Many iPhone users don’t realize that their smartphone comes with a potentially costly feature automatically enabled.
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What iPhone users should know about Wi-Fi Assist
The feature, called “Wi-Fi Assist,” is meant to prevent users from experiencing slow network speeds.
So let’s say your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network and it detects a weak signal — if Wi-Fi assist is enabled, the device will automatically switch from using Wi-Fi to using cellular data.
But you don’t know that it switched, because your phone doesn’t alert you. So depending on your location, the feature could be activated more often than you realize, which means you could unknowingly be using up a whole lot of data — data that isn’t cheap. In fact, the overage fees could add up to hundreds of dollars per month.
So if you have a limited data plan, it’s better to just disable the feature so you don’t end up getting a big surprise bill in the mail. And when you’re connected to a weak Wi-Fi signal, you can always turn off Wi-Fi temporarily while you need a faster speed — that way you are in control of when you use your data.
Here’s how to disable the feature:
1. Go to “Settings”
2. Open the “Cellular” menu
3. Scroll to the bottom and disable “Wi-Fi Assist”
