Pay for 5G but don't get it

You've always paid that $20. Before you upgraded to the 12, it would have said "Access for iPhone with VVM." It's paying for your phone service, not for 5G.

Coverage maps only display the area where the signal can be detected to, but not necessarily the usability of that signal. Our area is listed as 5G, but it is spotty so far so I just leave my 5G capable iPhone 12 on LTE all of the time. No issues. 

As noted, actual 5G coverage may be spotty regardless of what the coverage map shows. There are no other settings for you to change. You may just need to drive around until you get 5G.

Hello @romad, we'll be happy to clear up all of your 5G related questions.

In order to gain access to 5G service, all you need is these three things: a 5G compatible phone, plan, and 5G coverage in your area. However, as mentioned by our ACEs, our coverage map is only an estimate of where our 5G services reach. Additionally, the coverage and performance isn't guaranteed by the map and may vary.

The charge you've mentioned is a part of your total current wireless plan cost, and isn't an additional service charge seperate from it.

Please let us know if this helps answer your questions.

Dylan, AT&T Community Specialist

OK. Since the problem does not appear to be my iPhone but rather poor AT&T service, I think I'll check out T-Mobile's coverage using their 30 day free trial e-SIM. That should give me a better idea than just comparing maps on the web. 

We don't want to lose you as a customer, @romad. Let's work together to figure out a way to improve your coverage. 

Based on the information provided, we'd like to carry this over in a DM. Please check your Direct Message inbox (it's the chat icon next to the bell icon in the upper right corner of the Forums).

In the meantime, please make sure your device isn't set to LTE as it should be set to 5G Auto at all times to access 5G in the coverage areas. To update your settings go to: 

• Settings > Cellular Data > Voice & Data

We'll chat soon! 

Sydne, AT&T Community Specialist

Another TidBITS reader asked if I used a new SIM or just moved the one from my dead iPhone 10 to the iPhone 12. Of course I did the latter as that was one of the steps. I guess when AT&T updates the Network Settings, they don't allow the 5G ones to be installed on an in-use SIM?  BTW, where can I find the current version of network settings? I currently have version 50.0.2.

I guess when AT&T updates the Network Settings, they don't allow the 5G ones to be installed on an in-use SIM?

No, nothing is installed on a sim. Though it is possible that a new SIM card might be needed to get 5G, not necessarily. I moved the SIM card from a non 5G iPhone SE to an iPhone 12 and 5G works fine. Network settings for an iPhone are downloaded automatically via the carrier file. You can’t set them yourself.

@romad  50.0.2 is the current Carrier Settings on my iPhone 12, iOS 15.6. And, as mentioned, it is downloaded automatically. You can't download it separately or request it. When we changed our plan to Unlimited Standard, we installed new SIMs and that was it. No problems since then, even tho, as I mentioned, we use LTE exclusively because reliable coverage is not quite ready yet in our area.

Thanks. It is good to know I'm current with the settings. Apple has a procedure to force a download of network settings and also how to manually install them but I wanted to know what the current version was before I tried it. I normally have my iPhone in its belt case when traveling and use my  Watch to handle calls. I'll have to take it out when I'm downtown to see if a 5G token shows up. Like I said I have it set to the "5G On" setting rather than the "Auto" or "LTE" options.