOS15 update.

I work for a operator and now to disable VoLTE for customers we have to reconfigure Apple users who don't want VoLTE for their subscriptions.

Simple answer is you can't disable this in your settings on IOS15 or newer anymore. Because Apple removed the possibility from their customers.

Your operator may be able to disable VoLTE if you don't want to use VoLTE, even tho this issue is not caused by them.

AT&T is not the only carrier in the world, only a handful of carriers have already shut down the 3G network in Europe.

I literally tried this with an Oneplus 8 and my Iphone 13, and since i had the option to check this out from both my apple device and the carrier side (I work for a carrier). I disabled VoLTE on my subscription from the carrier side. Oneplus the options to change VoLTE settings disappeared but there was no option for this on the IOS side whichever way i enabled/disabled the VoLTE from the carrier side. ergo, this has been removed by IOS. Since this options can be changed on a IOS 15 or older.

When these people who work for carriers post their job affiliation and say that they are speaking as representatives of their carriers' technical divisions and that Apple is disabling features on their own without directives from the carriers, I'll believe you.

Meanwhile, as someone familiar with which options can and cannot be enabled by pushed carrier settings profiles, I will beg to differ.

Well it’s not, option is available on any phone any system except IOS15 or newer.

the only way to disable VoLTE calls as far as I know on iOS 15 is for the carrier disable it from the subscription ergo apple removed the users choice, which is not that uncommon.

You are aware of how the carrier makes those changes in Settings on the iPhone don't you? That has to do with the carrier files, which are normally sent out with iOS updates and get updated when the iOS gets updated. So just because it seems the iOS update did it, it is the carrier file that makes the change.