Do I have to manually switch off ATT network in my iPhone 4 before it uses my home wifi through my ISP?

I have IPhone 4. My phone has been configured to use the Wifi from my wireless router which connects through my highspeed internet through comcast when I connect from home. ATT has been charging me for my data usage saying that I did not turn of att when I am at home. I see the wifi sign activating when I am at home and this is a smart phone. It should pick my wifi network at home when I am at home and then switch to ATT network when I walk away from home.

Can someone please confirm this?

iPhone 4, Home Wifi and ATT Network usage

Posted on Jan 23, 2014 10:46 AM

20 replies

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,315 points

Jan 23, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Dulshand

The person that told you this at AT&T is uninformed. The only time that your device will use cellular data while you are at home is if your wifi is disconnected as you were told when it goes to sleep, but it should only be a minimal amount as it will awaken the phone and reconnect wifi.

You do have the choice to turn off wifi when at home, but I've never done that. I can use about 300MB over a month, but I use it off wifi whenever I want.

Dulshand Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2014 12:28 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

ATT told me that I can go to settings /General/Network/Cellular data and turn it off. I did that and my internet in the cellphone is still working which means it is taking wifi. But why do I have to do that in a smart phone. Even if it did not while it was not in the sleep - nobody is browsing at that time and it should not have used my data.

Jan 23, 2014 12:31 PM in response to Dulshand

This is my last try.

WiFi is turned off by ALL iPhones when they go to sleep, unless connected to power. It does that because if it did not your battery would be flat by morning if WiFi stayed on all night. Then you would complain about battery life. It doesn't matter whether you think it should or not. It is what the iPhone does. And it's why you must turn off cellular data if you have apps that use data at night when the phone is asleep and you don't want them to use cellular data. Or turn off the ability of those apps to use cellular data, which you can do in Settings/Cellular.

pdroth

Level 5

5,171 points

Jan 23, 2014 12:33 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Or just plug the **** phone in while he's at home.

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,315 points

Jan 23, 2014 12:36 PM in response to Dulshand

It will still use a minimal amount of cellular data while not really in use, depending on what you have setup on your phone. I believe Lawrence has provided you with ample information. If you don't want to turn off cellular data don't. If the minmal data the phone uses overnight bothers you that much, then turn it off. Your decision from here.

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Do I have to manually switch off ATT network in my iPhone 4 before it uses my home wifi through my ISP?