IPhone – Does “Wi-Fi Assist” respect rules about which apps can use cellular data

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On the iPhone "Cellular" settings screen, you can choose which apps are allowed to use cellular data and which can only communicate over wi-fi. In iOS 9, Apple introduced Wi-Fi Assist which automatically switches to cellular data when a wi-fi connection is present, but not functioning well. Can anyone confirm that the iPhone will respect the cellular data use settings when in wi-fi assist mode?

Example scenario:

  1. In the settings, I specify that Tinder isn't allowed to use cellular data.
  2. I am browsing Tinder on wi-fi
  3. The wi-fi connection becomes unreliable and Wi-Fi Assist kicks in
  4. Will my phone now use cellular data for Tinder, since it's pretending that it's still on wi-fi? Or will it apply the cellular data rules and not use Wi-Fi Assist with this specific app?

Best Answer

I have tested this with my own app and home server (plus my horrid internet at one part of my house). I created an application that sends an HTTP request to the server when you press a button and an application on my server that makes a sound when it receives it and records the IP address.

When the app was allowed to use cellular data, it went through quickly and had an external IP (confirming the request went through cellular). When it was not allowed to use cellular data, it tried to use Wi-Fi and eventually did send the request (after some time), using a local IP address.

So Wi-Fi assist does respect the rules that you have set in your phone's settings.

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