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Level 1

19 points

iPhone 5 - Disable 3G?

About to push the button on an iPhone 5 purchase to replace my 4.

Can anyone in the UK advise whether the 'Enable 3G' option is still available? I see for screenshots that you can turn LTE on and off (will always be off since it doesn't exist here yet) but can you turn 3G off as well?

Currently I turn it off all the time as there isn't 3G at home or work, so I get better bettery life like that. (I know 3 disable this setting - that's why I've always avoided them, but if it's disabled like it was originally on the 4S then I may have to look at a different model)

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 8:35 AM

24 replies

slimgym

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2013 2:29 PM in response to vivekk

A similar issue happened to me in 2010 when T-Mobile pushed out ipcc 8.0 which stopped people who were using Virgin Mobile from tethering, it also changed the APN settings and hid the menu so you could not correct them.

As Virgin did not offer the iPhone they could not assist and as I wasn't a customer of T-Mobile neither would they! Eventually it was sorted at either T-Mobile or Virgins end with no new carrier update file.

The only thing to be wary of is the EE 13.2 carrier settings will probably be incorporated into the next version of iOS so you might want to hold off updating your device as you'll be stuck with it for good if you do.

Feb 2, 2013 3:29 AM in response to vivekk

vivekk wrote:

I would be useful if Settings -> General -> Reset had an option to reset carrier settings updates, to overcome this problem. It'd also be nice if carrier settings updates displayed sufficient information to allow users to make a informed decision about whether they actually want to install the updates at all.

I feel your frustration. (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4758718) I usually switch off 3G when I don't use data heavily as 2G suffices for iMessage and WhatsApp. I will try to reset my phone - hopefully it works here as well.

tohaklim

Level 1

16 points

Feb 9, 2013 10:07 AM in response to sparrie2k

The updated carrier settings are located in Carrier Bundles/Overlay, and are named differently from common carrier profiles. However, I cannot find an option in the plist which is related to 3G toggling. There is a method for AT&T but it doesn't work on t-mobile/EE

tohaklim

Level 1

16 points

Feb 9, 2013 10:22 AM in response to tohaklim

It turns out it is possible - need to add "Enable3GSwicth" in updated carrier settings. Strangely this replaces the 4g toggle. Also, t-mobile's 2G network is GPRS rubbish, not Edge, another reason they are horrible.

Feb 9, 2013 11:43 AM in response to vivekk

I have exactly same problem and consern. Apple, please find a way for us to choose between 2G, 3G and LTD.

tohaklim

Level 1

16 points

Feb 9, 2013 12:04 PM in response to JanneTimmerbacka

This is not up to Apple to choose, freaking carriers are the reason here. I doubt that apple can put pressure on them. Also you could try my solution above, although it disables lte. This may probably be fixed by Apple with some Settings.app tweaking, although I am not sure

vivekk

Level 1

0 points

Feb 9, 2013 12:13 PM in response to tohaklim

How can a user add "Enable3GSwitch" & update the carrier settings themselves in iOS 6.1?

tohaklim

Level 1

16 points

Feb 9, 2013 12:23 PM in response to vivekk

Well previously there were CommCenter patches, but it wasn't updated for 6.0

So one has to have access to iOS filesystem

Apr 12, 2013 12:47 AM in response to sparrie2k

I have exactly same problem and consern. Apple, please find a way for us to choose between 2G, 3G and LTD.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

iPhone 5 - Disable 3G?