Embodiments are provided for adaptive user equipment (UE) cooperation mode selection in wireless networks. An adaptive UE cooperation strategy is implemented, which adaptively switches between a Decode-and-Forward (D&F) mode and a soft UE combining mode that involves combining, at the TUE, signals from multiple cooperating UEs (CUEs). A method by a network component includes obtaining access link qualities for links between a base station and a plurality of CUEs for a target UE (TUE). A UE cooperation mode or a hybrid UE cooperation mode is then selected from a plurality of supported UE cooperation modes according to the access link qualities of the CUEs. At least one of the CUEs is then instructed to cooperate in forwarding the signals to the TUE using the selected UE cooperation mode. The CUEs can dynamically opt out of the UE cooperation according to the channel quality of the CUEs or TUE.