14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has silently implemented a change in the App Store that’s likely to be well received by iPhone user with unlimited data plans.
The company now allows us to download apps and games up to 200 MB using a cellular network. The older limit was 150 MB, and anything larger than this required a Wi-Fi connection.
The increased cellular download limit covers any content that is published in the App Store, like apps, games, podcasts, and pretty much everything else. If a file is larger than the set limit, the following message is displayed on the iPhone:
“App over 200 MB. Connect to a Wi-Fi network to download [app name].”
No way to bypass the block
While the idea behind this restriction makes sense, the way it’s implemented leaves a lot to be desired.
Technically, Apple wants to prevent iPhones from downloading larger files on cellular networks in order to avoid extra charges for customers with limited data plans. But as 9to5mac also notes, there’s no way to bypass this restriction and download large files over cellular, even if an unlimited data plan exists.
In other words, regardless of your plan you can’t download apps and games over 200 MB without a Wi-Fi connection, and Apple doesn’t seem to keen on lifting this restriction.
The previous update in this regard happened in September 2017 when Apple increased the cellular download limit from 100 MB to 150 MB, so it could take a while until the company pushes this limit even further or implements an option that would allow users to ignore the warning.
Because this update takes place on Apple’s side, all devices connecting to the Apple Store are getting it, so it’s not dependent on model or iOS version. You can try it out yourselves by disabling the Wi-Fi connection and starting the download of a large app on cellular.