How to update iPhone without Wi-Fi in 2026?

So, I contacted Apple directly about this issue. Updating here, in case anyone needs help with this in the future.

1. The update does need a Wi-Fi connection to update on the device directly.
2. You can only update using a computer if the computer has a separate Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection (so, not using your phone's hotspot to update your phone).
3. If you can't access Wi-Fi, you can contact Apple Support via the app and ask them to book in an appointment at your local Apple store/Genius Bar, where they can do the update for you, using their computer.

I will not be doing this. I don't want 5G, so will be going back to a dumb phone instead. And honestly, having to book in an appointment and go to the store every time there's a new update is ridiculous.

Hope this helps someone though!

Jelleybeanz wrote:

OK. So, carrier aside, how can you explain how my iPhone - that is old and does not have 5G capability - has always updated via cellular?

I'm in Australia - perhaps the rules are different here? 🤔

Smaller apps have optionally updated via cellular, but iOS itself only updates with 5G and carrier support, and backs up wirelessly via cellular only via 5G and iCloud.

Your options are Wi-Fi router with 5G backhaul from your carrier, or a Mac or PC with a not-phone-based terrestrial wired or terrestrial wireless or satellite internet connection.

How and what you install, or how you get to that network connection, is your choice.

Jelleybeanz wrote:

OK. So, carrier aside, how can you explain how my iPhone - that is old and does not have 5G capability - has always updated via cellular?

I'm in Australia - perhaps the rules are different here? 🤔

I can't explain it. But I did a Google Search and it appears to be no different in Australia than it is in other parts of the world.

The question I asked was: "do carriers in Australia permit iOS updates over 4G/LTE," and this was the answer:

"No, Australian carriers and Apple generally do not permit major iOS updates over 4G/LTE cellular data. While older iOS versions allowed small delta updates on LTE, current policy restricts full over-the-air iOS updates to 5G networks only.

• Hardware Requirement: Only iPhone 12 and newer models support downloading major iOS updates via cellular data.
• Network Requirement: The device must be connected to an active 5G plan; LTE/4G connections will not initiate the download for full version upgrades.
• Settings: Users must enable "Allow More Data on 5G" in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode to permit large downloads.
• Carrier Restrictions: Some carriers or MVNOs may throttle speeds or block large background downloads even on 5G, so verifying plan permissions is recommended.

For iPhones older than the iPhone 12, or for users without 5G coverage, updates must be performed via Wi-Fi or a computer using Finder/iTunes." 

Can't you go to a store/coffee shop/library, etc., where there's Wifi? Can't you use a computer to update your iPhone with either Finder (Mac) or Apple Devices (Windows)? Maybe visit a friend or neighbor who has Wifi?

Did you connect the iPhone to that iMac? I always update our iPhones by connecting them to our Macs. You can also do it with a Windows computer. Both our iPhone SE 2020 updated to 27 that way without issue.

Apple info:

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Finder - Apple Support

Install the Apple Devices app on Windows - Apple Support (QA)

Apple Support's September 2026 articles may be helpful:

See how to: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"If you get an alert when updating wirelessly

If you see an alert message while trying to update your device wirelessly, learn what to do.

Some software updates aren't available wirelessly.

VPN or proxy connections might prevent your device from contacting the update servers."

and

What to do: If your iPhone or iPad won't update - Apple Support

Eg: says:

If you can’t install the latest version of iOS or iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad

Here's why your iPhone or iPad might not update wirelessly, or over the air:

• Your device doesn't support the latest software.
• There isn't enough available storage space on your device.
• The update is taking longer than expected to download.
• Your device isn't able to reach the update server.
• The update doesn't complete.

___________________________________________________

Re: iPhone SE (2nd Generation) "My iPhone does not have 5G"

"I have no access to Wi-Fi anywhere. How can I get these updates please?"

The replies in this 2024 discussion thread may be helpful:

I need to update iOS without Wi-Fi - Apple Community

Eg: Community members say:

"You will have to use a 5G cellular connection, to be able to download and install iOS updates without using Wi-Fi."

Dleper wrote:

That is not true. I currently have an iPhone with 5G, but previously, only 4g iPhones and a 4G iPad. All used to allow updates via wifi, but not anymore. Not even when connected via hotspot through my 5G iPhone. Where I live, going with anything else is costly and challenging. Requiring me to do that just for updates is ridiculous. I guess I’ll have to upgrade to Android.

All iPhones with 4G / LTE can update using a Mac or PC, over Wi-Fi, and over carrier-provided cellular-backhaul Wi-Fi.

All iPhones with 5G can update using a Mac or PC, over Wi-Fi, over a carrier-provided cellular-backhaul Wi-Fi, and (carrier-allowing) over 5G.

If you are not being allowed updates, remove any add-on VPN apps, remove any add-on security apps, restart, and test again.

With Wi-Fi networks, the operator of the Wi-Fi network can choose to permit or to block various operations, including permitting or denying heavy usage or updates via that network.

None of this has particularly changed since the advent of iPhone models with 5G allowing over-the-air updates, and over-the-air backups, and again, this all carrier permitting.

There is a data mode selector listed in the settings, here in the description of an Australian 5G webpage:

Use 5G with your iPhone – Apple Support (AU)

This support page lists Allow More Data on 5G, Standard Data, and Low Data. Only Allow More Data on 5G (and a carrier and cellular plan that permits it) supports over-the-air updates.

If your iPhone is set to but not allowing over-the-air updates and your carrier indicates your cellular should allow over-the-air updates, check with Apple Support.

If a particular Wi-Fi network is not allowing updates, check with the operator of the Wi-Fi, or use a less-restrictive Wi-Fi network.

