[drewprops]

Does this happen to you, on your iPhone?

When I am out on the town, trying to load a webpage or run a streaming app, I often find myself facing glacial load times. Then I remember to switch off Wi-Fi. Within seconds I'm getting good clear internet.

All I can figure is that the device is giving everything it's got to loading though Wi-Fi, giving no time to the cell signal. With no known network available, it must be "stuck".

Is there a setting that I don't know about to change this?


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[turtle]

I see that when there is a network that my phone knows but requires action to connect to. Examples like a hotspot at the VA. My phone will connect, but you have to check a box that you actually want to connect through that network to be given internet access through it.

Drop WIFI and it all works just fine through cellular assuming you have a signal where you are.

[chucker]

This happens to me when it’s connected to a known network but barely. Like, say, leaving the building. It’ll eventually try to use cellular, but it takes a moment.

What can also happen is that it thinks WiFi reception is fine, but DNS can’t be reached (because WiFi reception is not in fact fine). That can cause those slow lookups.

[Brad]

This can also happen if the nearest wifi that auto-connects to a known network that is technically strong on the LAN side but anemic or overloaded on the WAN side. I see this happen often when I'm in certain grocery stores. My iPhone will connect and have full signal strength, but the actual internet connection will be worse than dial-up. I just have to remember to flip the wifi settings. Minor nuisance, but a noteworthy one.

[kieran]

This seems like something that should have been addressed a few years ago when Apple had that one setting to use Cell Data when the network was weak, but I never really got that to work.

This definitely happens, typically when leaving the house and the signal is just close enough to still connect, but not strong enough to actually load anything.

Also happens sometimes when a known network like Starbucks or Xfinity is around and it tries to connect.

[drewprops]

Hey, maybe this is one of those times when a geofence would be good? Is it possible to have Wi-fi turn itself OFF if it is not inside a geofenced area?????


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[turtle]

Possibly with Shortcuts and Automation... but that would become pretty frustrating. It would be better to set each network outside of your home to manually join instead of automatic. Then you can retain the network/credentials and only connect when you want.

[Kickaha]

The worst offenders IMO are the ISPs that have tried to build out a common WiFi infrastructure, like Xfinity's mf'in 'hotspots'. They are on by default, and if you don't turn them off, they will grab every frickin' device they can manage to snag into their network.

For instance, if you have *EVER* joined an Xfinity Wifi system (and millions have by virtue of having one in their home), and have auto-connect on, then when you're out and about, Jack Flack on the 8th floor of the building you're walking past has Xfinity and didn't know enough to turn it off, and blammo, your phone tries to connect. Signal is weak, it's flaky, and by the time you've walked another 100', it cannot connect at all, but gosh darnit and bless its heart, it tried *really hard*.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Go with the manual connection as needed, otherwise, when out and about, you're likely to go insane.

[drewprops]

Hey!!! While I was at a late lunch I went in to look in my Wi-Fi and Xfinity was showing up!!!! I don't have Xfinity and don't use it, but I'm assuming that at some point I used it somewhere?? I deleted that crap (and all the other ancient ones).


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