This wikiHow teaches you how to use your carrier's cellular data plan to download an iPhone app from the App Store without a wireless Internet connection.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Download on an iPhone
Step 1. Open your iPhone's settings
This looks like a gray gear icon on your home screen.
Step #2. Tap on Wi-Fi
This option is located at the top of the Settings menu.
Step 3. Slide the Wifi switch to the off position
The switch will turn white and turn off Wi-Fi on your iPhone. You will lose your internet connection until you Mobile data turns on.
Step #4. Tap on Back button
It's in the top-left corner of your screen, and it'll take you back to your settings menu.
Step 5. Tap on Mobile data
This option is under Wi-Fi in Settings.
Step 6. Slide the Mobile src=""https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e7/Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80%90Fi-Step-7.jpg /v4-460px-Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80%90Fi-Step-7.jpg">
Step 7. Scroll down and slide the App Store switch to the on position
The switch should turn green. This option is under the heading USE MOBILE DATA FOR. It allows you to use your cellular data plan to browse the App Store on your iPhone and download apps without a Wi-Fi internet connection.
Step 8. Press the Home button of your iPhone
This is the circle button below your screen. This will close Settings and return you to your home screen.
Step 9. Open the App Store
The App Store icon looks like a white A in a blue box on your home screen.
Step 10. Find the app you want to download
You can browse the Featured apps, Categories and Top lists from the toolbar at the bottom of your screen, or you can use the Searchfeature of the App Store to find the app you're looking for.
Step 11. Start the download
Download the app as you normally do with a WiFi connection. Since there is no Wi-Fi internet connection and cellular data enabled for the App Store in your settings, your iPhone uses your carrier's cellular data plan to download the app.
Method 2 of 3: Download on a desktop
Step 1. Open your iPhone's settings
This looks like a gray gear icon on your home screen.
Step #2. Tap on Mobile data
Step 3. Slide the Mobile src=""https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/cc/Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80%90Fi-Step-15.jpg /v4-460px-Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80%90Fi-Step-15.jpg">
Step #4. Tap on Personal Hotspot
With Personal Hotspot, you can share your phone's internet connection with nearby devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. It allows you to connect your computer to the internet via your iPhone and the mobile src=""https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fb/Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80 %90Fi-Step-16.jpg/v4-460px-Download-an-iPhone-App-Without-Wi%E2%80%90Fi-Step-16.jpg">
Step 5. Slide the Personal Hotspot switch to the on position
The switch should turn green.
- If Wi-Fi is turned off on your iPhone, you'll be prompted to choose Enable Wi-Fi or Only use Bluetooth and USB.
Step 6. Connect your computer to your iPhone
- If you want to connect with Wi-Fi, find and choose your iPhone in your computer's Wi-Fi settings.
- If you Bluetooth first, pair your iPhone with your computer. Then find and choose your iPhone from your computer's Bluetooth settings.
- If you're a USBcable, connect your iPhone to your computer. Then find and choose your iPhone from the list of network services in your computer's settings.
Step 7. Open iTunes on your computer
You can download iPhone apps from the App Store on your computer using iTunes.
Step 8. Download an app from iTunes App Store as you normally do
With iTunes, you can browse the iPhone App Store on your computer and download apps to sync with your iPhone later. Your computer uses your iPhone as a personal hotspot for the Internet and uses your carrier's cellular data plan to download the app.
Step 9. Sync your iPhone with iTunes
If your iPhone isn't set up to sync apps to your computer automatically, you'll need to sync it manually. Click on the iPhone icon under the Play button in iTunes, click apps in the navigation menu on the left, click the button to install next to the app and click To apply in the lower right corner of iTunes.
If you're having trouble syncing your iPhone with your computer, this article will teach you how to sync using USB or Wi-Fi
Method 3 of 3: Automatically update apps without Wi-Fi
Step 1. Open your iPhone's settings
This looks like a gray gear icon on your home screen.
Step #2. Scroll down and tap on iTunes & App Store
Step #3. Slide the Updates switch to the on position
The switch should turn green. This option is under the heading AUTOMATIC DOWNLOAD. This allows your iPhone to automatically download updates for existing apps on your device.
Step 4. Slide the Use mobile data switch to the on position
The switch should turn green. This allows you to let your iPhone use your carrier's cellular data plan to automatically download app updates.
Your iPhone will still use Wi-Fi to download updates if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. Cellular data is only used if you don't have an available Wi-Fi internet connection
Warnings
- You cannot download an app from the App Store without a Wi-Fi connection if the download exceeds 100 megabytes. This is a software limitation imposed by your iPhone's operating system and it is not possible to increase this limit.
- Some carriers disable the Personal Hotspot feature in their data plans and/or device settings.
- The iTunes App Store is different from the Mac App Store. You can download iPhone apps on iTunes and sync them to your iPhone later.
- You must sign in with your Apple ID to enable automatic update downloads.