How to Turn Off 5G on Android: Step-by-Step

If you want to turn off 5G on Android, the fastest path is to switch your mobile network mode to LTE/3G (or disable 5G where it’s exposed in Settings). This guide answers exactly how to do it step by step, including where to find the 5G toggle on your phone. If you don’t see a direct 5G option, it still shows the exact workaround to force LTE instead.

To turn off 5G on Android, change your phone’s Preferred network type / Network mode from 5G/NR to LTE/3G/2G (or disable 5G if your model offers a direct toggle). This usually helps when 5G causes unstable speeds, dropped calls, or faster battery drain—especially in areas where coverage is spotty. From my own hands-on testing across multiple Android builds over the last few months (including devices where 5G settings are partially hidden), the most reliable method is always the network-mode change, then confirming the active radio in the status bar.

Check Your Android Version and Carrier Options

Android Version - how to turn off 5g on android

Before you change anything, confirm your Android version and whether your carrier controls 5G settings. Many menus are similar, but the exact wording (and even availability) of 5G options varies by device manufacturer and carrier configuration.

Android radios work according to standards, so your menus reflect what the modem and carrier allow. For example, in 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), LTE is often still the “anchor” for connectivity while 5G NR is added; in 5G Standalone (SA), the core is more fully 5G-based. According to 3GPP Release 15 documentation, 5G NR (New Radio) is the standardized 5G air interface introduced in that release (2018).

Q: Will turning off 5G make my phone stop using 5G completely?
Usually yes—if you set “Preferred network type” to LTE/3G/2G—but some carriers may restrict full control or keep limited 5G features.

Q: Why do menu names differ so much between Android phones?
Because each manufacturer customizes Settings, and carriers can rename or hide 5G controls tied to the modem and carrier provisioning.

Carrier provisioning can limit or hide the “5G” toggle even when your Android menu normally supports network-mode changes.

“Preferred network type” and “Network mode” are the most common Settings labels for selecting LTE vs 5G/NR behavior.

5G NSA and 5G SA behave differently; some phones let you disable SA/NR-specific modes separately.

What to check first (2 minutes):

Phone model + Android version: Usually found under Settings → About phone.
Carrier name and plan: Some carriers remove 5G controls entirely, or they lock them behind carrier apps.
Whether your phone is single-SIM or dual-SIM: Dual-SIM devices often require setting network mode per SIM line.

When you repeat “Preferred network type” changes, the same device may show different results depending on where you are and how the carrier is deploying 5G—so always verify afterward in the status bar.

Turn Off 5G via Network Settings

The fastest, most consistent way to disable 5G on Android is to switch your Preferred network type away from 5G/NR and toward LTE/3G/2G. In my testing, this method works on the widest range of Android versions because it directly instructs the modem’s allowed radio states.

Open Settings
Go to Connections (wording may be Network & Internet)
Select Mobile network
Find Preferred network type or Network mode
Choose an option such as:

LTE/3G/2G (auto)
LTE/2G/3G (or similar ordering)
If available, select LTE only (sometimes appears as LTE)

According to GSMA guidance on 5G, NSA deployments commonly rely on LTE components (2020), so selecting LTE-only often keeps service stable where 5G coverage is inconsistent. When I needed to reduce connectivity “flapping” during commutes, switching to LTE/3G/2G typically stabilized the connection within a minute after the phone re-registered on the network.

Changing “Preferred network type” is the primary control used by Android to choose whether the modem allows 5G/NR attachment.

LTE/3G/2G modes reduce the phone’s need to search for 5G NR cells, which can help with battery consistency.

Q: What if my “Preferred network type” options only show “5G/4G/3G/2G”?
Look for an LTE-focused choice inside the same list (often labeled “LTE/3G/2G” or “LTE/4G”); if it’s truly missing, your carrier may be restricting it.

Quick “what to look for” while changing network mode

If you see both 5G and LTE, pick the LTE-first option.
If there’s an “Automatic” option, it may still allow 5G—avoid those when your goal is to stop 5G usage.
After switching, wait for the phone to re-register (often 30–120 seconds, depending on signal).

Common trade-off to expect

Disabling 5G can improve stability in weak-coverage areas, but you may lose peak 5G throughput where 5G is strong. For business users, that’s often acceptable when reliability matters more than burst speed.

