iOS 11 Control Center: Wi-Fi And Bluetooth Don't Fully Turn Off

Apple revamped its Control Center with the launch of iOS 11 and while the feature promises more control over a number of features, it actually makes it more difficult for users to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

In the new Control Center, which features a number of new one-touch controls that can be summoned from any screen while using an iOS device, there are individual buttons for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. But when a user presses them, they are misled into believing those features are completely turned off.

That isn’t the case, and it’s not because of a bug or hidden mistake—it’s actually as designed according to Apple’s own documentation.

Instead of turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity when the options are selected through the Control Center, the user’s phone or tablet simply disconnects from any device it may be connected to through each respective form of wireless connectivity. That could mean connection to a wireless router or link between a Bluetooth accessory like a speaker or keyboard.

However, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are still technically available despite being turned off through the control panel, allowing the device to connect to new devices or join other wireless networks without having to reactivate the features through the Control Panel.

“In iOS 11 and later, when you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device will immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available,” Apple’s documentation for iOS 11 says.

According to Apple, the reason for keeping these options available is to allow users to continue to use features that require the connectivity methods including wireless file sharing through AirDrop, broadcasting through AirPlay, connections with the Apple Pencil or Apple Watch, Location Services that identify where a user is located and other features.

Users can still fully disable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it just can’t be done through the Control Center. Instead, users will have to open their Settings app and toggle the features off individually.

Even then, there are some limitations. While users can fully disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through the Settings app, those means of connectivity will turn back on under a couple different scenarios.

Wi-Fi returns when a user walks or drives to a new location and a new network is identified. Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both reactivated every time a device is restarted and at 5 a.m. local time—which Apple provides no specific explanation for.

Making sure connectivity is regularly available does make some sense for Apple, as wireless connections to other devices are becoming a necessity for many people who use their phone to communicate with everything from their car to the appliances in their home.

Still, essentially forcing users to never truly being cut off from wireless networks could present security problems.

Malicious actors can set up fake wireless networks designed to steal information from a user while they are connected to it and last week security researchers brought to light a number of serious vulnerabilities in Bluetooth connectivity that could allow an attacker to hijack a device or execute malicious code on it through the wireless connection.