If this Wi-Fi network is a network you are associated with, check whether that problematic Wi-Fi network is operating correctly, as updates and streaming and other heavier usage can push a marginally-working Wi-Fi or a Wi-Fi encountering interference into failure, and check with the ISP, as it wouldn’t surprise me some ISPs might or will block heavier usage on some ISP client plans, either directly or via data caps or by reverting to lower-bandwidth connections. And try a different Wi-Fi network, to help focus on either the iPhone or on the particular Wi-Fi network.

In places where satellite networks are permitted and are available and with coverage, connections via Starlink can be an option. There are other satellite providers, as well. The Starlink low-earth orbit satellite competitor Leo isn’t online as yet.

And should Android, GrapheneOS, or other options work better for your needs and requirements, by all means buy and use that.

Thanks for the links. The first one actually highlights the exact problem I'm having:

If your computer is using Personal Hotspot on the device that you're updating, connect your computer to a different Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.

So, as I don't have Wi-Fi or Ethernet, I can't update my iPhone?

My process:

I connected the iPhone to iMac with USB.

iMac is connected to internet via iPhone Hotspot.

Used Finder to update iPhone. It downloaded fine but then, once the phone restarted and tried to update, it couldn't complete (presumably because the iMac was no longer connected to the internet?).

This seems crazy, I can't be the only person with no access to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Hopefully someone knows a way around this 🙏🏼

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean.

Carrier Mobile Hotspots - As in, on my phone? That's what I'm trying to use but it can't seem to complete the process after the phone restarts.

Residential internet - You mean purchase additional Wi-Fi for my home, just to get Apple updates?

Satellite providers - I don't know much about these but it sounds like an additional purchase again?

My mobile phone plan has unlimited data, so I should be able to use it for updates, without having to pay for any additional internet.

Jelleybeanz wrote:

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean.

Carrier Mobile Hotspots - As in, on my phone?

Same idea as the phone hotspot, but with carrier-provided Wi-Fi router hardware, and a 5G cellular or satellite connection to the internet depending on the provider.

I’d expect most cellular carriers offer a package deal, with the home internet and phone plan can be combined.

As for over-the-air iOS updates, that requires a 5G iPhone, and always has. iOS doesn’t update over LTE / 4G / 3G / etc.

I’d expect most cellular carriers offer a package deal, with the home internet and phone plan can be combined.

Oh I see, thanks for the clarification.

However, it's not reasonable for Apple to expect people to purchase additional hardware and internet, solely to update their devices. A lot of people (particularly students) have ONLY a mobile phone, with unlimited data. Apple should allow them to use that data to update their devices. As these updates are so large, often universities and public spaces do not allow them (understandably).

As for over-the-air iOS updates, that requires a 5G iPhone, and always has. iOS doesn’t update over LTE / 4G / 3G / etc.

That's not my experience. My previous mobile plan was only 4G and my current phone is old does not even have 5G capability. I have never owned a 5G device. All of my updates have been over-the-air, until I changed my mobile sim plan last week. I'm not sure if it's their network (they say it isn't), or the Apple update.

Jelleybeanz wrote:

I’d expect most cellular carriers offer a package deal, with the home internet and phone plan can be combined.

Oh I see, thanks for the clarification.

However, it's not reasonable for Apple to expect people to purchase additional hardware and internet, solely to update their devices. A lot of people (particularly students) have ONLY a mobile phone, with unlimited data. Apple should allow them to use that data to update their devices. As these updates are so large, often universities and public spaces do not allow them (understandably).

As for over-the-air iOS updates, that requires a 5G iPhone, and always has. iOS doesn’t update over LTE / 4G / 3G / etc.

That's not my experience. My previous mobile plan was only 4G and my current phone is old does not even have 5G capability. I have never owned a 5G device. All of my updates have been over-the-air, until I changed my mobile sim plan last week. I'm not sure if it's their network (they say it isn't), or the Apple update.

I'm afraid you're not getting it. Apple doesn't control what carriers support. When 5G rolled out, the carriers permitted updating over cellular with 5G. 5G infrastructure generally has higher capacity and many users have more generous unlimited data plans. The simple fact is carriers have never supported updating an iPhone over 4G/LTE. 4G/LTE doesn't have the bandwidth to support updates and it could cause network issues for other users.

Use Wifi and if you don't have Wifi, go somewhere you can use Wifi.

That is not true. I currently have an iPhone with 5G, but previously, only 4g iPhones and a 4G iPad. All used to allow updates via wifi, but not anymore. Not even when connected via hotspot through my 5G iPhone. Where I live, going with anything else is costly and challenging. Requiring me to do that just for updates is ridiculous. I guess I’ll have to upgrade to Android.

Dleper wrote:

That is not true. I currently have an iPhone with 5G, but previously, only 4g iPhones and a 4G iPad. All used to allow updates via wifi, but not anymore. Not even when connected via hotspot through my 5G iPhone. Where I live, going with anything else is costly and challenging. Requiring me to do that just for updates is ridiculous. I guess I’ll have to upgrade to Android.

This thread is about updating an iPhone without Wifi. If an iPhone is 5G it would permit updating using 5G. You should be able to update using someones Hotspot, but that could be limited by the persons carrier, not your phone.

What's concerning about your post is you're saying you can't update using Wifi? Care to expand on that?

Most carriers offer mobile hotspots, as well as residential internet.

Satellite providers are another potential option for Wi-Fi coverage.

OK. So, carrier aside, how can you explain how my iPhone - that is old and does not have 5G capability - has always updated via cellular?

I'm in Australia - perhaps the rules are different here? 🤔

You should always buy what you want. We don't care what you buy.