How do set wifi-only (so no cell-tower access is possible)

cookdav · Sep 12, 2014

Ok, just got the Galaxy S5 today as my 2nd Android device (in addition to my Nexus-7).

So, once I entered the house for first time, it SAYS I'm connected to wifi.
(Tho I never gave it my wifi-password...so it proxied that pwd, or something?)

But, that's not my primary question. I'm trying to figure out how
to be sure that cell-tower access is disabled, while I'm in range of my home
wifi, so that it is impossible to incur any data-plan charges (to Verizon).

How would I do that? :thinking:

:smokingsomb:

ANDROIDFAN99 · Sep 12, 2014

Go to settings> data usage> mobile data. Uncheck
mobile data box

AppleCultApost8 · Sep 12, 2014

cookdav said:
Ok, just got the Galaxy S5 today as my 2nd Android device (in addition to my Nexus-7).

So, once I entered the house for first time, it SAYS I'm connected to wifi.
(Tho I never gave it my wifi-password...so it proxied that pwd, or something?)

But, that's not my primary question. I'm trying to figure out how
to be sure that cell-tower access is disabled, while I'm in range of my home
wifi, so that it is impossible to incur any data-plan charges (to Verizon).

How would I do that? :smokingsomb:

Another way you can do that is just turn on airplane mode in the settings. WiFi still works on airplane mode.

LDrifta · Sep 12, 2014

wifi does work in airplane mode but yu have to turn it back on

haha but im curious as to how it auto-connected to your wifi..? do you not have a password set or do you live next to a metro store? lol

acraftylady · Sep 13, 2014

It sounds like your wifi at home is not secure. I have to input my wifi password for all my devices to set them up the first time. Mary

cookdav · Sep 13, 2014

No, my home wifi-network IS secure. [ Every other device, up til now, has required
me to enter that pwd on the first wifi-usage. But, I think Google must have 'proxied'
my wifi's pwd from my other Android-device...the Nexus-7, or something similar. ]

Ok, sounds right...airplane-mode should be what I want...I'd never thought hard
enough about what airplane-mode is trying to achieve. Thx!

But, now that I realize that I'll have to remember to UN-DO airplane mode when I
leave my house, I'm not sure I'll remember to do that each time I leave.

So, if I make no changes at all, the behavior is gonna be that it will 'prefer' to use
wifi, anytime it becomes connected to a working wifi, even when a cell-tower
connection is also in range and established, right?

I see a new thread here, explaining that there are (are supposed to be) some
'arrows' or something, both to indicate when a wifi-connection is established
and other arrows for the cell-tower (Verizon-connection)?

Please describe more precisely just WHERE I'm supposed to be seeing these
arrows. (Yes, maybe 4 hours after I brought home this new Galaxy S5, I
also saw it apply this new upgrade to 4.4.4 of Android, so maybe I'm
having this other 'missing arrows' issue described in that other thread, too.)

AZgl1500 · Sep 13, 2014

I have posted on this type of thing more than once, and your problem can be solved very easily.

My method is to use * MacroDroid - Device Automation - Android Apps on Google Play

and create a macro that will turn off Mobile Data whenever the WiFi is connected.

It works a treat and it is fully automatic.

TRIGGER: WiFi State Change
Select: Connect to Network
OK
Choose network of your choice
OK

ACTION: Mobile Data On/OFF
Select: Data OFF
OK

touch right arrow on top of display
ignore Constraints
touch right arrow again

enter an appropriate name,
ie, WiFi on, Data off
OK

clear app

check it out

enjoy

acraftylady · Sep 13, 2014

I have the data icon showing on my pull down screen so I can just toggle it on and off that way. I leave it off until I need it. When it's on the 2 arrows on the app light up in green and when off they are not green but that blue color. I guess I am not sure exactly what your problem is as when I leave that on off data is completely off. Next to that icon on the pull down screen I have one that says wifi, same thing, lit up green it's on and when I turn it off it's blueish.

You can have what ever you want on that notification screen. Go to settings, notification panel and drag what ever you want in the active buttons section like the data and wifi one.

I know someone said they had trouble with both being on at the same time after the Verizon update but I just got the update yesterday and am not having that trouble. Mary

cookdav · Sep 14, 2014

Ah, thx for pointing out how to modify that notification/swipe-down screen's contents. That's going to help me understand this issue better!

MeatLoafT · Sep 14, 2014

If you have a Google account set to back up your settings and contacts, it also backs up WIFI passwords. So if you had it on your old phone and used the same Google account, your WIFI SSIDs and passwords you've connected to come back on the new phone.

How do set wifi-only (so no cell-tower access is possible)

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