How to turn on 5G on iPhone 12

iPhone 13 models, iPhone 12 models, and iPhone SE (3rd generation) work with the 5G cellular networks of certain service providers. Find out how to use 5G cellular service.

What you need

• An iPhone 13 model, iPhone 12 model or iPhone SE (3rd generation)
• A service provider that supports 5G
• A 5G cellular plan1

If your new iPhone comes with a physical SIM or eSIM, use that SIM. If not, use the SIM card from your previous iPhone. In some cases, you need to contact your service provider to set up the SIM card from your previous iPhone for use with a 5G network.

Understand the 5G icons in the status bar

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

Learn about 5G options

The default settings for 5G on iPhone are optimised for battery life and data usage based on your data plan. You can customise these options for when to use 5G and how much data to use in some apps.

Find these options by going to Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Options. If you're using Dual SIM, go to Settings > Cellular and choose the number whose options you want to change.

Voice & Data

Choose 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 battery life.
• 5G On: Always uses 5G network when it's available. This might reduce battery life.
• LTE: Uses only LTE network, even when 5G is available.

In mainland China, you can turn on or off 5G Standalone by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice and Data. The default setting on iPhone has 5G Standalone on with iOS 14.5 or later for mainland China. With 5G Standalone on, all cellular activity uses 5G. For more details on 5G networks, contact your service provider.

Data Mode

• Allow More Data on 5G: Enables higher data-usage features for apps and system tasks. These include higher-quality FaceTime, high-definition content on Apple TV, Apple Music songs and videos, iOS updates over cellular, and automatic iCloud backups.
  • With this setting, your iPhone can automatically use 5G instead of Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi connectivity is slow or insecure on a network you visit occasionally. To turn this feature off and on for a certain network, go 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 third-party apps to use more cellular data for enhanced experiences. 
  • This is the default setting with some unlimited data plans, depending on your service provider. 
  • 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 mode.
• Low Data Mode: Helps reduce Wi-Fi and cellular-data usage by pausing automatic updates and background tasks.

Data Roaming

Many service providers around the world support 5G roaming. If your service provider doesn't support 5G roaming, you can get cellular data through 4G or LTE networks or obtain a local SIM card or eSIM with 5G where available.

Contact your service provider for more information.

If you don't see 5G in the status bar

1. Make sure that you're in an area with 5G coverage. Contact your service provider if you aren't sure.
2. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options. If you see this screen, your device has 5G activated. If you don't see this screen, contact your service provider to confirm that your plan supports 5G.
   
   
3. Turn on Aeroplane Mode, then turn it off.

If you still don't have 5G service, contact your service provider.

Learn more

• If you want to use 5G with Dual SIM on iPhone 12 models, make sure that you have iOS 14.5 or later.
• You can choose to always stream the highest quality content by going to Settings > Music > Cellular Data and turning on High Quality Streaming and Settings > TV > Cellular and tapping High Quality. These settings use more cellular data, and content might take longer to start playing.
• If you turn on Low Power Mode, 5G is disabled except in some cases such as video streaming and large downloads. With iPhone 12 models, Low Power Mode disables 5G Standalone (where available).

1. Contact your service provider to check if you have a 5G plan. Some service providers might charge an activation fee.

2. Higher frequency 5G networks are only supported in the United States when using an iPhone purchased in the United States.

Published Date: March 24, 2022

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