iOS 27 brings numerous new features, but there is one innovation that will immediately improve your daily use of your iPhone. Connectivity Assist is the successor to the well-known WiFi assistance and ensures that your device automatically and faster switches between WiFi and mobile data for the best possible internet connection.
This function intervenes faster and more conveniently than its predecessor. Where previous iPhone functions mainly responded to a weak WiFi connection, Connectivity Assist seems to go a step further. The function monitors in the background whether your internet connection is stable enough and intervenes as soon as a WiFi network has range, but does not provide a good connection.
Connectivity Assist for iPhone
In iOS 27, Apple replaced the WiFi Assist feature with Connectivity Assist. While the name is new, the purpose remains largely the same: to keep your iPhone connected to the Internet when your Wi-Fi connection isn’t working properly.
Connectivity Assist is basically intended to make the transition between WiFi and mobile data smoother. If a page does not load properly, an app hangs or the connection becomes too slow, your device can automatically switch to mobile data so that internet traffic continues as usual.
This differs slightly from the older WiFi assistance in iOS, which is best known as a way to automatically switch to mobile internet in case of a weak WiFi connection. The new name and description indicate that Apple is using the function in iOS 27 more broadly and smartly than before.
How connection assistant works
Connectivity Assist continuously checks whether your internet connection is stable enough. If you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network that has coverage but offers little or no Internet access, your iPhone will automatically switch to cellular data. This can happen, for example, in public networks. When this happens, you as a user will receive a notification.
Apple uses this feature to switch faster between WiFi and mobile data, so you always have the best possible connection. In addition, the connection assistant ensures a smoother transition between the networks. Instead of one network completely replacing the other, a combination is now formed between WiFi and mobile data.
Enable Connectivity Assist
- Open Institutions on your iPhone (or iPad with cellular)
- Go to ‘WiFi‘
- Enable the option ‘Connectivity Assist‘ in
Because this function uses mobile data, the assistance may use extra data if you experience WiFi problems. It is therefore wise to monitor your data consumption, especially during large downloads, streaming or frequent switching between networks. You can check this via Settings â–¸ Mobile network.
Connectivity Assist in the background
For many users, the biggest benefit is simple: less frustration. You less often have to check why Safari keeps loading or why an app is not downloading data, because Connectivity Assist helps in the background to choose the best connection.
This is especially useful if you are often on the road, use multiple networks or regularly notice that WiFi is technically connected, but remains virtually usable. In such cases, an automatic switch to mobile data can make the difference between getting stuck and continuing as usual.