iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Developer Tool Can More Heavily Prioritize 5G Versus Wi-Fi Connections - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Developer Tool Can More Heavily Prioritize 5G Versus Wi-Fi Connections

Apple today released a new developer tool that is designed to force devices running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 to prioritize a 5G connection over a WiFi connection when on an insecure WiFi network or when a WiFi connection is slow.

apple developer app feature

5G devices running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 can automatically prioritize connecting via 5G instead of WiFi when the performance of WiFi networks you visit occasionally is slow, or when you are connected to captive or insecure WiFi networks. Install the 5G Preferred Over Wi-Fi profile ("profile") on devices running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Beta 4 or greater to greatly increase the likelihood of seeing 5G preferred over Wi-Fi connections and to ensure your networking path logic is optimized for situations where 5G will be preferred. For more information, see https://developer.apple.com/5g/.

Apple says that developers who want to prioritize 5G usage on their devices can do so by running the fourth beta of iOS 15/iPadOS 15 or later and downloading the 5G Preferred Over WiFi Profile.

In iOS and iPadOS 15, Apple has already added a new feature that causes 5G devices to automatically prioritize 5G when it provides an improved connection over WiFi, so this developer tool should boost that capability even further.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

ilikewhey Avatar
67 months ago
gotta make sure that connection for icloud upload is stable so CSAM right?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
67 months ago
Shouldn't Wi-Fi Assist setting do the same thing? The feature is described as "Automatically use cellular data when Wi-Fi connection is poor."
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
67 months ago

counterpoint: gotta make sure pedophiles are caught faster
reality check: this will lead to 0 arrests of pedophiles.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
67 months ago
Honestly I'd like iOS to properly fix this issue.
coming across a public Wi-Fi access point that needs authentication, even if 'forget network' has been done, iOS will still 'CLING' onto that network causing a delay in loading websites in Safari or a delay in any 1st/3rd party apps installed.

McDonald's
Tim Hortons
Starbucks etc. ALL need end user interaction to authenticate BEFORE you can use that internet connection.

This has been a LONG standing pain point on iOS.

Connection to an access point is just that, it doesnt' mean you're connected to the internet: On-ramp to a highway can STILL be closed and prevent your car/suv/truck etc from getting the full internet super highway. This is like basic 1984 stuff why is this so hard for Apple to figure out?!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
67 months ago

It isn't everywhere you'll go with your iPhone or other smartphone. Hence why 3G/4G/5G/6+ should ALWAYS have priority - not all access points connect you to the internet but iOS seems to hold onto just the connection for WiFi when it may not be valid for internet (public hotspots needing agreement page interaction and acceptance).
Absolutely not. A metered network should never have priority over an unmetered one unless a user explicitly activates it.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Barron Avatar
67 months ago

Nice! But what about WiFi 6E? Isn't that faster and more reliable than 5G
Wait! Sign up for the coming-soon-to-a-cell-tower-near-you, the hottest connection ever - the 10g. It's smokin up the test labs. 🤣
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)