How Mobile Phone Works for Data

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Rickles

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#303753 7-Mar-2023 12:32

If a mobile phone has both mobile/roaming data AND wifi turned on, which takes precedence?

Oblivian

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#3046795 7-Mar-2023 12:54

Way I understand, Depends on app access.

System/android prefers WiFi.* But there's always something that if it thinks it needs background cell/data and has permission will use it, that flightmode kills.

*Not always case for volte vs wifi calling. Carrier set

May also not notice the switching if signal is poo.

Linux

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#3046797 7-Mar-2023 13:00

WiFi

Rickles

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#3046921 7-Mar-2023 17:24

Thanks ... a little research suggests wifi will essentially trump mobile data.

fe31nz

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#3047150 8-Mar-2023 00:16

Except that Android phones drop off WiFi frequently - it seems to be a power saving measure. So if you think you are on WiFi but it has actually dropped for the moment, then you will find that mobile data will be used until WiFi connects again. This is a really annoying habit of Android's. So when I am using WiFi, I normally turn off mobile data.

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#3047209 8-Mar-2023 07:54

fe31nz:
Except that Android phones drop off WiFi frequently - it seems to be a power saving measure. So if you think you are on WiFi but it has actually dropped for the moment, then you will find that mobile data will be used until WiFi connects again. This is a really annoying habit of Android's. So when I am using WiFi, I normally turn off mobile data.

My Android handset/s do not do this!

Senecio

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#3047212 8-Mar-2023 08:15

I don't know if they still do this but early versions of the iPhone would disable the Wifi antenna when the screen was locked as a battery saving mechanism. Probably not an issue these days as data is readily available and relatively cheap but back in the early 2010s people would find they hit their data cap early when their phone was downloading stuff in the background.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Silvrav

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#3047217 8-Mar-2023 08:43

fe31nz:

Except that Android phones drop off WiFi frequently - it seems to be a power saving measure. So if you think you are on WiFi but it has actually dropped for the moment, then you will find that mobile data will be used until WiFi connects again. This is a really annoying habit of Android's. So when I am using WiFi, I normally turn off mobile data.

Is your auto-connect turned on?

huckster

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#3047233 8-Mar-2023 09:24

Senecio:

I don't know if they still do this but early versions of the iPhone would disable the Wifi antenna when the screen was locked as a battery saving mechanism. Probably not an issue these days as data is readily available and relatively cheap but back in the early 2010s people would find they hit their data cap early when their phone was downloading stuff in the background.

Or just drop off the wifi altogether for no obvious reason. Changed routers a couple of times to sort that out.

Oblivian

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#3047244 8-Mar-2023 09:35

Sounds like y'all may have not experienced or found the common circa 2016/2017 default settings for overlays from a number of makers have

'keep wifi on during sleep'. There may also be while charging.

So yes. They do/can ignore your wifis.

fe31nz

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#3047767 8-Mar-2023 23:58

Silvrav:

Is your auto-connect turned on?

Of course.

I have these disconnections on my current phone (Samsung Flip 4) and my previous one (Samsung A3 (2017)), so it is possible that the problem in with the WiFi AP (Ubiquiti FlexHD), but my laptop does not disconnect. My Samsung tablets both disconnect as well, so if it is not Android doing it, then it is likely some Samsung software at fault.