Learn how to keep your Snappic device online when connected to Wi-Fi When your iPad or iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi network without Internet access—such as a GoPro, DSLR, or wireless print server—you can still use mobile data to stay online. This ensures Snappic can download event assets, sync sessions, and share uploads even when your Wi-Fi connection is local-only.

Important Notes
How Mobile Data Works with Wi-Fi
Troubleshooting Cellular Internet Issues
How to Force Mobile Data Usage
Contact Support

Important Notes

This applies only to iPhones and iPads with cellular capability and an active SIM or eSIM plan.
Wi-Fi–only iPads cannot use mobile data.
Wi-Fi Assist, enabled by default on iPhones, automatically switches to cellular data when a Wi-Fi network has poor or no Internet connection (Apple Support – HT205296).
iOS automatically detects Wi-Fi networks without Internet access and reroutes traffic through mobile data.
If your iPhone or iPad remains stuck on the Wi-Fi connection, you can manually configure it to prefer cellular data.
Using mobile data may incur carrier data charges depending on your plan.

How Mobile Data Works with Wi-Fi

When your iOS device connects to a Wi-Fi network that doesn’t provide Internet (for example, a GoPro hotspot or local printer server), the operating system runs a network reachability test.

If iOS detects that the Wi-Fi network doesn’t have Internet connectivity:

It automatically routes online traffic through mobile data, while
Still allowing local communication (for example, controlling your GoPro or sending print commands).

This hybrid behavior allows Snappic to stay connected to the Internet for uploading sessions and syncing analytics—even while maintaining the Wi-Fi link for local functions.

If the handover doesn’t occur automatically, follow the steps below to troubleshoot.

Troubleshooting Cellular Internet Issues

If Snappic or other apps can’t access the Internet while connected to a Wi-Fi network with no Internet:

1. Test Your Cellular Data

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi and temporarily turn Wi-Fi off.
Open Safari or another app to confirm you have Internet access.
If not, ensure:
- Your data plan is active.
- You have adequate signal strength.
- Mobile Data is enabled under Settings → Cellular or Mobile Data → On.

2. Ensure Snappic Can Use Mobile Data

Go to Settings → Cellular → Use Mobile Data For.
Scroll down and confirm Snappic is toggled on.

3. Check Wi-Fi Assist

Go to Settings → Cellular → Wi-Fi Assist.
Ensure Wi-Fi Assist is enabled.
- This feature allows your iPhone to automatically use cellular data when the Wi-Fi signal is weak or without Internet access.
- According to Apple, Wi-Fi Assist is on by default for most iPhones and iPads with cellular support.

If the issue persists, you can manually force your device to use cellular data while staying connected to Wi-Fi for local communication.