How do I specify a metered connection in iOS?

I have an AT&T MiFi which I use with several devices.


I just got an iPad Air. I didn't get the LTE version because I have the MiFi. It seemed silly to pay the extra money.


Is there any way of specifying that a certain network is a metered connection? I'd like to prevent my iPad from trying to background update a 2GB app while on my MiFi.


I could do this on my Nexus 7. Win 8 also has a similar option. How do I do it on iOS?

iPad, iOS 7.1.2

Posted on Sep 11, 2014 8:09 PM

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17 replies

Sep 11, 2014 9:07 PM in response to sberman

Yeah, I'd be fine with it auto-updating on any other network. Just not the MiFi.


So the only solution is to manually turn automatic updates on and off? That's a pretty crummy solution.


On Android and on Windows I can tick a box that says "This is a metered network". When it's connected to that network auto-updates don't happen. There's no manual switching... :-\

Sep 11, 2014 8:15 PM in response to Matthew Jones6

Matthew Jones6 wrote:


I'd like to prevent my iPad from trying to background update a 2GB app while on my MiFi.

I'm focusing on the phrase "while on my MiFi" above.


I think you may be saying "While I'm on other network(s), it would be OK to update apps. But while I'm on my MiFi, it would not be OK."


The way to do that would be while on your MiFi, set:

Settings > iTunes & App Stores > [Automatic Downloads] Apps = "Off"


If I misunderstood the meaning of your question, then the only other meaning I think it could have is to permanently forbid updating apps. If that's the case, keep the above setting in place permanently.

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How do I specify a metered connection in iOS?

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