The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, being a flagship device, comes equipped with 5G capabilities, offering blistering fast speeds where available. However, there are times when you might want to switch off 5G on your Verizon S22 Ultra. Perhaps you're looking to conserve battery life, or you're in an area with patchy 5G coverage, leading to frequent network switching and a less stable connection. Whatever your reason, disabling 5G is a straightforward process.
Ready to take control of your network connection? Let's dive in!
Understanding Why You Might Want to Turn Off 5G
Before we jump into the "how-to," let's quickly explore the common reasons why users choose to disable 5G:
Battery Life Extension: 5G modems generally consume more power than 4G LTE modems, especially when actively searching for and connecting to 5G networks. In areas with weak or inconsistent 5G signals, your phone might constantly try to find a better connection, which can significantly drain your battery.
Improved Stability in Certain Areas: While 5G is faster, its coverage isn't as widespread or as mature as 4G LTE. In areas with weak 5G signals, your phone might frequently switch between 5G and 4G, leading to dropped calls, slow data, and an overall less reliable experience. Sticking to 4G LTE can provide a more consistent connection in such scenarios.
Reduced Data Usage (Potentially): While 5G itself doesn't inherently use more data, its faster speeds might encourage you to consume more data through streaming high-resolution videos or downloading large files more frequently. If you're on a limited data plan, turning off 5G might help you stay within your limits.
EMF Concerns (Less Common): Some individuals have concerns about electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from cellular networks. While scientific consensus generally indicates that current cellular technologies are safe, turning off 5G might be a personal preference for those seeking to minimize exposure to higher frequency radio waves.
Now that we understand the motivations, let's get to the practical steps!
Step 1: Accessing Your Phone's Settings
The very first step on our journey to take back control of your network preferences is to open your phone's Settings app.
Method 1: From the App Drawer: Swipe up from your home screen to open the app drawer. Look for the "Settings" icon, which typically looks like a gear or cog. Tap on it.
Method 2: From the Notification Panel: Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to fully expand the Quick Settings panel. In the top-right corner, you'll see a gear icon. Tap this to open the Settings.
Step 2: Navigating to Connections
Once you're in the Settings menu, you'll see a long list of options. We need to find the network-related settings.
Look for the "Connections" option. This is usually near the top of the settings list. It handles all things related to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and, crucially, mobile networks.
Tap on "Connections."
Step 3: Finding Mobile Networks
Within the "Connections" menu, you'll find various network-related settings. Our target is the "Mobile networks" section.
Scroll down and locate "Mobile networks."
Tap on "Mobile networks."
Step 4: Selecting Network Mode
This is where the magic happens! The "Network mode" setting allows you to choose your preferred network type.
Within the "Mobile networks" screen, you will see an option called "Network mode."
Tap on "Network mode."
Sub-heading: Understanding Your Network Mode Options
When you tap "Network mode," you'll typically be presented with several options. These options dictate which cellular technologies your phone will prioritize. On a Verizon Samsung S22 Ultra, you'll likely see something similar to:
5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect): This is the default setting and allows your phone to automatically connect to the best available network, including 5G.
LTE/3G/2G (auto connect): This option tells your phone to prefer 4G LTE and older networks, effectively disabling 5G. This is the option you want to choose.
LTE/3G (auto connect): This option would limit your phone to 4G LTE and 3G networks.
3G/2G (auto connect): This would restrict your phone to only 3G and 2G networks, which are significantly slower.
Step 5: Choosing Your Preferred Network
To turn off 5G, you'll need to select the option that excludes 5G.
From the list of network modes, select "LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)."
Your phone will then attempt to switch to this preferred network mode. You might see a brief network disconnect and then reconnect as it adjusts.
Sub-heading: Verifying the Change
To confirm that 5G has been successfully disabled:
Look at your status bar. If you were previously seeing a "5G" indicator, it should now display "LTE" or "4G."
Try Browse the internet or making a call. Ensure your connection is stable on 4G LTE.
Step 6: Optional: Restart Your Device
While often not strictly necessary, a quick restart can help solidify the network change and clear any temporary glitches.
Press and hold the Power button (on the right side of the phone) and the Volume Down button (on the left side) simultaneously.
Tap "Restart" from the power menu that appears.
Allow your phone to fully reboot.
And there you have it! You've successfully turned off 5G on your Samsung S22 Ultra (Verizon). You can always revert to the 5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) option if you wish to re-enable 5G in the future.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions related to turning off 5G on your Samsung S22 Ultra, with quick answers:
How to check if my Samsung S22 Ultra is currently using 5G? You can check the network indicator in your phone's status bar (top right corner of the screen). If it shows "5G," you are connected to a 5G network.
How to know if my area has 5G coverage? You can check Verizon's official coverage map on their website or app. This will show you where 5G (and 5G Ultra Wideband) service is available.
How to re-enable 5G on my Samsung S22 Ultra? Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network mode, and then select "5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)."
How to tell if turning off 5G is actually saving battery life? Monitor your battery usage in Settings > Battery and device care > Battery over a few days with 5G on and then a few days with 5G off. You should observe a noticeable improvement in battery longevity with 5G disabled, especially in areas with weak 5G signals.
How to deal with slow internet speeds after turning off 5G? If your 4G LTE speeds are significantly slower than expected, ensure you have good signal strength. You can also try restarting your phone or performing a network settings reset (Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings).
How to know if my Verizon plan supports 5G? Most newer Verizon unlimited plans include 5G access. You can log into your My Verizon account or contact Verizon customer support to confirm your plan's features.
How to update my Samsung S22 Ultra software? Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Keeping your software updated can improve network performance and overall phone stability.
How to fix issues if my phone keeps switching between 4G and 5G? This is a common issue in areas with inconsistent 5G coverage. Turning off 5G, as described in this guide, is the most effective solution to prevent frequent network switching.
How to improve signal strength on my Samsung S22 Ultra? Ensure you're in an open area, away from obstructions. If indoors, try moving closer to a window. If the issue persists, contact Verizon customer support.
How to use Wi-Fi instead of cellular data to save battery? Always connect to a Wi-Fi network when available. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi, and connect to a strong Wi-Fi signal. This reduces your phone's reliance on cellular data, thereby saving battery.
