If your phone displays 4G instead of 5G, the most common reasons are that 5G is disabled in your settings, you are outside of a 5G coverage area, or your cellular plan does not include 5G access. Checking these three things first will resolve the issue for the vast majority of people wondering why their phone says 4G instead of 5G.
Check if 5G is enabled in your phone's settings
Phones often default to 4G or an "Auto" mode to balance speed and battery life, which can prevent a 5G connection. You need to manually ensure 5G is turned on in your network settings.
- For iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data. Then select "5G Auto" or "5G On".
- For Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections) > Mobile Network > Preferred Network Type (or Network Mode). Then select an option that includes 5G, such as "5G/LTE/3G/2G".
Selecting "5G Auto" allows your phone to use 5G when the signal is strong enough, switching to 4G to save battery when the signal is weak. If you prefer a consistent 5G connection at the cost of battery life, you may choose "5G On". If you want to manually change from 5g to 4g to save battery, you can return to these settings and select an LTE-only option.
Confirm your cellular plan includes 5G access
Some carriers require a specific plan or add-on for 5G access. If your plan does not support 5G, your phone will only connect to 4G networks, but first you should tell if my phone is 4g or 5g capable to rule out a hardware limitation. Contact your carrier directly to confirm your plan includes 5G access. They can also tell you if any plan upgrades are needed to enable 5G on your line.
Make sure you're in an area with 5G coverage
5G coverage is still limited, especially outside major cities. You need to be in an area with active 5G network coverage from your carrier. Even within a coverage area, indoor locations can weaken the signal, causing your phone to fall back to 4G. Check your carrier's official coverage map to see if 5G is available at your current location. The map will also show you approximate 5G tower coverage distances, so you know how far you might need to be from a tower to get a reliable signal.
Is your phone model compatible with 5G?
Older phone models simply do not have the 5G modem hardware required to connect. To confirm, check your phone's specifications on the manufacturer's website. If your phone is not 5G-compatible, it will always display 4G regardless of your settings, plan, or location.
Try a quick restart or Airplane Mode toggle
Temporary network glitches can prevent a 5G connection. Restarting your phone or toggling Airplane Mode on and off can often resolve these issues. This forces your phone to re-register with the network, which can help it find a 5G signal that was previously missed.
Other things to check: SIM card, power saving, and software
Less common causes can also keep your phone on 4G. While many 4G SIM cards are compatible, some older SIMs may not fully support 5G networks and might require replacement from your carrier, especially for Standalone 5G. Additionally, power-saving modes or low data modes can limit your phone's use of 5G to conserve battery life or reduce data consumption. Finally, keeping your phone's software up to date is important, as updates often include fixes for network connectivity issues that could prevent a 5G connection.
