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How to force Firefox for Android to use LTE instead of WiFi?

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Firefox for Android AUTOMATICALLY reconnects to WiFi if I have EVER connected to WiFi in past. Sometimes I want to use WiFi and sometimes I want to use LTE with Firefox. How do I force Firefox to STOP using the WiFi connection and switch to using the LTE connection? Note that simply killing WiFi on the Android doesn't work; Firefox simply uses its past knowledge of the WiFi network and passcode to fire WiFi up all on its own. I HATE apps that think they know better than the user...

Firefox for Android AUTOMATICALLY reconnects to WiFi if I have EVER connected to WiFi in past. Sometimes I want to use WiFi and sometimes I want to use LTE with Firefox. How do I force Firefox to STOP using the WiFi connection and switch to using the LTE connection? Note that simply killing WiFi on the Android doesn't work; Firefox simply uses its past knowledge of the WiFi network and passcode to fire WiFi up all on its own. I HATE apps that think they know better than the user...

Chosen solution

Sorry, user misfire (once again for the millionth time, I suppose).

WiFi was set to "Auto Connect" when launching high-data usage applications. Switch is in Settings, Connections, WiFi (tap to configure). I never looked in here because I always had WiFi "OFF" and figured (wrongly) that there would be no configuration switches for a feature that was "OFF." Live and learn. Sorry again to waste your time; maybe this exercise will help another smartphone newbie...

Thanks very much for your quick, complete, and CORRECT response to my issue, Roland.

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All Replies (4)

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Hi williakz

I don't think this is a Firefox for Android problem. Pretty sure Firefox can't turn on WiFi if you turn it off in Android

  1. Doesn't simply turning off WiFi (or deleting the WiFi access point) in the Android Operating System settings fix the problem?
  2. If not are you sure you don't have either: a) a Firefox for android add-on that does this (unlikely but i guess theoretically possible) b) or some other Android app is turning on Wifi
  3. Finally if the above doesn't help please tell us i) what you did exactly with a set of steps to reproduce the problem ii) what happened iii) what you expected and iv) what tablet or phone make and model you are using, what version of Firefox, what add-ons you have installed and what version of Android (Gingerbread, Jellybean, etc) you are using

Cheers!

....Roland

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Hi Roland,

I'm doing more testing, but I can assure you that activating Firefox from one of the apps pages definitely DOES turn WiFi on if it was previously off. That said, the included internet browser (blue globe) on my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 (4.4.2) also seems to fire up WiFi on activation from the home page as does Google Mail.

And, it seems that once Firefox is up and running (on WiFi, of course), I can shut off WiFi using the pull-down Notification Panel, and Firefox is then perfectly happy to continue operation over the 4G LTE link. Obviously, I need to get you some more definitive info, but I wanted to let you know I'm actively working the problem. Thanks for your interest; I'll be in touch.

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Chosen Solution

Sorry, user misfire (once again for the millionth time, I suppose).

WiFi was set to "Auto Connect" when launching high-data usage applications. Switch is in Settings, Connections, WiFi (tap to configure). I never looked in here because I always had WiFi "OFF" and figured (wrongly) that there would be no configuration switches for a feature that was "OFF." Live and learn. Sorry again to waste your time; maybe this exercise will help another smartphone newbie...

Thanks very much for your quick, complete, and CORRECT response to my issue, Roland.

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Hi willakz:

Glad you solved the problem yourself! Never heard of "Auto Connect" when launching high data usage apps. I have an S5 and an S3 but not an S4 for testing purposes. I'll take a look and see if we need to mention this in our documentation.

Closing this thread because the problem is solved, if you have another problem or issue willakz please create a new question.