Question. Re: Mobile phone Wi-Fi vs. data usage to access internet.

[LuckyCharms]

Android.

Samsung phone.

Lost wi-fi connection at home due to downed cable.

Wi-fi setting on phone is turned on.

This setting is also turned on: Mobile Data: Access the internet through your mobile network.

When I lost my Wi-Fi connection, I could not access the internet on my phone. Good phone signal at the time.

Does anyone know why my phone did not access the internet through my mobile data once my Wi-Fi became unavailable?

This also happens to me in the Home Depot parking where there is not a Wi-fi signal.

Thank you in advance.

[nclib]

1. Sometimes I have to turn off the wi-fi on my phone to get the mobile data to work.

Have no idea why.

[LuckyCharms]

2. I'll try that, thank you.

[LuckyCharms]

4. It worked!

must mean it doesn't automatically default from wi-fi to data. In my case, looks like you have to tell it that wi-fi is not available first.

[dweller]

3. What's your browser ?

I’m on iPhone and my wifi is off, just use data through my phone provider on Firefox
I have unlimited plan so data usage doesn’t matter afaic

✌🏻

[LuckyCharms]

5. Chrome.

Pls see above. Turns out in my case, you have to "tell" it to use data by turning off wi-fi setting.

[dweller]

6. Correct

But my iPhone browser safari doesn’t work w/out wifi, so I use Firefox

✌🏻

[LuckyCharms]

7. .

[dickthegrouch]

8. In which case the carrier must matter too

I have no problem with AT&T switching from WiFi to data plan at home or work or in the car.

I’d counsel against using random WiFi connections without a VPN installed and running on the mobile device.

[unc70]

11. Change settings to allow cellular data with Safari

iPhone has the granularity to allow/prohibit the use of cellular data on an app by app basis.

[Effete Snob]

9. There's a hidden setting somewhere

On the menu, you'll never find twice in a lifetime, there is some sort of option that controls how and when it switches between the two for data access.

I found it once years ago, and thus, will likely never see or remember where it is.

[Effete Snob]

10. This is it...

I assume you mean some flavor of Galaxy...

https://www.samsung.com/au/support/mobile-devices/enable-adaptive-wi-fi/

What is Adaptive Wi-Fi?
Enabling the Adaptive Wi-Fi feature allows your network to automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data automatically to maintain a stable network connection.

○ If your Wi-Fi signal becomes weak or unreliable, your phone will switch to mobile data automatically.
○ Wi-Fi will turn on automatically when you're within range of Wi-Fi networks you use frequently.

1
Head into your Settings > Connections



2

Toggle on then tap on Wi-Fi



3

Touch 3 dots icon for more options



4

Tap on Advanced



5
Toggle on Switch to mobile data located under Intelligent Wi-Fi


https://www.verizon.com/support/knowledge-base-97134/

When enabled, this advanced setting allows the device to switch from a weak or unstable Wi-Fi network to the Verizon Wireless cellular network to preserve consistent data throughput.

This function is not enabled by default; the device prompts the user to enable the feature the first time they experience poor Wi-Fi connectivity

From a Home screen, navigate: Apps Applications iconSettingsWi-Fi.

Tap the Menu icon Menu icon (located in the upper-right).

Tap Advanced.

Tap Smart network switch to enable or disable.

Enabled when a check mark is present.

If presented with the "Smart network switch" prompt, tap OK to continue.

[LuckyCharms]

12. Great info! Thanks so much...

Yes, Galaxy S10e.

I just changed my settings as per your post.