Brent Kearney

iPhone: How to Disable Cellular Internet Access

Posted on: July 21st, 2008 @ 09:35

Disable EDGE on iPhone For those of you using iPhones on cellular networks that do not include unlimited data access, you probably want to disable Internet access through your service provider’s network, and use only wifi for Internet access. In the first generation iPhone, you could disable cellular Internet access by changing the APN (access point name) in the Settings utility on the phone. In the new iPhone 2.0, however, Apple gave service providers the ability to disable this setting. If the carrier chooses to do that, you will automatically connect to the Internet through their network and incur their data access fees, and there is no built-in way to turn it off. Sneaky, and evil.

Fortunately for customers of underhanded carriers that disabled the APN option in the iPhone Settings, Apple has provided the iPhone Configuration Utility, which allows one to customize the APN. For your convenience, I’ve created a basic configuration profile that does just one thing: sets the APN to “NULL”, so that your phone won’t be able to use your cellular provider’s Internet service. Here it is. Note: do not rename it to end with .txt.  It should end with “.mobileconfig”.

Use a computer to e-mail it to yourself, as an attachment. If you are using Microsoft IE (Windows), download this zipped version, since IE seems to mangle the original file. You’ll have to unzip the file before e-mailing it to yourself. Alternatively you can get a better web browser here.

To install it on your phone, simply open the email on your iPhone. When you click on the attachment in the email, it will prompt you about applying the new configuration, and warn you about no trusted signature (I didn’t pay Verisign). Once the profile is installed, it won’t be possible for your iPhone to use your carrier’s network for Internet access. If you wish to re-enable cellular data access, all you need to do is open Settings -> General -> Profile, and remove the profile. The phone might require a reboot after removing the profile.

Enjoy!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Add comment

Possibly Related Posts:

← Older Comments
  • Roberto

    Well, I don’t really know everything needed, but here’s what I have. First of all my iPhone is jailbroken. Through Cydia I have installed some apps that are relevant such as BossPrefs, OpenSSH and Terminal.

    In BossPrefs, there is a switch to turn EDGE on/off, but doesn’t quite work anymore. Nevertheless, there is the Data IP information on the top, which tells me I have connection to the cellular network.

    To change that, I downloaded OpenSSH, so I can access the iPhone through the PC. The default password for root (which you’ll need later) is “alpine”, and is recommended to change it typing “passwd” on the first time you log in. Type “ifconfig” and you’ll see the interfaces that the iPhone have (wireless is “en0″ and the cellular connection is “pdp_ip0″).

    As root, typing “ifconfig pdp_ip0 127.0.0.1 broadcast 127.0.0.1″ sets that connection to try and send any information back to yourself, therefore not going to the cellular network and chargind us precious Kbs out of nowhere.

    Instead of OpenSSH, you may install “Terminal”, which opens a prompt where you should do the same thing as I said before. Log in as root default password “alpine, change it. Type the ifconfig command and there you go. Acutally this seems much easier than OpenSSH, I guess.

    To check if the data was going out at all, I go to Settings > General > Use, and see my network cellular data on the bottom of the screen.

    Well, sorry if I got confused somewhere in the text, I’ve been trying to fix this for the past 3 days… going on multiple forums, calling my cellular provider (TIM, in Brazil), and I’ve been going mad about it!

    Even after all that, I’m still not 100% sure that things works, but I’m givinf it a try!

    I’m glad if I could help at least someone!

  • Pingback: iPhone 3G のパケット通信を無効にし、WiFi のみを利用する方法 | Bowz::Notebook

  • Frederico

    Thanks for the profile!

    worked perfectly. For those of you using Windows and willing to do this without connecting to the internet with the phone, one option is to install the iPhone Configuration Utility on your pc, the just double-clinking on the saved profile, it will open automatically. then apply the settings to your iPhone.

    No more Edge raping!

  • wajahat

    Thanks for the help, i am from pakistan using 2g os 3.1.2, i want to enable mms, i installed enable mms for 2g 3.1.2 from cydia and when i change the cellular data settings, all work nice but in mms section the APN, User Name and Password did not save, i tried millions of time, anyone can help me in enabling MMS, please brent or anyone please help!

  • Gerhard

    I have not used the method described in the previous posts. I have and still use APN Changer. This has worked flawlessly to date. Just type in “unlockit.co.nz” into your iPhone browser and follow the prompts. I have found that several steps can be saved if you create a web clipping. This web clipping remains as a direct means of quickly reinstalling the false profile. As stated I have shut down and restarted internet access many times with this without any issues whatsoever. It works for me with not a single kb of data getting through once switched on. We will see in iPhone OS4 if the data on/of switching announced for the update is allowed by some evil carriers (Telstra Australia..probably the worlds worst).

