About Wi-Fi Assist

You can use Wi-Fi Assist to automatically switch to mobile data when you have a poor Wi-Fi connection.

How Wi-Fi Assist works

With Wi-Fi Assist, you can stay connected to the internet even if you have a poor Wi-Fi connection. For example, if you’re using Safari with a poor Wi-Fi connection and a webpage doesn’t load, Wi-Fi Assist will be activated and automatically switch you to mobile data so that the webpage will continue to load. You can use Wi-Fi Assist with most apps, including Safari, Apple Music, Mail, Maps and more.

When Wi-Fi Assist has been activated, you’ll see the mobile data icon in the status bar on your device.

Because you’ll stay connected to the internet using mobile data when you have a poor Wi-Fi connection, you may use more mobile data. For most users, this should only be a small percentage higher than previous usage. If you have questions about your data usage, find out more about managing your mobile data.

You can use Wi-Fi Assist with any iOS device that’s running iOS 9 or later, except for these models: iPhone 4s, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular and iPad mini (1st generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular.

Turn Wi-Fi Assist on or off

Wi-Fi Assist is turned on by default. If you don’t want your iOS device to stay connected to the internet when you have a poor Wi-Fi connection, you can turn off Wi-Fi Assist. Go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. Then scroll down and tap the slider for Wi-Fi Assist.

Learn more

  • Wi-Fi Assist won’t automatically switch to mobile data if you’re roaming.

  • Wi-Fi Assist will only work when you have apps running in the foreground and won’t be activated with background downloading of content.

  • Wi-Fi Assist won’t be activated with some third-party apps that stream audio or video or download attachments, for example an email app, as they may use large amounts of data.

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