Why does your phone keep switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data?

Phones switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data when they judge that mobile data will provide a more stable connection. This can prevent dropped connections and buffering, but the change may interrupt calls or use up a mobile data allowance without the user noticing.

Common causes include a weak Wi-Fi signal, a network connected to Wi-Fi but without internet access, and automatic switching settings. The article says 2.4GHz Wi-Fi can reach roughly 150 to 300 feet, compared with around 100 to 150 feet for 5GHz; 6GHz is faster but has the shortest range. Checking whether the problem happens in particular rooms, affects other devices, or coincides with a “no internet” message can help identify the cause. Settings to disable automatic switching vary across iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and Google Pixels.