Smartphones drop from 5G to 4G LTE because battery savers like Smart 5G on Android and 5G Auto on iPhone turn off your 5G radio whenever indoor 3500 MHz signal weakens. Turn off Smart 5G or select 5G On / NR Only to lock your 5G signal permanently.
Playing BGMI on Airtel and facing high latency even after locking 5G? Follow our guide on lowering your BGMI ping on Airtel 5G.
Why "Smart 5G" and "5G Auto" Cause Annoying Lag Spikes
Continuous 5G scanning consumes 12% to 18% more battery power than 4G LTE. To save battery, phone makers program your handset to drop down to 4G whenever your screen is idle or you are just reading text.
Every time your phone switches between 4G and 5G radio layers, data transmission pauses for 1 to 3 seconds—causing mid-game lag spikes in BGMI and stalled downloads.
How to Lock 5G Permanently on Android & iPhone
Use the steps below for your specific device to stop automatic 4G fallback:
1. Turn Off "Smart 5G" on Android (Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo)
- Disable Smart 5G: Open Settings > Mobile Network > Advanced Settings (or Battery > More Battery Settings) and toggle Smart 5G OFF.
- Enable VoNR (Voice over 5G): In SIM settings, switch ON VoNR / 5G Calling so incoming voice calls do not force your SIM down to 4G VoLTE.
- Use the *#*#4636#*#* NR Lock (For Jio SA Only): On unlocked Android phones using Jio True 5G, dial
*#*#4636#*#*, open Phone Information, and set Preferred Network Type to NR Only.
2. Switch From "5G Auto" to "5G On" on Apple iPhone
- Open Cellular Options: Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service) > Cellular Data Options.
- Select 5G On: Tap Voice & Data and change the setting from "5G Auto" to "5G On" so iOS never downgrades to LTE to save battery.
Remember to switch back to 5G/4G Auto when travelling on highways or trains, and test your locked 5G throughput now on our Live Speed Test Tool.
5G Network Lock Compatibility: Jio SA vs Airtel NSA vs Vi 5G
Before dialing secret Android codes to lock your 5G signal, check this compatibility table so you do not accidentally disconnect your SIM card:
Enable "Allow More Data on 5G" on iPhone for Unthrottled Speeds
Switching your iPhone from "5G Auto" to "5G On" is only half the fix. Right below the Voice & Data menu in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options, tap Data Mode and select "Allow More Data on 5G".
That setting stops iOS from compressing your FaceTime video calls, Apple Music streams, and App Store updates when you are on a 5G tower.
FAQ:-
Why does my Airtel SIM lose all signal when I select NR Only in *#*#4636#*#*?
Airtel 5G Plus uses Non-Standalone (NSA) technology that requires an active 4G LTE anchor band to connect. Selecting NR Only blocks 4G completely, which works on Jio Standalone (SA) 5G but disconnects Airtel SIMs.
Why do voice calls fail when my phone is locked to NR Only?
When your phone is locked to NR Only, it can only place calls over VoNR (Voice over New Radio). If your local tower or handset firmware does not support VoNR yet, incoming and outgoing voice calls will fail until you switch back to NR/LTE.
How much extra battery does forcing 5G On use?
Keeping 5G On permanently uses roughly 10% to 15% more battery over a full day compared to 5G Auto, especially if your indoor 5G signal is weak (1 to 2 bars).
