Apply 5G with your iPhone

iPhone 12 models or later work with the 5G cellular networks of sure carriers. Acquire how to utilise 5G cellular service.

What yous demand

  • An iPhone 12 model or later
  • A carrier that supports 5G
  • A 5G cellular plan1

If your new iPhone comes with a concrete SIM or eSIM, use that SIM. If non, use the SIM card from your previous iPhone. In some cases, y'all need to contact your carrier to ready the SIM card from your previous iPhone for use with a 5G network.

Sympathize the 5G icons in the status bar

When you lot're in an surface area with 5G coverage for your carrier and your 5G cellular plan has been activated, you'll see a 5G icon in the condition bar of your iPhone:

5G: The 5G status-bar icon.
Your carrier's 5G network is available, and your iPhone can connect to the cyberspace over that network (not available in all countries or regions).2


Your carrier's 5G+, 5G UW, or 5G UC network is bachelor, which can include your carrier's higher frequency version of 5G. Your iPhone can connect to the internet over that network (non available in all countries or regions).two

Acquire about 5G options

The default settings for 5G on iPhone are optimized for battery life and information usage based on your information program. You lot tin can customize these options for when to use 5G and how much information to apply in some apps.

Find these options by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options. If you're using Dual SIM, go to Settings > Cellular and cull the number whose options y'all want to modify.

Screenshot showing Voice & Data preferences

Voice & Data

Cull how your iPhone uses the 5G network, which can affect battery life.

  • 5G Auto: Enables Smart Data mode. When 5G speeds don't provide a noticeably better experience, your iPhone automatically switches to LTE, saving bombardment life.
  • 5G On: Always uses 5G network when it's bachelor. This might reduce battery life.
  • LTE: Uses only LTE network, even when 5G is available.

In China mainland, 5G Standalone is the default setting. If you're using iOS 14 to iOS 14.five, you can plough on 5G Standalone by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Vocalization and Data. With 5G Standalone, all cellular activity uses 5G. For more details on 5G networks, contact your carrier.

Data Mode

  • Allow More Data on 5G: Enables higher data-usage features for apps and organization tasks. These include higher-quality FaceTime, high-definition content on Apple tree TV, Apple tree Music songs and videos, iOS updates over cellular, and automatic iCloud backups.
    • With this setting, your iPhone tin automatically use 5G instead of Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi connectivity is slow or insecure on a network you visit occasionally. To turn this characteristic off and on for a certain network, become to Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap the info button next to the Wi-Fi network and tap Use Wi-Fi for Internet.
    • This setting also allows tertiary-political party apps to use more cellular data for enhanced experiences.
    • This is the default setting with some unlimited-data plans, depending on your carrier.
    • This setting uses more cellular data.
  • Standard: Allows automatic updates and background tasks on cellular, and uses standard quality settings for video and FaceTime. This is generally the default style.
  • Low Data Mode: Helps reduce Wi-Fi and cellular-information usage by pausing automatic updates and groundwork tasks.

Information Roaming

Many carriers around the world support 5G roaming. If your carrier doesn't support 5G roaming, you can become cellular information through 4G or LTE networks or obtain a local SIM bill of fare or eSIM with 5G where available.

Contact your carrier for more information.

If you don't run across 5G in the status bar

  1. Make certain that you're in an area with 5G coverage. Contact your carrier if you're non sure.
  2. Become to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Information Options. If you come across this screen, your device has 5G activated. If yous don't run into this screen, contact your carrier to confirm that your plan supports 5G.
    Screenshot showing Cellular Data Options
  3. Turn on Plane Mode, so turn it off.

If you lot nevertheless don't have 5G service, contact your carrier.

Learn more

  • If you want to use 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12 models, make sure that you have iOS fourteen.5 or after.
  • You can choose to always stream the highest quality content by going to Settings > Music > Cellular Data and turning on Loftier Quality Streaming and Settings > Goggle box > Cellular and tapping High Quality. These settings apply more cellular data, and content might accept longer to outset playing.
  • If you plow on Low Ability Way, 5G is disabled except in some cases similar video streaming and large downloads. With iPhone 12 models, Low Ability Mode disables 5G Standalone (where available).

1. Contact your carrier to check if you have a 5G plan. Some carriers might charge an activation fee.

2. Higher frequency 5G networks are supported merely in the Usa when using an iPhone purchased in the United states.

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