You're standing at a bus stop or sitting in a cafe with terrible internet, and that little red notification badge is staring you in the face. It’s annoying. Apple has historically been pretty stubborn about forcing users onto a "stable" WiFi connection for iOS updates, mostly to prevent people from accidentally blowing through their monthly data caps or bricking their phones during a patchy connection. But honestly, in a world of 5G and unlimited data plans, that restriction feels like a relic of 2012.
Can you do it? Yes.
Is it always straightforward? Not exactly.
The reality is that learning how to update iPhone without WiFi requires knowing a few specific workarounds, because the "Download and Install" button is often greyed out the moment you disconnect from a router. Depending on your model and your carrier, you might have it easy, or you might have to trick your phone into thinking it’s actually on a home network.
The 5G Shortcut is a Game Changer
If you have an iPhone 12 or anything newer, you basically have a superpower that older iPhone users don't. Apple finally acknowledged that 5G is often faster and more reliable than many home WiFi setups. When the iPhone 12 launched, they introduced a feature called "Allow More Data on 5G."
It’s hidden. Most people never touch this setting.
Go into your Settings, tap on Cellular, and then find Cellular Data Options. Inside there, you’ll see "Data Mode." If it’s set to Standard or Low Data Mode, your phone will block the iOS update. Switch it to Allow More Data on 5G. This tells the operating system that you don't care about the data usage and you want the high-quality stuff, including software updates. Once that’s toggled on, go back to Software Update. The "Download and Install" button should suddenly be clickable even if your WiFi is toggled off. It’s the most "official" way to handle the situation.
But what if you're on LTE? Or what if you have an iPhone 11 or an older SE? Then things get a bit more creative.
The Hotspot Trick: The Classic Workaround
This is the most common method people use when they need to know how to update iPhone without WiFi, but it requires a second device. It feels a bit like a "gotcha" because you're still technically using WiFi, just not a traditional router. If you have an iPad with a cellular plan, a secondary work phone, or a friend who is willing to burn 4GB of their data for you, this is your best bet.
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- Turn on the Personal Hotspot on the secondary device.
- Connect your iPhone to that hotspot.
- The iPhone "thinks" it is on a standard WiFi network.
- Start the update.
Just be careful. iOS updates are massive. We are talking several gigabytes. If your friend has a 5GB limit, you are about to ruin their month. Also, keep your phone plugged into a charger. Updates are CPU-intensive. If your battery dies halfway through a firmware write because the hotspot drained it, you’re looking at a recovery mode nightmare.
Why Apple Makes This Hard
It's not just about data. Apple’s engineering team, led by people like Craig Federighi, focuses heavily on "update integrity." When you're on a cellular connection, signal strength can fluctuate wildly. If a packet of data gets corrupted while the phone is trying to verify the update signature, the whole process fails. WiFi is generally seen as a "continuous" stream, whereas cellular is "bursty."
There was a time when you could trick the iPhone by changing the date and time settings to a few weeks in the future to force a download over LTE. Apple patched that. They really want you on a stable connection. If you're wondering how to update iPhone without WiFi on an older LTE device without a hotspot, you might actually be out of luck for a "direct" over-the-air update.
Using a Computer: The Old School (and Best) Way
If you have a laptop but no WiFi—maybe you're using a wired Ethernet connection or a USB cellular modem—your computer is the bridge. This is actually the safest way to update. It’s how we did it back in the iPhone 3G days, and it still works perfectly in 2026.
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Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC using a Lightning or USB-C cable. On a Mac, open Finder. On a PC, open iTunes (or the newer Apple Devices app). You'll see your phone pop up in the sidebar. Click "Check for Update." The computer downloads the entire firmware file to its own hard drive first. It verifies the checksum to make sure the file is perfect. Then, it pushes the update to your phone over the wire. No WiFi required for the phone at all.
It's rock solid. It's fast. It’s also the best way to clear out that "System Data" clutter that seems to eat up storage space.
Dealing with the "Low Data Mode" Roadblock
Sometimes, even if you have a great signal, your phone refuses to cooperate because of a setting you forgot you turned on. Low Data Mode is the enemy here. Carriers sometimes trigger this automatically if you’re nearing the end of your billing cycle.
Check this: Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options.
Make sure Low Data Mode is off. Even on 4G/LTE, having this on is like a physical barrier for Apple’s update servers.
A Note on Beta Profiles
If you are someone who likes to live on the edge and run iOS Developer Betas, the rules are slightly different. Beta updates are often even larger and more frequent. Interestingly, Apple is sometimes more lenient with beta testers downloading over cellular because they assume testers know the risks. If you're on a beta, check your settings under General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Sometimes toggling the specific beta track can refresh the "Download" button.
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What to do next
If you're currently trying to get that update started, start with the most likely solution:
- If you have 5G: Enable "Allow More Data on 5G" in your Cellular settings and try the update again. This works for almost everyone on a modern plan.
- Check your storage: Your iPhone needs roughly double the size of the update in free space to actually unpack the files. If you have 200MB left, no amount of WiFi or 5G will help you. Clear out your "Recently Deleted" photos.
- Use the Cable: If you're at home but the WiFi is out, plug into your computer. It’s the "nuclear option" that never fails.
- Force Restart: If the "Download and Install" button is still grey after you’ve changed your settings, do a quick volume up, volume down, and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This clears the cache and forces the phone to re-check the update server requirements.
Updating over cellular is no longer the taboo it used to be. As long as you have the signal strength and a decent data plan, you can skip the router entirely and keep your device current. Just watch that data meter if you aren't on an unlimited plan, as these updates are only getting larger as iOS becomes more complex.