  • Pingback: tra26 Blog» ブログアーカイブ » iPhoneパケット通信料節約

  • Loewe

    my bill last month was 522€ and the one this month for 10 days (when i discovered it…) was already 700€… This was with O2 in germany. fortunatelly I reached an agreement with them and I have to pay “only” 150€… for doing nothing… ://///

  • Andrew

    In Japan the iPhone carrier crow so and so gave me the tip but I am sure he will be fired because they record conversations with foreigners in English some Japanese are also fed up with being screwed because they do not want to screw us.
    I have experienced being Financially screwed in Japan up to the hilt and here Apple care Japan say batsu no no no we will get you for breech of contract if you try the APN disabler but I called my carrier and they said it is impossible to disable but I did it and could not get internet with 3G but they know this so if I were a shark carrier I would find ways to prevent my customers from shopping around and chain them to the shop.
    Last year I was downloading and my 3G was disabled and using wifi when I found a massive bill the 3G in stealth =without showing took over and cost me in Data pac download fees

    In 2006 I was in England and they charged me roaming fee I could not use a local carrier TMobile carried my calls from Sheffield to Japan and back to Sheffield so I also can screw you back too you know

    We are paying for Machines that are over rated prices and on top being screwed again.

    However we are creating work and paying someone a lively hood like we would want so lets not do something to hurt the people not a penny more not a penny less and if you do not want to pay then do not use and how many of us would try to increase our earnings by tricks and tips do we look at our own sneaky ways.

    Yes I think we will see more of this because they are always thinking how to screw us and we are always thinking how to block our holes just think of us being women who face this in a physical way Sorry about the words but lets face it most people want to screw but do not want to be screwed

    Here in Japan the Phone people have ball because Japanese they support being screwed for money and Gaijin come here and are shocked by the way they charge for everything

    And the Banks do not pay interest and charge us for withdrawing our money it is an insult to vultures sharks bloodsuckers to call Japanese banks these names and under rated to call them ultra facists

  • Lisa

    I tried it, it installed as it should but i could still go out on the internet with wifi disabled so i don’t think it works.

  • SophiieD

    Bonjour a tous,
    Je vous explique mon cas. Je voudrais acheter l’iphone 3GS blanc 16Go, probleme j’ai un forfait simple sans internet illimité que je ne peux pas changer (budget trop élevé) et j’ai peur qu’ils se connecte tout seul, en effectuant votre manipulation je n’aurai pas se soucis ? Je pourrai me servir de mon téléphone normalement joué au jeux qui n’ont pas besoin de connexion internet et je pourrai me connecter a la wifi chez moi ?. Je souhaite le jailbraker avec cydia . Cele fonctionnera ensemble ?? En attente de vos réponse ..

  • Kevin Conway

    does this work on the iphone 3G…Aslo how do i email the long list of numbers and letter to my iphone…do i save them as a file and email them to my email account as a attachemnt

  • ken92

    Escuser moi vous dite qu’il fau changer le “apn ” chez moi qan je rentre dan reseau j’ai 3g ,donnees a l’etranger , partage de conexion , vpn , et wi-fi . qess donc le apn ?

  • Jagjit

    Thanks a lot, it really works – GREAT

  • Martin Bartlett

    Does this work with iPhone 3? iPhone 4?

  • http://www.northy.sk evil.clay

    the new iOS 4 has a switch for turning off cellular data right in Settings -> General -> Network. So there is no need for this profile. Anyway, i’m sure this profile still works in iOS 4, no matter what HW device you have. It just became redundant, because now you have a setting for that

  • miki

    Hi,

    Thx, u have been a gr8 help! Now i can actually use the iPhone for what it was intended not only cool apps!

    Kind regards,
    Miki

  • kim

    bonjour il y a un probleme avec le lien qui est donné pour telecharger le fichier zip car une fois le telechargement terminé le dossier zip est vide je possede un iphone 4 est ce que se programme fonctionnera avec mon iphone perci

  • Brent

    Kim,

    On iPhone 4, go to:
    Settings -> General -> Network -> Disable Cellular Data.

