Apple has confirmed what most of us already knew, saying Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can’t be completely disabled by toggling them off in the iOS 11 Control Center. The information is included in a new Apple Support document.
Toggling Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in the iOS 11 Control Center merely disconnects the radios from any connected accessories or networks, excepting the Apple Watch and the Apple Pencil. AirDrop, AirPlay, Continuity, Instant Hotspot, and Location Services will continue to work.
About Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
In iOS 11 and later, when you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device will immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available, so you can use these important features:
- AirDrop
- AirPlay
- Apple Pencil
- Apple Watch
- Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
- Instant Hotspot
- Location Services
In order to completely turn off the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radios, users will need to visit the “Settings” app and turn off either radio there.
Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If you want to completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices, follow these steps:
- To turn off Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
- To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth.
For the best experience on your iOS device, try to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
