How to Automatically Turn off your iPhone’s Cellular Data When at Home

Issue #26

Problem

For those iPhone users with a weak cellular signal in their home, a limited data plan, or are worried about extra wireless radiation, it would be great to have an automated way to turn off Cellular when you are using Wi-Fi at home and turn it back on when you leave home.

Solution

Here is a YouTube video of it in action.

This solution uses Apple Personal Automations and Apple Shortcuts to enable/disable Airplane Mode. If you are running an iOS version less than 17.0, it will detect automatically, but you will need to confirm its action each time you leave or arrive home.

If your cell phone signal is weak, you may want to enable Wi-Fi calling so that you will still get phone calls and have an e911 location based on your Wi-Fi.

Settings-> Cellular-> Wi-Fi Calling (ON)

(You may have to select Your_Phone_Number->)

Add Shortcuts (If you don’t have the Shortcuts app you can download it here)

·      Add these two shortcuts by clicking on them and tapping “Add Shortcut”

o   Cellular Data Off- https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/55060a8a1366421e9d06ca97fb70d68e

o   Cellular Data On- https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/a732da8b84344ed8a159078a64acd10f

You can test these Shortcuts by saying:

“Hey Siri, Cellular Data Off”

“Hey Siri, Cellular Data On”

Add Personal Automations

·      Open the Shortcuts app

·      Create the “at home” Automation

·      Enter Cellular Data Off

·      Tap the matching Shortcut

·      Create the “left home” Automation

·      Enter “Cellular Data On”

·      Tap the matching Shortcut

Testing:

Now when your iPhone is within range of your home Wi-Fi, Cellular Data will be off and when you are out of Wi-Fi range, Cellular Data will be turned on.

Troubleshooting

If Wi-Fi Calling is not working, check this setting:

·      Settings-> Privacy & Security-> Location Services-> System Services-> Wi-Fi Calling (ON)