This wikiHow teaches you how to use a cellular data plan to download iPhone apps from the App Store without a Wi-Fi internet connection.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Downloading on iPhone
Step 1. Open iPhone Settings
This icon is a gray gear on the Home screen.
Step 2. Tap on Wi-Fi
It's near the top of the Settings menu.
Step 3. Slide the Wi-Fi switch to the Off position
This button will turn white and turn off Wi-Fi on iPhone. You will lose internet connection until Cellular Data (mobile data) is turned on.
Step 4. Tap the Back button
It's in the upper-left corner of the screen, and will take you to the Settings menu.
Step 5. Tap the Cellular button
It's just below Wi-Fi in Settings.
Step 6. Slide the Cellular Data switch to the On position
This button will turn green. Once Cellular Data is turned on, you can connect to the internet without a Wi-Fi connection.
Step 7. Scroll down and slide the App Store switch to the On position
This button will turn green. This option is under USE CELLULAR DATA FOR. This step allows you to use a cellular data plan to browse the App Store on your iPhone, and download apps without using a Wi-Fi connection.
Step 8. Press the iPhone's Home button
It's a circular button at the bottom of the screen. You will exit Settings and return to the Home screen.
Step 9. Open the App Store
The App Store icon looks like a white A in a blue square on the Home screen.
Step 10. Find the app you want to download
You can find it in the section Featured, Categories, and Top Charts from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, or you can use the function Search (search) in the App Store to search for the desired application.
Step 11. Start the download
Download the app as usual with a Wi-Fi connection. If internet connection and cellular data are not enabled in Settings for the App Store, the download will use your iPhone credit.
Method 2 of 3: Bend from Desktop
Step 1. Open iPhone Settings
It's a gray gear icon on the Home screen.
Step 2. Tap Cellular
Step 3. Slide the Cellular Data switch to the On position
This button will turn green. By activating Cellular Data, iPhone can connect to the internet without using Wi-Fi.
Step 4. Tap on Personal Hotspot
Personal Hotspot allows you to share your internet connection with various nearby devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. This mode can also make the computer connect to the internet using an iPhone cellular data plan.
Step 5. Slide the Personal Hotspot switch to the On position
This button will turn green.
If Wi-Fi on iPhone is turned off, you will be prompted to turn on Wi-Fi (Turn on Wi-Fi) or just use Bluetooth and USB (Use Bluetooth and USB Only).
Step 6. Connect the computer to the iPhone
- If you want to connect using Wi-Fi, find and select iPhone under the computer's Wi-Fi settings.
- If you use Bluetooth, connect iPhone with computer first. Then, find and select iPhone from the computer's Bluetooth settings.
- If you use cable USB, plug your iPhone into the computer. Then, find and select iPhone from the list of networks in computer settings.
Step 7. Open iTunes on the computer
You can download apps from the App Store on your computer using iTunes.
Step 8. Download the app from the iTunes App Store as usual
iTunes lets you browse the iPhone's App Store from your computer and download it to sync with your iPhone later. The computer will use the iPhone as a personal hotspot to connect to the internet and use a cellular data plan to download apps.
Step 9. Sync iPhone with iTunes
If your iPhone doesn't automatically sync apps with your computer, you'll need to do it manually. To do so, click iPhone icon (iPhone icon) under the Play button in iTunes, click Apps in the left navigation menu, click the button Install (install) next to the application, and click Apply in the lower right corner of iTunes.
If you're having trouble syncing your iPhone with your computer, this article will teach you how to sync using USB or Wi-Fi
Method 3 of 3: Automatically Update Apps without Wi-Fi
Step 1. Open iPhone settings
Tap this gray gear icon on the Home screen.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap iTunes & App Store
Step 3. Slide the Updates button to the On position
This button will turn green. This option is below the text AUTOMATIC DOWNLOADS (auto download). Thus, the iPhone will be able to download app updates on the device automatically.
Step 4. Slide the Use Cellular Data switch to the On position
This button will turn green. Thus, the iPhone will use the cellular data plan to download app updates automatically.
Your iPhone will still use Wi-Fi to download updates if it's connected to its network. The mobile data plan will only be used if the device is not connected to Wi-Fi
Warning
- You can't download apps from the App Store without a Wi-Fi connection if they exceed 100 megabytes in size. This limitation is enforced by iOS iPhone and cannot be bypassed.
- Some cellular service providers disable the Personal Hotspot function in their cellular data plan and device settings.
- The iTunes App Store app is different from the Mac App Store. You can download iPhone apps in iTunes, and sync them with iPhone later.
- You must sign in with your Apple ID to turn on automatic update downloads.
