Before 5G took off in 2019, the 4G LTE standard was the primary method for transmitting data on phones.
Today, some of the best 5G smartphones are readily available, but they don’t come without their fair share of problems. For example, despite being 5G capable, the signal is sometimes weak, and switching to 4G LTE might result in better connectivity.
Switching between the two networks is essential, especially if you encounter connection issues.
Our guide explains how to activate both services and configure your phone to use only one of them when necessary.
Forcing your phone to use 5G only, and why you probably shouldn’t
If you only want your phone to use 5G connectivity, you can force the option by following the steps (determined by your smartphone) outlined later in this article.
However, not all phones and carriers allow users to force 5G. Keep that in mind if your options differ from the ones we show.
If you have the option to force 5G, be aware that this setting prevents your device from switching to 4G even when 5G is unavailable. Proceed with caution.
If Wi-Fi is available, it’s likely to have a better connection. Still, you can follow the same steps to select the 5G/4G or 4G-only option if you can’t stay on a 5G network.
How to turn off the 5G network
Although it has come a long way, the 5G network still has areas where it lags.
You may also find occasions where a 5G network is so overpopulated with devices — think sporting events or concerts — that dropping to 4G gives better speeds.
In either case, you might want to consider ditching the network.
Each Android manufacturer relies on a slightly different method to control your 5G settings. Check out our tutorials below to find the network settings on your phone.
Whether you want to use 5G, 4G, or both, you can often control your network mode and choose an option. The available options depend on your phone and the carrier you use.
Speaking of 4G, check your Android device’s signal strength to diagnose network or connectivity problems.
How to force 5G or LTE on your phone
Whether you’re trying to push your phone onto 5G exclusively or stay on the older LTE network, forcing Android to stick to one of the two is straightforward.
Here’s how it’s done on phones by each major manufacturer.
Force 5G or LTE on a Google Pixel or Motorola device
Google’s Pixel series has evolved significantly from its predecessors.
Although their modems aren’t up to par with the best from Qualcomm, the connectivity issues that plagued the previous generation are not as prevalent.
If your Pixel runs better on LTE or 5G exclusively, swapping your mode on a Google-made device — or a phone running near-stock Android, like a Motorola phone — can be easy if you know where to look.
While older versions of Android allowed you to tweak your network settings in the Settings menu, this is no longer true since Android 13.
To enable LTE or 5G, you’ll need to access hidden menus through a phone code or a third-party app.
We found these tools on a Pixel 7 Pro using Netmonitor, a reliable utility for monitoring your cellular reception.
Although some of our screenshots reference a Pixel 7 Pro, you can apply these steps to newer devices, such as the Pixel 8 and 9 series.
To use Netmonitor on a Google Pixel (alongside other smartphones), do the following:
- Download Netmonitor from the Google Play Store.
- Tap the blue Service menu banner at the bottom of the app after accepting the permissions.
- Tap Phone info.
- Look for the Set Preferred Network Type drop-down menu and select the option you want. NR refers to 5G, so if you see NR/LTE options, select NR only to stick to 5G bands exclusively.
The menu accessed through Netmonitor doesn’t feature an LTE-only option.
If you’re trying to stay away from next-gen networking, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Some Pixel phones can select their preferred network type.
Even if others don’t, check your phone’s specs. You’ll find it under the SIM settings in Network & internet if it’s there.
Motorola and other smartphones with near-stock Android builds may have kept phone access codes that no longer work on a Pixel.
That makes accessing these secret menus easy without needing a third-party app.
- Open the dialer on your phone.
- Type *#*#4636#*#* to load your phone’s testing menu, then tap 5G/LTE Debugging Information.
- Go to the upper-right corner, tap the overflow menu (the triple-dot icon), and select between NR (5G) or LTE options.
- To force 5G, turn off LTE. To force LTE, turn off NR.
This can cause problems with your device, particularly with voice calls over 5G.
We also ran into issues where turning off LTE on a Motorola device would break data connectivity, though this didn’t always happen. Your mileage may vary.
Force 5G or LTE on a OnePlus smartphone
On the latest OxygenOS builds, OnePlus devices keep things as simple as possible.
You can choose your preferred network type using the OxygenOS network settings.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Mobile Network.
- Choose the SIM card to access SIM info & settings.
- Select Preferred network type, then choose the mode you want.
OxygenOS only allows you to drop below 5G, and the phone menu options that worked on Motorola don’t work here. Try a third-party app like Netmonitor to access NR-exclusive modes.
Force 5G or LTE on a Samsung Galaxy device
All of Samsung’s modern smartphones feature 5G modems, ranging from the premium Galaxy S25 Ultra to the budget-friendly Galaxy A36 option.
Newer devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, have the 5G toggle enabled in network mode. You can freely choose between 5G and 4G networks.
Here’s how to set your preferred network type on a Galaxy phone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to Connections.
- Select Mobile networks.
- Tap Network mode.
- Choose 5G preferred or LTE preferred.
Older devices running on older One UI versions might not have this option. Our previously tested options were ineffective when the toggle was absent.
Force LTE or 5G on other phones
Most of the options on this list for other smartphones are worth trying.
The first and easiest place to check is via your device’s built-in settings. Otherwise, you can try the phone testing menu or use third-party apps like Netmonitor.
The three primary methods are the ones we found most reliable based on our conducted tests.
Simply stuck in automatic mode
Some phone manufacturers don’t allow users to switch between network modes. Still, most 5G networks are more robust than before.
5G has seen significant upgrades, like reduced battery drain and increased mobile connectivity.
If you still experience connectivity-related issues, try performing a network reset or restarting your phone.
Simple fixes like that can resolve network connectivity problems without a factory reset. If nothing helps, it might be time for an upgrade.
