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

TallBearNC only one unverified low resolution image of a settings screen with a 3G switch. There is no proof that it a screen shot from a 4S and even if TallBearNC was able to place a 3G/2G toggle switch on an iPhone 4S settings screen, there is no proof or is it verified in any way that the toggle would actually toggle anything. But, go ahead believe the magic.

Apple support forums are not a direct communication channel to Apple. The best way to contact Apple is through the feed back forms, not here. This is customer to customer forum space.

Just to try and clarify... irrespective of toggling or not - if the problem is that the device tries to hang on to a 3G signal when 2G is better I can understand to some degree - BUT I get the distinct impression that the device is incapable of detecting that the 3G network may be BUSY or at FULL CAPACITY - irrespective of signal strength and maybe another facet of the problem - one would have thought the device should move to 2G in that scenario too - but does not seem to. This, perhaps, is even more critical an issue. The recent occasion sthat I have been non-contactable despite apparent good 3G signal have been in areas of high pedestrian levels which would suggest capacity issue on local 3G network (this was also the case with my partner's 3GS). I can live with low signal at times - often it can be usable - but a device that stays bolted to a set of channels that are NOT available is a disgrace.

I think the only solution for people who are facing 3G issues is to get the carrier to de-activate 3G on the SIM. The phone then does not even try to look for 3G signal and all 3G related issues get resolved. 2G internet, though slower is still workable - SIRI works comforable enough for me.

Then the next step for those of us who cannot wait for either Apple to come out with a OS upgrade promise or the carrier to upgrade its network, is to try create sufficient public opinion backlash to force Apple to accept returns.

TO TRANSMOGRIFICATION:The fact that carrier de-activation of 3G works like a 3G toggle (my carrier, fortunately, is ready to toggle 3G services within 5 min of request) shows that software option for introducing 3G toggle remains.

If you like the look of this...

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You never know, once emailed to Apple, they may listen :¬)

iOS 5.0.1 build 9A406 is available like a Christmas gift: it's wide open for everybody to have a chance for a closer look instead of speculation whether it's possible to get the 3G button back or not.

I believe he is referring to the beta for iOS 5.1.x, not iOS 5.0.1 and it is out in beta to developers and beta testers. So naturally some of these people have released it to torrents, etc. and some people jump at the chance to try it then when it mucks up their phone they come here to try to find out how to roll back.

One way to get it is deleteing the build 9A405 from iTunes Library and restore the 4s, iTunes will download the 5.0.1(9A406). Direct download from usual Apple iOS download link is available to everybody. It's wide open to Mac.

deggie,

I thought he was referring to this on AppleInsider; Apple issued a tweaked version of iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S users.

The article does mention it is still called 5.0.1 but the build number has been raised from 9A405 to 9A406.

But if your are an-eagle you see things from on high. 😉

No, you are correct just came back from looking it up, it is for the 4s and Apple TV only (4.4.4) and I have neither although they are mentioning a "re-released" 9A405. From what I can read it does not add a 3G switch but is supposed to impact battery life.

aneagle,

I think I am going to pass... I did down load it from a German site earlier today. It was all zipped up and when I un-zipped it there was so much stuff I didn't have a clue what to do with it.

Unless someone comes up with a very simple way of doing it I don't have the Gazongas to try it on my own. With my luck and skill my iPhone would probably end up a brick or revert back to the battery monster it once was.

But thanks for the tip.

My dream comes true: the 3G button is back, I'm still downloading, not restoring to my 4s yet but I have a chance to look into the package from a wellknown source (I don't want to argue on the "Terms of service for..." here) and I see the springboard is for 4s and Network Settings has 3G enable as an option.

You can't turn off 3G. The reason is probably because sometimes Siri uses your 3G when you ask the weather or something. Plus, as of I know, it won't disable on the iPhone 4 either, so probably Apple took out EDGE on iOS 5 because it is slow.

It can still connect to EDGE.

Taking it out is silly at best, as the rest of the world does not have amazing 3G.

Ireland might be small and they claim like 99% coverage, but **** there are plenty of deadspots and most of the coverage is GPRS and EDGE, not even 3G.

Our 3G networks are slow.

N19h7m4r3,

I don't know about Ireland and it's 3G but here in the U.S. they do the same thing with 4G. They advertise and sell 4G phones like they were Rocket Sleds and they might be... What they don't tell you is for att they only have coverage in approx. 9 major cities in the U.S. and Saint George, UT is not one of them nor the remaining gazillion cities in the states.

OK back to the topic - Your comment about "Siri" most likely the reason for no 3G switch is probably the truth of the matter but the strange thing is they did put a switch to turn "Siri" off. So not to be overly analytic if you turn Siri off why not 3G. I don't have a 3G coverage issue where I live but and it is a big but, on my -4- I usually left 3G turned off to give myself just a little more battery. If I was in a store and wanted to scan or look something up on the web I would turn 3G back on while I needed it. "Freedom of joice" is a good thing for whatever reason.

aneagle,

So... without going into details for "Site Considerations" are you saying you have your 3G switch back and active again?

If you do, no matter how and why I am pleased to know that the function is still in the code. For me that may indicate that Apple has not completely rejected the idea of returning it for us mere mortals - 😉