What Are iPhone Carrier controls?

The tweaks control how the phone makes calls, sends text messages, gets data, and accesses voicemail.

Each phone company has its own carrier configs.

Illustration of a person holding an iPhone with “carrier settings” message on the screen

Lifewire / Derek Abella

Carrier options for your phone company are added to your iPhone when youactivate the phone.

How Are Carrier tweaks Different From an iOS Update?

An OS update is a much bigger, more comprehensive update than a carrier tweaks update.

The smaller updates (like 12.0.1) fix bugs and add minor features.

Updates to the OS affect the foundation of the entire phone.

The parameters will be downloaded and applied almost instantaneously.

Unlike with an OS update, there’s no need torestart your iPhone.

you’re able to usually postpone installing most carrier controls updates by simply tappingNot Nowin the pop-up window.

In those cases, the update is automatically downloaded and installed.

Apush notificationwith just anOKbutton lets you know when that’s happened.

Usually, the carrier configs notification appears.

If there’s an update, the notification should appear here.

Can You Manually Update iPhone Carrier tweaks?

In most cases, the automated notification does everything you need.

To do that, read Apple’s article aboutcellular data internet settingson your iPhone and iPad.

Can You Find Out What’s In A Carrier controls Update?

This is harder than you’d expect.

With iOS updates, Apple explainsat least at a high levelwhat’s in each new version.

With carrier options, though, you won’t find a screen that gives the same explanation.

Luckily, carrier tweaks updates don’t carry the same risk as iOS updates.

When you get the notification of an update, your best bet is to install it.

It’s quick, easy, and generally harmless.

FAQ

Reset your iPhone’s online grid settingto reset the carrier configs.

You must manually reconfigure the Wi-Fi and VPN prefs.

It’s a good idea to accept new updates as soon as they’re available.