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Why Apple still does this?

P

PeterG727

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 26, 2020
40
39
In the control center, I can't completely turn off wifi and bluetooth. It only disconnects, but still scans. I remember being able to turn it off from the control center years ago, so why was it changed? Wifi and bluetooth functions will only disconnect nowadays. I understand certain features won't work, so why couldn't people have more options on what they can do?
 
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As far as I can remember you could never turn it off via control center. 🤔
But you could create a shortcut where, for example, if you activate a specific Focus, Wifi and/or Bluetooth will get turned off.
 
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Another user posted about this last week. Someone kindly created a shortcut for toggling wifi off and on for them if you search up the forums. You can download their shortcut and add it to the today screen or (I think) to control centre.
 
In iOS 18 they introduced the ability to add shortcuts to the Control Center, you can now just take a shortcut that turns these things off and add it as a CC button. No need to tie it to a Focus or anything.

(And yes, it did used to work this way by default but it was quite a while ago.)
 
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winxmac said:
iOS 10 - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular/mobile data can be turned off in Control Center
iOS 11 - With the new Control Center, you can only disconnect the bluetooth, wi-fi, cellular/mobile data but will still be on. You will need to go to Settings to turn them off.
Click to expand...
I think Apple saw the future with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being used for location data. You had so many users turning off these features that they didn’t use very often, but then Apple was not able to use them for system services and analytics.

Apple wanted to discourage users from turning these off. If you ever turn them off manually, you’ll get multiple warnings, saying what you’re doing is not good.

To quote a famous movie line “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
 
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russell_314 said:
you ever turn them off manually, you’ll get multiple warnings, saying what you’re doing is not good.
Click to expand...
In the real world you do not get even one warning.
  • Settings > Bluetooth —> no warning/message/dialogue when turning off
  • disconnecting Bluetooth via control center -> no warning/message/dialogue
you are running iOS/iPdOS 26 in any capacity on a real iDevice?
 
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Slartibart said:
In the real world you do not get even one warning.
  • Settings > Bluetooth —> no warning/message/dialogue when turning off
  • disconnecting Bluetooth via control center -> no warning/message/dialogue
Click to expand...

I should’ve clarified the warnings. Don’t always come when I turn it off. It’s when I open the app that uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, I get a warning saying location, accuracy, or something like that.


Slartibart said:
you are running iOS/iPdOS 26 in any capacity on a real iDevice?
Click to expand...
On my iPad, yes but I haven’t tested this specific behavior on iOS 26. It’s been like this all the way up till now. Have they actually changed it? That would be a shock.
 
HouseLannister said:
It hasn’t changed. This is the same as iOS 18, 17, 16, 15, 14… If you want something to change, submit a feedback ticket.
Click to expand...
Years ago as in during the iphone 6s period. For those wondering, I am used to completely turning them off on android phones, and now I am back again on the iphone 16 pro max again after a while. I haven't been keeping track of all the changes and didn't know about setting up that shortcut. I will try that out later, but I do wish it was a simpler toggle without going through some hoops.
 
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russell_314 said:
I think Apple saw the future with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi being used for location data. You had so many users turning off these features that they didn’t use very often, but then Apple was not able to use them for system services and analytics.

Apple wanted to discourage users from turning these off. If you ever turn them off manually, you’ll get multiple warnings, saying what you’re doing is not good.

To quote a famous movie line “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Click to expand...
1) Sometimes you just have bad Wi-Fi signal, and you just want to quickly disconnect (or maybe disconnect from a bluetooth speaker, etc)

2) If you switch Wi-Fi/Bluetooth etc off, a lot of other features don't work. (And then the customer gets angry, and does a 3 hour trip to the Apple Store, just to be told "You need to turn on Wi-Fi", then they're even more angry.
"What do you mean I need Wi-Fi turned on to use... ______. I just don't want to connect to my Wi-fi!"
"What does AirDrop have to do with Wi-Fi?!" (Those of us who understand how it works, understand why turning Wi-Fi off, would disable a feature like AirDrop, however, the average person may not.)

  • AirDrop
  • AirPlay
  • Apple Pencil
  • Apple Watch
  • Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
  • Instant Hotspot
  • Location Services
  • Unlock with Apple Watch

    etc.

    This allows the average person to do what they usually want to do (quickly disconnect from something. Like I do when I'm in my driveway, and it's hanging on to 1 bar of Wi-Fi.) without impacting the future experience of the average user. "Why is continuity not working once I get to my office?!" (Wi-Fi re-enables itself when the customer drives/walks to a new location)

    This has eliminated a lot of support calls/visits. Trust me.
 
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guy_28 said:
1) Sometimes you just have bad Wi-Fi signal, and you just want to quickly disconnect (or maybe disconnect from a bluetooth speaker, etc)

2) If you switch Wi-Fi/Bluetooth etc off, a lot of other features don't work. (And then the customer gets angry, and does a 3 hour trip to the Apple Store, just to be told "You need to turn on Wi-Fi", then they're even more angry.
"What do you mean I need Wi-Fi turned on to use... ______. I just don't want to connect to my Wi-fi!"
"What does AirDrop have to do with Wi-Fi?!" (Those of us who understand how it works, understand why turning Wi-Fi off, would disable a feature like AirDrop, however, the average person may not.)

  • AirDrop
  • AirPlay
  • Apple Pencil
  • Apple Watch
  • Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
  • Instant Hotspot
  • Location Services
  • Unlock with Apple Watch

    etc.

    This allows the average person to do what they usually want to do (quickly disconnect from something. Like I do when I'm in my driveway, and it's hanging on to 1 bar of Wi-Fi.) without impacting the future experience of the average user. "Why is continuity not working once I get to my office?!" (Wi-Fi re-enables itself when the customer drives/walks to a new location)

    This has eliminated a lot of support calls/visits. Trust me.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation. Appreciate it.
 
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