iPhone 12 5G Settings: How to Save Data and Battery

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are the first iPhones to be released with 5G connectivity, and there are several new settings related to 5G that you should be aware of.

By default, when you set up a new iPhone 12 or 12 Pro, it activates an Auto 5G mode that only turns on 5G data when it won't significantly reduce battery life. You can turn this off so that your iPhone uses 5G all the time, and there are also data modes to choose from. This how to shows you where the new settings are and explains what they mean.

Turn on 5G All the Time or Activate 4G

Getting to your specific cellular settings might look a bit different depending on your carrier, but these general steps should work for accessing your Voice and Data settings.

1. Open up Settings.
2. Tap on "Cellular."
   
3. Tap on your cellular plan or Cellular Data Options.
4. Tap on Voice & Data.
   

From the Voice & Data menu, you'll see three options: 5G On, 5G Auto, and LTE. 5G Auto, the default setting, uses 5G only when 5G won't significantly reduce battery life.

This appears to be Apple's Data Saver Mode that's meant to swap the iPhone's connection to LTE when 5G speeds aren't necessary. For example, when the iPhone is updating in the background, it uses LTE because super fast speeds aren't necessary, but in instances where speed does matter, such as downloading a show, the iPhone 12 models will swap over to 5G.

5G On ensures that 5G is activated all the time when a 5G network is available, and LTE disables 5G all together and lets you use an LTE connection instead of a 5G connection.

Data Mode

There are several data modes that you can adjust. By default, iPhone 12 models are set on "Allow More Data on 5G," which offers up higher-quality video and FaceTime when connected to 5G cellular networks.

Most people with unlimited data will want to leave this enabled, but if you're aiming to preserve data, you can change the settings to "Standard," which allows automatic updates and background tasks on cellular but limits video and FaceTime quality.

There's also a Low Data Mode that helps reduce cellular data usage by pausing automatic updates and background tasks when connected to a cellular network. Here's how to get to your data settings:

1. Open up Settings.
2. Tap on "Cellular."
   
3. Tap on your cellular plan or Cellular Data Options.
4. Tap on Data Mode.
   

5G is still a new technology that carriers in the United States and other countries are rolling out, so many people may not have 5G connections available to them. Most U.S. carriers have widespread Sub-6GHz 5G networks that should give 5G connectivity that's a bit faster than LTE in most areas, but the fastest mmWave 5G is extremely limited. Make sure to check out our mmWave vs. Sub-6GHz guide for more info.

5G Connectivity Symbols

When you're connected to a 5G network, you'll see a few different symbols, all of which confirm that you're on a 5G network. 5G+ is AT&T's symbol when connected to a faster mmWave 5G network, and the 5G UW symbol shows up when you have a higher-speed mmWave connection on a Verizon device.

Feedback

Have 5G questions or know of something we left out in this how to? Send us an email here.

Article Link: iPhone 12 5G Settings: How to Save Data and Battery

 

[Mlrollin91]

I really wish AT&T would dump this 5Ge status bar icon. Now it's just confusing.

 

[macman01101]

"5G just got real"

 

[Populus]

Thank you @jclo for this explanation, I do have a very specific question: is there a way to completely disable the mmwave band (the one that drains the battery the most) and use only the sub-6 5G? Thank you

 

[jimbobb24]

Very happy we can disable entirely. What a relief. I dont have it yet and with lower battery life in the 12 I want to conserve it as best I can.

 

[CheesePuff]

Very happy we can disable entirely. What a relief. I dont have it yet and with lower battery life in the 12 I want to conserve it as best I can.

Check out the Toms Hardware battery life test... a full hour+ of screen on time battery life when 5G is disabled.

 

[eicca]

Is 5G even worth it? I mean, LTE was supposed to be "fast," particularly in well-developed areas like mine and I never EVER get more than about 20 megabits on Verizon, and that's if I'm lucky. Most of the time it's anywhere from slow to useless, even with full bars.

And no, it's not just my old phone. My family all have newer devices and Verizon is just as slow.

 

[jcshas]

My ADD is in overdrive. Just tell me what setting to use rather than making me read the long dissertation.

 

[MaxxTraxx]

I currently have AT&T, and only have the options for LTE and 4G. Any ideas why it won’t show 5G?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks for the article, Juli. This will come in handy when I get my new mini in 3 weeks.

But the way, Darth Vader should have more clarity in the background. He needs to be shown off.
[automerge]1603491343[/automerge]

I currently have AT&T, and only have the options for LTE and 4G. Any ideas why it won’t show 5G?

Are you on a 5G plan with AT&T?

