Apple has increased the cellular download limit of iOS for iPhones and iPads from 150 MB to 200 MB. The maximum has been 150 MB since September 2017, but now the company is upping the limit to give users more flexibility, meaning they can now download big apps, games, and even video podcasts over a cellular connection.
This restriction has been saving users from accidental downloads that could eat into their mobile plans’ data, but there wasn’t any way to force a download to push through even if users wanted to.
This also meant that even those who are on unlimited data plans can’t make the most of their subscriptions and download all the apps they wanted or, in some cases, needed.
A better implementation of this preventative measure is in the form of a warning message that warns the user that they’re about to download a big app or game and still provide an option to go through with the download. After all, there’s no telling whether or not they’ll be put in a situation where they need to download a certain app with a cellular connection when there’s no Wi-Fi access available.
Certain apps over 200 MB can also be downloaded over a cellular network since the App Store displays their file sizes before they’re compressed. For instance, an iPhone user can download a 240 MB app since it really weighs below 200 MB — that is, after unrelated assets are taken out of the picture, such as files made only for the iPad.
