iPhone 4 is using 3G over the wifi

JonnyWhy · Feb 8, 2011, 01:12 AM

My iPhone 4 is connected to wifi, but it is using the 3G network over the wifi. At the top, it says 3G and there is no wifi symbol, although in the wifi settings, it is connected. Is there a way to choose wifi over 3G to save my data? Every time the wifi symbol is there and I try to go to a website, it changes to the 3G symbol. Any help? Thanks!

Applejuiced · Feb 8, 2011, 01:14 AM

Sounds like it has an issue connecting or staying connected to your router.

JonnyWhy · Feb 8, 2011, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Sounds like it has an issue connecting or staying connected to your router.

But my mom, brother, dad's iphones, and my 2 previous ipod touches are all able to connecto the the router flawlessly.

huskerchad · Feb 8, 2011, 01:58 AM

Any chance your router has MAC filtering or something like that?

bigred7078 · Feb 8, 2011, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyWhy

But my mom, brother, dad's iphones, and my 2 previous ipod touches are all able to connecto the the router flawlessly.

Ya know, I've noticed this problem as well too. It doesn't do it all the time, but on occasion I notice this because my fiancee is able to connect to wifi and I cannot even though in the settings it says I am...And it never seems to happen on my home network, just out and about.

JonnyWhy · Feb 8, 2011, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskerchad

Any chance your router has MAC filtering or something like that?

Not sure, but how can I bypass it if this is the case?

Rodimus Prime · Feb 8, 2011, 02:32 AM

I will say it is the router. You have to look at the settings. Could be some setting in the router that limits the number of IPs it gives out.
My GF router ran into problems because when her dad set it up he gave it like 7 or 8 max. That was fine until we were all visiting at once and then devices would not connect or worth with out a router reset.

Problem was solve by increasing the number it could give out. You will be amazed how many IP a router has to hand out and how quickly you will eat threw a limit.

For example here at home there are 3 phones, 2 360, 5 computers, 2 iPods, and 3 kindles connected to the router.
That is at least 10 devices. If my sister comes home then you can add at least 3 more devices to that list. On top of that I am pretty sure I missed some.
Reason for that list was to show how quickly they add up and it can max it out with out you going in and saying add more. Big time in todays world when you have DVD,TV and printers all sucking up extra IP addresses. Used to be just computers would be all that you had. The setting on the router could of been set up that way for security. But it is an easy fix.

Lease typically last for 24 hours before they are renewed

jasvncnt · Feb 8, 2011, 08:11 AM

Mine does this from time to time. my girls iphone will have no issue but mine will. It turns out to be my router (Linksys) I have to restart it by pulling the power and then its fine.

utneon · Feb 8, 2011, 08:18 AM

my girlfriend's iphone sometimes has priority in 3g over wifi even thought it's still connected to the router. for example the face time tries to connect via 3G then it fails. but still uses data

utneon · Feb 8, 2011, 08:19 AM

btw it also fetches mail through 3g, but works correctly when browsing in web!

m0pax · Nov 12, 2012, 03:06 PM

Mine and my wifes do the same and it is eating half my data limit, it was fine on OS 5 ? router reset makes no differance

topmounter · Nov 12, 2012, 04:17 PM

My iPad never worked well with my Linksys router (WRT150N). I replaced it with a Netgear (WNDR7300) and I haven't found a device that it doesn't like.

ghettosmerf21 · Apr 15, 2013, 04:18 PM

I'm on an iPhone 4 with tmobile. After getting a data plan with them my data connection was preferring 3G over wifi ALL the time. It did this on my 3GS also. No if ands or buts it's not my router because if my tmobile data gets cut off or capped, I can stay on wifi forever not one problem(I've tested throroughly). And has only been like this since ios 5. After getting overages and trying to figure this all out, tmobile says its my phone and it's defective(even tho it was happening on my 3GS also). So if its not my router and it's not tmobile then it HAS to be apple and the ios. With no resolution in sight I dropped the 3G Internet service and my wifi works perfectly!!!!

Feb 8, 2011, 01:12 AM	#1
JonnyWhy macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2011	iPhone 4 is using 3G over the wifi My iPhone 4 is connected to wifi, but it is using the 3G network over the wifi. At the top, it says 3G and there is no wifi symbol, although in the wifi settings, it is connected. Is there a way to choose wifi over 3G to save my data? Every time the wifi symbol is there and I try to go to a website, it changes to the 3G symbol. Any help? Thanks!
	0

Nov 12, 2012, 03:06 PM	#11
m0pax macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: essex uk	iPhone 4 is using 3G over the wifi Mine and my wifes do the same and it is eating half my data limit, it was fine on OS 5 ? router reset makes no differance
	0

Nov 12, 2012, 04:17 PM	#12
topmounter macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2009	My iPad never worked well with my Linksys router (WRT150N). I replaced it with a Netgear (WNDR7300) and I haven't found a device that it doesn't like. __________________ iLoveDrones.com
	0

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Feb 8, 2011, 01:14 AM	#2
Applejuiced macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: At the iPhone hacks section.	Sounds like it has an issue connecting or staying connected to your router.
	0

Feb 8, 2011, 01:58 AM	#4
huskerchad macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002	Any chance your router has MAC filtering or something like that?
	0

Feb 8, 2011, 02:32 AM	#7
Rodimus Prime Banned Join Date: Oct 2006	I will say it is the router. You have to look at the settings. Could be some setting in the router that limits the number of IPs it gives out. My GF router ran into problems because when her dad set it up he gave it like 7 or 8 max. That was fine until we were all visiting at once and then devices would not connect or worth with out a router reset. Problem was solve by increasing the number it could give out. You will be amazed how many IP a router has to hand out and how quickly you will eat threw a limit. For example here at home there are 3 phones, 2 360, 5 computers, 2 iPods, and 3 kindles connected to the router. That is at least 10 devices. If my sister comes home then you can add at least 3 more devices to that list. On top of that I am pretty sure I missed some. Reason for that list was to show how quickly they add up and it can max it out with out you going in and saying add more. Big time in todays world when you have DVD,TV and printers all sucking up extra IP addresses. Used to be just computers would be all that you had. The setting on the router could of been set up that way for security. But it is an easy fix. Lease typically last for 24 hours before they are renewed
	0

Feb 8, 2011, 08:11 AM	#8
jasvncnt macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Jersey	Mine does this from time to time. my girls iphone will have no issue but mine will. It turns out to be my router (Linksys) I have to restart it by pulling the power and then its fine.
	0

Feb 8, 2011, 08:18 AM	#9
utneon macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Portugal	my girlfriend's iphone sometimes has priority in 3g over wifi even thought it's still connected to the router. for example the face time tries to connect via 3G then it fails. but still uses data
	0

Feb 8, 2011, 08:19 AM	#10
utneon macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Portugal	btw it also fetches mail through 3g, but works correctly when browsing in web!
	0

Apr 15, 2013, 04:18 PM	#13
ghettosmerf21 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2013	I'm on an iPhone 4 with tmobile. After getting a data plan with them my data connection was preferring 3G over wifi ALL the time. It did this on my 3GS also. No if ands or buts it's not my router because if my tmobile data gets cut off or capped, I can stay on wifi forever not one problem(I've tested throroughly). And has only been like this since ios 5. After getting overages and trying to figure this all out, tmobile says its my phone and it's defective(even tho it was happening on my 3GS also). So if its not my router and it's not tmobile then it HAS to be apple and the ios. With no resolution in sight I dropped the 3G Internet service and my wifi works perfectly!!!!
	0