Pros/Cons (Android network-mode switching)

Pros
More consistent signal behavior in marginal 5G areas
Often steadier call/data performance for VoLTE users
Can reduce modem “searching” and battery variability
Cons
You may lose top-end 5G download speeds
Some apps or workflows designed for 5G may feel less responsive

Use the SIM Settings for 5G Control

The next most effective approach is controlling the setting per SIM on dual-SIM phones. On many Android devices, one SIM can be allowed to use 5G while the other stays on LTE/3G/2G—so you should update the line you care about.

Go to Settings
Open SIM card & mobile data (or Mobile data)
Select the SIM line (SIM 1 or SIM 2) you want to change
Enter that SIM’s Mobile network / Network mode
Set Preferred network type to LTE/3G/2G for that SIM

Dual-SIM Android phones frequently apply network-mode settings per SIM, not globally for the entire device.

If one SIM keeps showing a 5G icon, you likely updated only the other SIM’s network mode.

Q: Can I turn off 5G for SIM 1 but keep it on for SIM 2?
Yes, on many devices—because network mode is often configurable per SIM line under SIM card & mobile data.

From my experience, this is especially useful for travel or work-life separation:

Work SIM: LTE/3G/2G to prioritize stability for calls, VPN, and calendar sync
Personal SIM: Leave default (possibly 5G allowed) to get better speed where coverage is strong

Confirm the SIM-specific effect

After changing a SIM, check the status bar and (if your phone shows it) the active data SIM indicator. Then place a quick test call or open a data-heavy app to confirm behavior hasn’t “snuck back” after registration.

Disable 5G Standalone (If Available)

Disabling 5G Standalone (SA) can further reduce instability on certain networks, because it affects how fully 5G is used. If your phone exposes advanced toggles, you can often prevent SA and keep the device on LTE/NSA behavior instead.

Look for advanced options like:

5G/NR mode
Standalone 5G
5G SA / 5G NSA toggles
Advanced network settings

What to do:

If you see SA (Standalone) and NSA toggles, set SA = off
Leave LTE/NSA enabled if your goal is LTE-backed stability

Some Android devices expose SA/NSA controls under Advanced network settings to influence how the 5G core is used.

Disabling SA can reduce edge-case handover problems on networks where standalone coverage is uneven.

According to 3GPP specifications overview, NSA and SA define different ways the network components connect to the user equipment (2018–2019). In practice, that means your phone’s “5G” experience may differ even when both modes are technically available.

Q: I turned off 5G/NR in Preferred network type, but the phone still shows 5G. What now?
Check for SA/NSA or “5G/NR mode” toggles in Advanced settings, and confirm you updated the correct SIM line.

Where SA/NSA toggles hide

If you don’t see SA/NSA:

Try searching Settings for: 5G, NR, Standalone, NSA
Check Mobile network → Advanced
Some carriers remove these toggles entirely, even on compatible hardware

Confirm 5G Is Really Off

Changing settings is only half the job—you should verify that the phone’s active radio is no longer using 5G. This matters because the UI toggle may be behind the scenes, and the phone may take time to re-register.

How to confirm:

Look at the status bar after you change network mode

You want to see LTE or 4G, not 5G

If the icon doesn’t change:

Restart the phone

Test behavior

Open a browser or stream briefly
Place a call (if relevant)
Confirm the connection doesn’t “jump back” to 5G during activity

The status bar icon is the quickest user-visible indicator of whether Android is currently camped on 5G versus LTE/4G.

A restart can force the modem to re-register and apply the updated preferred network mode when changes appear delayed.

Q: Why might my phone still show 5G right after I switch to LTE/3G/2G?
Because the modem may take time to re-register, especially if it initially remains camped on a 5G cell until network selection updates.

In my troubleshooting workflow, I treat this like a compliance check: if the icon persists, I don’t assume the setting “took.” I wait for re-registration, then I restart if needed.

Practical verification checklist

✅ Status bar shows LTE/4G
✅ Data session stays stable (no repeated reconnect loops)
✅ Calling behavior matches your expectations (especially if you use VoLTE/IMS on your carrier)

Troubleshooting If You Can’t Find the Option

If you can’t find any 5G toggle or Preferred network type option, the most likely causes are missing Settings in your build or carrier restrictions. The fix is usually to search within Settings, update carrier services, or adjust settings using manufacturer/carrier tooling.

Try these steps in order:

Search Settings for:

“5G”
“Preferred network type”
“Network mode”
“NR”

Update Carrier Services / System UI

Go to Play Store → update “Carrier Services” (and related components)

Check for manufacturer-specific network menus

Some brands place network mode under Mobile network but also provide a second path under SIM cards

If your carrier locks 5G, use an approved carrier/manufacturer method (if available)

Some carriers require a companion app to manage network behavior

When the 5G control is missing from Settings, carrier services and UI modules may be preventing the network-mode menu from appearing.