  • Pingback: iPhone: disable mobile Data by default

  • Justin

    hi, i was completely happy with this profile when i installed it around 4 months ago.. now i have a new plan with heaps of data and i wanted to re-activate my celular data.. so i deleted the profile but it still wont connect to the internet. my carrier has no problems on their end, all my settings are correct but it just wont let me, same as when the profile was installed.

    any help is GREATLY appreciated. thanks guys

  • RK

    This APN DISABLER and post have worked wonders for me. Firstly iPhone is not officially launched in this part of the world. Then again we even dont have 3G tech here as well. So using iPhone in the beginning was a real pain in the neck. I cudnt stop it from accessing internet all the time and the battery use to be consumed in matter of few hours and my iPhone use to get heat up.
    Read the post and install the disabler. Bingo..!!
    The most surprising element, although i am having the APN disabler installed as per instructions but i can still use my internet (Edge) when and if i require, the automatic attempts by the iPhone is no longer there.
    thanks for everything

  • Darshan

    wow.. it does work well mate .. i tried so many softwares before this , never came upto this trick . thank u so much

  • souma tou

    n

  • omar

    thank u very very much really
    you rescued me

  • philippe

    you are the best !!!! thanks a lot.

  • ROD

    Works really great, thanx!!!

  • JohnnyBeGood

    I tried following the steps but got the same problem as paul in one of the earlier comments, when I e-mailed it and tried opening it in my e-mail just plain text came up. I’ve just connected my iphone to the computer using a usb connector (the wire you use to move songs onto ur iphone from itunes and all that) and transferred the program manually using the iphone configuration utility. appears to have downloaded correctly and be installed on the iphone but yet to see whether it works. I’ll post an update once I’ve recharged my phone credit and I’ll let you know if anything happens

  • miura

    Bb

  • miura

    あほはははは
    は

  • http://luwisch.com Mario Peter

    Thanks I was beeing ripped off in an average 50 dollars a month by my service provider (TMN Portugal) Again and again Thank You

  • Ivan

    I’m so grateful for your help. Really thank you so much!

  • Ben

    Awesome, works perfectly well.
    Thanks!
    b.

  • Sajid

    Great! Thanks Buddy! Its works & you rocks!!!!

  • ayumi

    はいりたいです！！

  • Tristan

    Will it help if I have version4.3

  • http://brent.kearneys.ca Brent

    @Tristan: Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data

  • Tristan

    No look the version 4.2.1

  • Tristan

    Will it work with v 4.2.1 that’s the next update I have and I already have the APN disabler and I want to know if it still works please check I really appreciate it 

  • よういち

    mailの送受信ができなくなってしまいました。

  • Pingback: Turning off the Cellular Data connection on your iPhone. | The `i` Technology Projects

  • Messi

    Hi,
    how to reboot iphone?

  • Sarah

    Bonjour à tous :) Merci beaucoup pour l’astuce ! Mais j’aimerais savoir (désolée si la question a déjà été posée) est ce que ça fonctionne sur l’iPhone 3GS ? 

    • Sarah

      Hello everyone:) Thanks for the tip! But my question (sorry if the question has been asked before) is that it works on the iPhone 3G?

      • http://brent.kearneys.ca Brent

        Yes, it works on the iPhone 3G.

  • Alxgonz13

    i tryed this rightnow and it didnt work

  • Alxgonz13

    i tryed this but the internet still works even if the apn says null

  • Lisa

    Will this work or an iPhone on the t-mobile network, I know you guys said Rogers, but I’d like to avoid the same problem on t-mobile’s plan.

  • Goatlips

    I have iPhone 3gs on O2 pay and go and it won’t send MMS picture/photo messages! I have “mobile data” off. Does ‘mobile data’ need to be turned on to send picture message mms? If I turn it on and lose my free Wifi connection the apps on the iphone will use the O2 network’s internet without me even knowing and I’ll have zero credit in a matter of seconds! My n95 on Orange doesn’t need internet to send MMS photo messages! If I deliberately break the network’s internet access point I’ll never be able to send MMS (if ‘mobile data’ needs to be turned on).

  • reba

    thank you for your hard work, you saved me lots of time and money trying to figure out how to change my settings, tyvm

  • Iain allan

    Many thanks friend, i could not believe the shrewdness of the apple empire to set up this deal with network providers to rip us off even more. Thank you very much for your consideration in setting up this post, greatly appreciated

  • Jaxxx251

    Hi..Does this work on Iphone 4? I tried to install it but it said that the Iphone 4 does not require a fake APN cert and that i can just turn off the cellular data service

← Older Comments
» «