How To: Force the AT&T Backflip to EGDE (2G)

[juggalonation75]

It seems that ATT has disabled the ability to make the phone use 2G (EGDE) only in the default settings menus....however after searching the web for an answer and not finding anything but "it cant be done" ....I have figured it out with the app ANY CUT

For anyone who has not figured out how to force your Backflip to EDGE only in order to conserve battery life and if you are in an area known not to have 3G coverage here is what you do:

1. In the Market, download Any Cut. (This is a free app)
2. open Any Cut and choose New Shortcut
3. Scroll down the list until you get to Phone Info
4. Select OK. (this will place the short cut on your homescreen)
5. Open the shortcut and scroll down until you see "Set Preferred Network Type"
6. Choose GSM only and you are set. This forces the phone to EGDE.

I have also turned the phone off and then turned it back on to make sure the setting sticks and it does 100%. To turn 3G back on just open the shortcut again and choose "WCDMA Preferred" which will turn 3G back on.

Hope this is helpful.

[ATTDroids]

[acmasters]

Wow, great find!

[aprice]

This works for me! I hope this helps battery life as there is no 3G in my immediate area.

[CLIFFORD30]

I did what you said and it didnt work for me. It would not let me change it to gsm, but it would unknown.. What should i do///

[juggalonation75]

Close out the home screen again and then click the Phone Info shortcut and try selecting GSM only again. It should switch over to the "E" icon.

There should be the following 4 options in the drop-down box:

WCDMA Preferred
GSM Only
WCDMA Only
Unknown

GSM Only is the only option that forces EGDE.

Maybe also try rebooting your phone after you change it to see if that helps.

[CLIFFORD30]

ok . I finally got it to work for me. Why does it not say gsm iin the box when you go and check it?? Just making sure if that s ok.

[batmania15]

Good find will move post to main thread.

[jmgib]

I can't seem to get it to change. If I choose GSM it keeps going back to preferred. I've tried deleting the shortcut as well as rebooting the phone.

[Powderfool]

I just tried this and had the same results. Will not go to GSM only. Will go to unknown, but still shows 3G on the home screen bar. Bummer.

[elliott8082]

Hi, I have had my Backflip for a week and am trying to get used to using it by reading these forums. Can someone explain to me what the purpose of this change is. I want to make my phone as efficient as I can but want to also understand what I am doing in the process. Thanks for your time!