XORit editorial team tested unofficial 5G activation on iPhone

The XORit editorial team tested unofficial 5G activation on an iPhone. The test ran on a device with iOS 27.0.1: the enabled 5G Auto mode survived a reboot, the setup did not have to be repeated, and the status bar shows a 5G icon. The result of the check on a single device was confirmed on 29 September 2026. This is not a guarantee for any models or carriers.

Officially, Apple does not support 5G in Russia, and the required toggle usually does not appear with a Russian SIM. CarrierSIM, an experimental script by 4PDA forum user known as vl_w, makes it possible to enable the feature; according to Kod.ru, the method has been run in Russia and Belarus.

How CarrierSIM works

CarrierSIM does not change the carrier, the SIM card or the plan: it makes iOS apply a built-in Hungarian Vodafone profile to the Russian SIM, reads the SIM card identifier and creates a binding that makes the system take a different ready-made profile. The AirLift project, which found a way in iOS 27.0 to write files outside the Apple Books sync directory, helps write it.

In the "Voice & Data" menu, a choice appears between 4G, "5G Auto" and "5G On", and a 4G icon may be shown instead of LTE. The profile also enables Wi-Fi calling and the EVS codec for iPhone 14 and newer.

Limitations and risks

The method relies on an iOS feature that Apple may close in future updates; after a reboot the setting sometimes resets, but it can be rolled back with the same script. MegaFon warned about possible risks. Actions with third-party tools are performed at your own risk, and the result of our check relates to one device and does not replace independent laboratory testing.

Translation editors: Соловьев В., Пеков А.