 

[bobenhaus]

By default, when you set up a new iPhone 12 or 12 Pro, it activates an Auto 5G mode that only turns on data when it won't significantly reduce battery life. What does that mean?? English please? Sounds like Auto 5G mode is on and only comes on when it will not reduce battery life. How about calling it " 5G Battery mode" or something like that .

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I currently have AT&T, and only have the options for LTE and 4G. Any ideas why it won’t show 5G?

Mine is not showing 5G either it only
shows 4G and LTE.

 

[tzm41]

Why do they feel the need to name mmWave 5G differently? Can’t they just call it the same 5G Ultra Wideband?

Hate all those AT&T gimmicky names, calling HSPA+ as 4G and better LTE as 5GE, and now mmWave is 5G+. Just call it what it is.

 

[Packers1958]

On my 12 Pro with 5G set to Auto on the verizon network I'm watching it switch back and forth between LTE and 5G every 5 to 10 seconds. I get 4 bars no matter what. Would seem that if it is bouncing back between 5G and LTE like that, it would still drain the battery. Also, I'm not really seeing and difference in speed whether on LTE or 5G. More hype than reality.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Mine is not showing 5G either it only
shows 4G and LTE.

Then you aren’t connected to 5G.

 

[roland.g]

I’d like to see some carrier speed tests on the new 12. And possibly city info to see how the carriers compare.

 

[jclo]

Thank you @jclo for this explanation, I do have a very specific question: is there a way to completely disable the mmwave band (the one that drains the battery the most) and use only the sub-6 5G? Thank you

No, there doesn't seem to be a way to do that.

 

[jclo]

By default, when you set up a new iPhone 12 or 12 Pro, it activates an Auto 5G mode that only turns on data when it won't significantly reduce battery life. What does that mean?? English please? Sounds like Auto 5G mode is on and only comes on when it will not reduce battery life. How about calling it " 5G Battery mode" or something like that .

It means 5G is on only when you're actively using the phone. It's explained in more detail a bit lower in the article. Basically for background updating and random stuff, iPhone uses 4G, and then for active use like downloading, it swaps to 5G.

 

[Matthew.H]

I changed my 12 Pro to 4G data as as it was set up from my backup. 5G is pretty flaky where I am and I don't have a 5G plan anyway.

 

[JulianL]

And for those of us who don’t feel a need for 5G but care about battery life and have been worried about the battery capacity reductions this year vs equivalent models last year I actually discovered something encouraging - https://www.tomsguide.com/uk/news/iphone-12-battery-life-results-are-in-and-theyre-not-great

Yes really. Ignore the headline and look at the results. I’m an 11 Pro Max user so I focussed on the Pro comparisons since that’s the closest released model to mine so far and indeed with the 12 Pro using 5G for the battery life tests the results looked bad for the 12 Pro - 9:06 vs 10:24 for the 11 Pro so well over an hour less - but then look at the results they got when the 12 Pro was set to 4G for the tests and then it got to 11:24 vs obviously the same 10:24 for the 11 Pro since last year’s model was always running the test over 4G.

So if those tests are at all representative of real life usage, or at least my real life usage, then hopefully I’ll actually get about 10% extra battery life on a 12 Pro vs my 11 Pro, and since I’m a Pro Max user I might even get slightly more than that provided I do disable 5G entirely which is exactly what I’m planning to do.

 

[az431]

I currently have AT&T, and only have the options for LTE and 4G. Any ideas why it won’t show 5G?

me too, and I have a 5G plan.

 

[Taz Mangus]

On my 12 Pro with 5G set to Auto on the verizon network I'm watching it switch back and forth between LTE and 5G every 5 to 10 seconds. I get 4 bars no matter what. Would seem that if it is bouncing back between 5G and LTE like that, it would still drain the battery. Also, I'm not really seeing and difference in speed whether on LTE or 5G. More hype than reality.

So you see in the upper left corner it say "5G" and then "4G"? What is confusing to me is that if it says "5G" it can mean you have 5G available but you aren't necessarily connected to 5G.

 

[BDwy27]

I currently have AT&T, and only have the options for LTE and 4G. Any ideas why it won’t show 5G?

in the same boat as you! have the updated wireless plan too

 

[Packers1958]

So you see in the upper left corner it say "5G" and then "4G"? What is confusing to me is that if it says "5G" it can mean you have 5G available but you aren't necessarily connected to 5G.

If i force it to 5G only, it will stay locked as 5G. If i set it to 5G Auto, it keeps going back and forth between LTE and 5G.

 

[Ortiz83]

Got the wife the iPhone 12 Pro. I got her 5G for a reason. To use the darn thing. Who cares if it drains the battery faster. Her’s shows it using 5G Auto. Turned to 5G On. On ATT.