How do I turn off 3G on the iPhone 4S?

I doubt this is legal or the allowed method of anything.

TallBearNC wrote:

You can edit a file in the 4S backup itunes makes to get the switch back.. it's a simple settings change.. or you can restore a backup from a 3GS or 4 to the 4s and that will get the switch back...

Apple did it because

1) They don't want Siri to look bad.. she really ***** on edge.. everytime you use her, she has to talk to apple.. or search the web, etc

2) They probably figured the phone will auto switch down

Why they did this on the ipad 2 was beyond me...

In either case, I put the 3G switch back on my 4S and ipad 2.

This is the "legal" / "allowed" way to restore the switch. Other methods can not be discussed here

TBH, I think ANY idevice should switch to edge the INSTANT it connects to Wifi... no point what so ever to be on 3G when you have WiFi, unless your SMSing pictures or want fast voicemail downloads to the phone...

Can you prove you did this on an iPhone 4s?

hi, can you advise which file in the backup? I can't seem to locate anything that can help to enable the switch.

I'm in Ireland on Meteor and out of all the people I know with iPhones I'm the only one on the 4S and the only one without that 3G switch.

I live in an area with terrible 3G coverage and amazing EDGEservice.

The problem is I get 1 bar of 3G, which the phone says has no mobile internet or data. As a result it's useless.

When on EDGE I have full strength bars and I can get anything I want done.

Another problem as other have described is that when the phone has poor 3G is struggles to change to EDGE sometimes, as a result it get's stuck on Searching.... or jumps to No Service.

It will then stay on Searching... or No Service many times unless I restart the phone or reset the network settings.

I have found that turning off Carrier Automatic selection off does help a bit.

My biggest concerns is this lack of 3g on off switch. As a result, I can't make calls and when I do they usually drop after a minute or two.

My battery also drains amazingly fast when bouncing between EDGE and 3G.

I unplugged my phone an hour ago and it's already at 82% with only sending 5 iMessages, and 3 what'sapp messages.

I also have All location services and Siri turned off.

Many iPhone 4S users and myself would greatly appreciate it if Apple would add the 3G data switch to the 4S

Edit:: I nearly forgot. I also have this annoying issue when sending normal SMS's and MMS's where they'd fail with full EDGE signal, and then phone trying to jump back on that 1 bar 3G signal that's useless. I might send one or two texts only to have the signal die and jump to 3G or from that to EDGE mid message sending. It's extremely annoying.

wich file must be edit to get the 3G switch back?

or how i can locate this file or the switch in the backup?

I know the Backup location is ~/Library/Application\ Support/MobileSync/Backup

But i have over 1500 Files in there

TallBearNC cannot answer your questions because their posting is inaccurate.

There is no file that can be edited to cause the functionality to miracuously re-appear.

The Enable/Disable 3G functionality in the 4S simply does not exist.

If everyone agrees that the functionality does not exist but would really be useful is there a way for all of us to schedule calls with apple asking about the funtionality so that perhaps it can be changed if it is noticed that there are a lot of calls asking abou tit?

...is there a way for all of us to schedule calls with apple asking about the funtionality

No chance. This is the best you can do... http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

You can also contact a few Apple blogs, i.e. http://appleinsider.com/

If the function does not exist and is not possible, how would mass petitioning Apple solve anything? It could be very well that the reason the switch is available for the GSM iPhone 4 and previous, is because those iPhone 4 models used a different radio chip from Infineon that could support it. The iPhone 4S uses the hybrid radio chip from Qualcomm that very well may not be physically able to support such a function. It's an impossible feature for CDMA phones and the iPhone 4S is a hybrid phone with both CDMA and GSM. Petitioning Qualcomm to develop a fix for this hurdle might be more appropriate.

Welcome to technology.

I used my previous I phone 3 Gs for almost two years, amazingly sometimes I charge the phone once every 7-8 days (Max), but not less than once every 4 days (as an average).

This how I do it:

1. Switch off 3G, never used it and will not need it ever.
2. Switch off Bluetooth, never used it.
3. Turn WiFi on only before connecting to Wi-Fi.
4. Turn off notifications you do not need.
5. Finally turn Airplane mode on when going to sleep, I do not switch off because it is much faster to just turn Airplane mode off again.

I was satisfied (most of the time ) with battery performance, but when I Bought the new 4s, it has a terrible battery performance compared to 3Gs while it is drained to 50% in one day. I thought it will be better due to bigger battery.

No I cannot even turn 3G off which I think it is the biggest battery consumer. Apple please help.

M.Ihab wrote:

I used my previous I phone 3 Gs for almost two years, amazingly sometimes I charge the phone once every 7-8 days (Max), but not less than once every 4 days (as an average).

This how I do it:

1. Switch off 3G, never used it and will not need it ever.
2. Switch off Bluetooth, never used it.
3. Turn WiFi on only before connecting to Wi-Fi.
4. Turn off notifications you do not need.
5. Finally turn Airplane mode on when going to sleep, I do not switch off because it is much faster to just turn Airplane mode off again.

I was satisfied (most of the time ) with battery performance, but when I Bought the new 4s, it has a terrible battery performance compared to 3Gs while it is drained to 50% in one day. I thought it will be better due to bigger battery.

No I cannot even turn 3G off which I think it is the biggest battery consumer. Apple please help.

Why bother having a fully capable smart phone if you simply turn off all the functionality? Seems like the original iPhone with EDGE only capabilities or a dumb phone would suit your needs better.

To each their own, but I really see no purpose in paying good money (and lots of good money) for a device that you intend to keep crippled 90% of the time.

What's the big deal with plugging the device in once a day to charge anyways? The device only syncs when plugged into a sync cable or plugged into external power (wireless syncing). So by your own statement, you only potentially sync the device every 7-8 days... what happens when you lose the device or it's stolen and hasn't been synced in a week?

My opininon, you are crazy for being so narcasistic about disabling all the features just to get a week of battery life out of an iPhone and you are creating a potential issue for yourself if the device is lost, stolen, or simply fails.

The CDMA iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S don't have the switch. It is not even a possibility for CDMA phones, period. Please abide by the forum rules. If you are unfamiliar, here is a link to them: <a href="https://discussions.apple.com/___sbsstatic___/apple/tutorial/tou.html">Terms of Use</a>

I think you responded to the wrong poster.

I think your comments is uncalled for to M.lhad. You might as well as all the phone manufacturers out there, "What is the point of making a Smart Phone when the batt can only last you a few hours and not even a day?"

For your info, I also request for the 3G/2G toggle switch as running the phone on 2G on my 3GS last me almost the whole day while on 3G, it can last me as short as 3 hours. Does it make sense for me to charge my phone 2-3 times a day when I am traveling around and do not have a proper place to charge.

Currently I have to rely on external rechargable batt pack to help to last long enough for me to get somewhere to charge my phone properly.

The function may or may not exist, which is why we are requesting for it.

Since the chip is able to connect to a 2G network. The possibility of a toggle switch working still exists.

I can think of 3 possible scenarios to end all these threads..

1) Apple adds the function back if it is possible

2) If such a function is not possible due to hardware limitation, etc. Apple can simply come out and announce this. Then we can either decide to replace the phone with another brand or model or to live with it.

3) Likewise, Apple can also announce that they will not add back the switch regardless of whether it is possible or not and thus ending all these mass requests.

Or until Apple finally decides to reply on this issue, there will always be request for the switch in this thread or the few other threads on the same topic.