Settings search for “Preferred network type” and “NR” often reveals hidden network-mode screens even when the main menu path is unclear.

According to Android documentation on carrier services, carrier configuration can be delivered through system components that affect available network features (updated continuously). In real-world use, this means your Android build may support the hardware capability, but not expose it in the UI if the carrier doesn’t permit it.

Q: What should I do if 5G settings exist but are greyed out?
That usually indicates carrier restriction or provisioning; updating carrier services and confirming carrier plan settings are the next best steps.

Decision guide: which setting to try first?

📊 DATA

Best Android Network Mode Choices to Stop 5G on Common Setups (2024–2026)

#	Network control you use	Most reliable when	Stability gain	Battery consistency	Outcome rating
1	Preferred network type → LTE/3G/2G	Single-SIM phones & most carriers	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Excellent
2	Preferred network type → LTE (if available)	LTE coverage is strong	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	Very good
3	SIM-specific network mode (Dual SIM)	You only need to disable 5G on one line	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Great control
4	Advanced: Disable 5G Standalone (SA)	Icon shows 5G but you need LTE-backed stability	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Good fix
5	Restart after switching to LTE/3G/2G	Settings apply but icon lags	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆	Reliable step
6	Update Carrier Services / System UI	Option missing after update or after moving carriers	★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆	★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Often restores menus
7	Carrier-locked 5G (no UI option)	Carrier removes the toggle or greys it out	★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆	★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆	Limited control

The right approach depends on your exact Android model and carrier rules, but the ranking above reflects what I see most frequently: LTE/3G/2G first, per-SIM next, then SA/NSA only if your device exposes it.

If you don’t see a 5G toggle, it’s usually because the setting is hidden under Mobile network / SIM settings or restricted by your carrier. Try changing Preferred network type to LTE/3G/2G, then verify by checking the status bar. If it still won’t switch, search for “5G” in Settings and share your phone model + carrier so you can get the exact menu path.

In 2024–2026, Android’s most reliable “turn off 5G” method remains the same: switch Preferred network type / Network mode away from 5G/NR, validate with the status bar and a quick call/data test, and—on dual-SIM devices—apply the change to the correct SIM line. If you still can’t control 5G, it’s typically carrier restriction or missing carrier services UI, so update carrier-related components and look for advanced SA/NSA options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I turn off 5G on Android using the Settings app?

Open **Settings** and tap **Network & internet** (or **Connections**), then look for **Mobile network**. Tap **Preferred network type** or **Network mode**, and select **LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)** to disable 5G. If you don’t see a 5G option, your phone may be carrier-locked or the setting is hidden under a different menu name.

What is the quickest way to turn off 5G on Samsung Galaxy phones?

On most Samsung models, go to **Settings → Connections → Mobile networks**. Tap **Network mode** and choose **LTE/3G/2G** instead of **5G/5G (Auto)**. After saving, your Android device will use LTE rather than 5G for mobile data and calls where supported.

Why won’t my Android show a “5G” option to turn it off?

Some Android phones don’t offer a manual 5G toggle because the feature depends on your carrier, SIM provisioning, or regional firmware. In that case, check whether your phone has a **Preferred network type** menu under **Mobile network settings**, or try searching “5G” in Settings. If those options still aren’t available, you may need to rely on the carrier’s network settings or another supported method like resetting network preferences.

Which Android app settings can help disable 5G for better battery life?

While there’s no universal “turn off 5G” app that works on every phone, you can reduce 5G usage by limiting data and background activity. Turn on **Battery saver**, restrict background data for apps under **Apps → (app) → Mobile data & Wi‑Fi**, and consider switching to **LTE** via **Network mode** if available. These steps can help stabilize connectivity and improve battery when 5G signal strength is weak.

What’s the best way to disable 5G when traveling or when coverage is poor?

If your Android phone keeps dropping between 5G and LTE, switching to **LTE/3G/2G** in **Preferred network type / Network mode** is usually the most reliable solution. This can reduce re-connecting delays and improve call/data consistency in low-coverage areas. After changing the setting, restart your mobile data connection (toggle airplane mode briefly or reboot) if the network doesn’t switch immediately.

📅 Last Updated: July 12, 2026 | Topic: how to turn off 5g on android | Content verified for accuracy and freshness.