This article explains what you can do if your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is stuck on EDGE instead of 5G. Your data still works, but everything is slow: pages take a long time to load, video buffers, and large downloads may not finish at all. The status bar shows E rather than the 5G icon.
After trying each step below, check your status bar again.
Before you go further, please make sure that:
- You are in an area with 5G coverage. Contact your carrier if you are not sure.
- Your carrier supports 5G and you are on a cellular plan that supports 5G. Contact your carrier to confirm.
1. Check Voice & Data is not set to LTE
Here is how to check this setting on your iPhone 18 Pro:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Cellular, then tap Cellular Data Options.
- If you are using Dual SIM, choose the number that you want to change.
- Tap Voice & Data.
You will see three options:
- 5G Auto: Enables Smart Data mode. When 5G speeds don’t provide a noticeably better experience, your iPhone automatically switches to LTE, saving battery life.
- 5G On: Always uses 5G network when it’s available. This might reduce battery life.
- LTE: Uses only LTE network, even when 5G is available.
If LTE is selected, your iPhone will never join a 5G network. Choose 5G Auto or 5G On.
Additional settings such as 5G Standalone and Voice Over 5G Standalone may be available in your market. For more information, contact your carrier.
2. Turn off Low Power Mode
If you turn on Low Power Mode, 5G disables. Go to Settings > Battery > Power Mode and turn off Low Power Mode, then check your status bar again.
3. Airplane Mode
On your iPhone 18 Pro, go to Settings and turn on Airplane Mode. Wait at least 15 seconds. Then turn off Airplane Mode.
4. Restart your iPhone
Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, drag the power-off slider, then wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off. To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
5. Update your carrier settings
Sometimes your carrier may release updates that are designed to improve your cellular data performance. Check to see if there is an update and if there is an update, update your carrier settings. Here is how:
- Make sure that you connect your device to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to install your carrier update.
If your carrier releases a mandatory update, you will see an OK button instead of an Update button.
6. Update your iPhone 18 Pro
Update to the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. This will check for software updates. If there is an update available, tap Download and Install and follow the onscreen instructions.
7. Are you roaming?
Many carriers around the world support 5G roaming. If your carrier doesn’t support 5G roaming, you can get cellular data through 4G or LTE networks, or obtain a local SIM card or eSIM with 5G where available. Contact your carrier for more information.
8. Reset network settings
Reset Network Settings removes all network settings. Please note that resetting will erase your Wi-Fi, VPN, and other network settings. Here is how:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, then tap Reset Network Settings.
- If asked, enter your passcode.
- Your device will restart.
9. Contact your carrier
So you have tried everything and your iPhone 18 Pro is still stuck on EDGE? There might be a service outage or you may have an issue with your cellular provider. Maybe you have reached your data limit and your carrier is throttling your speeds. Or maybe there are outages in your area. Contact your carrier for further help.
