Many iPhone and iPad users are annoyed at Apple\u2019s decision to change the way Control Center\u2019s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controls work, as they no longer work. Fortunately, you can still switch connectivity off quite easily.<\/p>\n
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Credit to Author: Jonny Evans| Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2017 06:44:00 -0700<\/strong><\/p>\n Many iPhone and iPad users are annoyed at Apple\u2019s decision to change the way Control Center\u2019s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controls work, as they no longer work. Fortunately, you can still switch connectivity off quite easily.<\/p>\n Apple in iOS 11 decided that when you tap the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, the system now will disconnect you from any devices or networks you are currently on but no longer truly switches Wi-Fi or Bluetooth off.<\/p>\n This means that even though you thought you switched them off, they remain active for things like \u00a0AirDrop, AirPlay, Continuity, Hotspot, Location services and devices such as the Apple Watch and Pencil.<\/p>\n An Apple tech support note<\/a> says this is so you can continue to use those \u201cimportant features\u201d.<\/p>\n The problem is, as the EFF puts it<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cApple\u2019s UI fails to even attempt to communicate these exceptions to its users.\u201d<\/p>\n To be fair, there is a slight hint in the UI: When you tap Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center those button icons will be greyed out.<\/p>\n However, if you use one of these methods to truly switch them off, you will see the Control Center button icons greyed out with a diagonal line through them.<\/p>\n I believe users are smart enough to decide when they want those \u201cimportant features\u201d to be available to them, and when they don\u2019t.\u00a0Despite Apple’s weird decision, there are three ways you can properly disable Wi-Fi and\/or Bluetooth in iOS 11.<\/p>\n The easiest way to enable and disable these connections is to ask Siri: \u201cHey Siri, switch off Wi-Fi,\u201d should do the trick.<\/p>\n You can also ask Siri to switch these Settings on again. When Siri switches these Settings off it does so within the Settings controls of your device, so the connections are genuinely off.<\/p>\n AirPlane mode will truly disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and your mobile network connection with a single tap.<\/p>\n Swipe up to get to Control Center<\/em> and tap AirPlane Mode<\/em> to switch them off.<\/p>\n If you want (for example) to keep your mobile network and Wi-Fi active, but want Bluetooth to be truly left off, you\u2019ll tap AirPlane Mode<\/em> and then tap the network<\/em> and Wi-Fi<\/em> icons in Control Center to enable those Settings again.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another way to disable these Settings is to open Settings>Wi-Fi<\/em>, or Settings>Bluetooth<\/em> and toggle them from green to off. I find this a little tedious, and much prefer using Control Center, even in the slightly convoluted manner described above.<\/p>\n I think users should be in complete control of their connectivity settings.<\/p>\n I understand that this may impact how they use other Apple services and devices, but I do like to believe that people are smart enough to make such decisions for themselves.<\/p>\n It is good that you can still disable these settings as and when you choose, but it is annoying that Apple chose to chip away at our control of such matters \u2013 particularly in light of the shocking revelations that Uber has been enjoying privileged (and sinister-seeming) access to our iPhones<\/a>.\u00a0People have a right to know who has access to their stuff, and they should be empowered with tools to prevent such access whenever they like, not as an exception, but as a rule.<\/p>\n Google+?<\/strong>\u00a0If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join\u00a0AppleHolic’s Kool Aid Corner community<\/a>\u00a0and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?<\/p>\n Got a story?\u00a0<\/strong>Drop me a line via Twitter<\/a>\u00a0or in comments below and let me know. I’d like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.<\/p>\n