iOS 27 renames Wi-Fi Assist to Connectivity Assist.
The feature can use cellular data for apps open in the foreground when Wi-Fi is slow or unreliable; it is enabled by default and does not notify users when it switches.
Background downloads are excluded, as is roaming.
The article explains where to disable it and how to inspect cellular use by app.
MakeUseOf's Kanika Gogia says she was hitting her data limit sooner than expected, even though she wasn't watching videos outside of her home. When she was watching Reels or YouTube in a room with weak Wi-Fi, her iPhone was able to use cellular data to continue loading.
How it works and how to disable it
Connectivity Assist is for apps that are open and in use at the time. It is not enabled while roaming and is not used for background downloads.
To turn it off in iOS 27, open Settings → Wi-Fi , make sure Wi-Fi is on, and scroll down. There you can turn off Connectivity Assist . In older versions of iOS, the feature is called Wi-Fi Assist and is located at the bottom of Settings → Cellular.
With the feature off, your iPhone won't automatically use cellular data to compensate for weak Wi-Fi. Your connection may be less reliable in these conditions, but you decide when to switch to cellular data. If you have plenty of GB or frequently connect to public networks, like busy coffee shops and airports, you may prefer to leave it on.
Control consumption per application
In Settings → Cellular, you can see how much data each app has used and turn off cellular data access for apps you want to work only over Wi-Fi. Gogia found shopping apps, a fitness tool, and utility apps in the list that didn’t need to use a cellular connection. After she turned them off, they only worked over Wi-Fi, and if she opened one outside of that, her iPhone informed her that it needed a Wi-Fi connection.
Also check Background App Refresh . You can limit it to use over Wi-Fi or turn it off for apps that don't need to update regularly.
iPhone statistics calculate consumption since the last time they were reset. If you haven't reset them for months, an app's measurements may cover different periods or packages. The Reset Data Usage option is located on the mobile network page. Gogia resets the statistics around the 5th of each month, when her package renews, and checks the list once a week. That's how she identified an app that started consuming more data after an update.
iPhone measurements are estimates and may differ from your carrier's. For official data usage, check your carrier's app.
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