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
iOS 11 now and this feature is still nowhere to be found. I just returned from a 8 month stint in the Android world. It was a design and consistency-of-UI nightmare. But the ability to mark connections as metered and whether or not to auto-update while on those connections was very welcome.
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.
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... :-\
Well, although this feature is of absolutely no interest to me personally, if you like, you can submit feedback to Apple requesting it:
I can't believe we're on iOS version 9 and this still isn't available. It's been in Windows and Android for ages!!
And you could've bought an Android during that time.
The device that's metered is Android!
Perfect for you.
Not really, since the iPad that's connected to it continues to do background updates over the Androids 3G connection!
I think you're missing the point here!?
Yes, i am, Why don't you just buy something that does what you ant it to do, like an Android device (phone/tablet) why settle what doesnt achieve what you want?. Why not buy an Android Tablet.
No reason to get snotty about an elementary feature not available on the most expensive phones and tablets available today. I would have expected it to be available without wasting a day doing research about what it is not able to do.
And yes, I have the same problem, not being able to set my prepaid wifi connection to metered.
Hi
I find turning off apps refresh uses less data also save battery .
Ask your cellular mifi provider to text you when data is getting low or pay for more data.
Cheers
Brian
this is not the solution. iOS should allow defining a metered wifi connection. Haven't you ever needed that ? You may have not left your home town yet.
I can say I have missed it more than a dozen times in the last two years (since I moved to Apple) while being at hotels/airports/campings/MiFi in many different countries
Tell Apple at apple.com/feedback
Definitely both iOS & macOS don't support this feature, even it was supported by Windows 10 & Android for several years.
How do I specify a metered connection in iOS?
