Last Updated on June 4, 2020 by Husain Parvez
Stuck with mobile data not working on your Android or iOS device? Here’s everything you need to know about the issue and how you can easily counter it.
Mobile phones have connected us to all parts of the world, nothing is far away, but still, nothing comes near perfection, and there are flaws in everything, even your mobile data. Despite all the conveniences smartphones keep bringing to us, first 2G, 3G then 4G and now 5G. Yet, connections occasionally stop functioning and leave you wondering -“why is my mobile data not working?”
How to Tell If Your Mobile Data Not Working
Data issues can happen from time to time, and it’s an understatement to say that being stranded without a network connection can be annoying.
If your mobile data not working, it’s quite easy to tell. Your phone status shows that you’re connected to the internet, but nothing seems to work. Or you can merely experience extremely slow speed in uploading and downloading. To reconfirm if your mobile data is working, we advise conducting an internet speed test. You can download any network speed testing apps for it.
Causes of Mobile Data Not Working
The complicated part about the mobile network not available issue is that there’s isn’t a guaranteed fix for it. Either way, we’ve gathered together a group of tried and tested solutions that will help you solve the networking issue in both android and iOS devices.
Let’s start with the simple checking of basics
1: Check if your Cellular (Mobile) Data is enabled
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that Cellular Data is enabled on the iPhone. It may sound stupid and even annoying as a solution, but mobile data gets disabled more often than you’d think.
First, let’s check Cellular Data (for iOS users)
- Swipe down Control Center on the iPhone
- Check if the Cellular Data button is switched on (it will be green if enabled)
If you notice it grey rather than green, it meant that cellular data was switched off.
2: Check if AirPlane Mode is switched off
While you’re in Control Center, you’ll also want to make sure that AirPlane Mode is disabled. AirPlane Mode discontinues all networking capabilities on the Phone, including mobile data. If AirPlane Mode is enabled, switch it off and relax you have solved the problem AirPlane mode was the culprit.
3: Check if the Wi-Fi is disabled (for older iPhone)
it shouldn’t happen but rarely does it occur, especially on older iPhone models. Wi-Fi is known to interfere with mobile network connectivity, so turning it off might help you get your data back.
4: Check if the Bluetooth is disabled.
Similar to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth also affects mobile connections on Android and iPhone smartphones.
5: Check for Update on your carrier settings (For iPhone or iPad)
- Go to Settings.
- Then tap on General.
- Click on “About”. See If any update is available and install if it there is.
6: Examine If You have reached your Data Limit
Most networks offer data services and plans with limited data. And honestly, many of us would have taken the plan for granted and roamed around without keeping track of the data usage. So, if your mobile data is not working on your Phone, then this might be the reason for it.
To check if you’ve used up your mobile data limit for the day, week or month,
- Go to the Settings.
- Tap on the “Data usage.”
There you can find the cellular data that you’ve used up within a certain period of time.
If you have an unlimited pack or this data limitation wasn’t the case for you, as you checked and everything is in order, but still, the problem persists then keep reading as we will start giving solutions next.
Solution #1 Restart your Phone
People have cracked jokes about restarting any gadget in the hopes of fixing it. But, it works in most of the cases. This fix might seem simple, but sometimes, simple is all that meets the eye.
For Andriod users
- keep holding the Power button on your Android device until the restart window pops on the screen.
- Click on the Restart or Reboot button depending on your phone and wait while the process completes.
- Once it restarts, see if the problem has been resolved.
However, if you tried this solution and the network is still down, then, head down below to read more.
Solution #2 Enable airplane mode and disable it.
Another trick that is widely used by us. Resets the wireless connections automatically, which includes the Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth connection, and even the network connection. Turn on your mobile on airplane mode wait for a minute and then switch if off, this will help the Phone to look for the network signal from the beginning and will likely solve the mobile network error for you.
- From your phone screen, pull down the notification shade.
- Touch on the Airplane Mode icon to enable it.
- After waiting a few seconds head back to the notification shade and toggle off the Airplane Mode.
Solution #3 Change into the Right Network Mode
Certain network modes hold on to their limitations, and it depends on your Android device. Different models have different requirements that connect to an ideal internet connection. It mainly occurs in old models as they have a 4G network option but operate limitedly in the lower realm.
If you aren’t a tech geek, let us explain that there are different frequency bands for network signals. GSM network (2G signal), WCDMA (3G signal) and LTE (4G signal), all of them work on different frequencies. Since your device scans through different frequencies to find you the most favourable connection, it can cause network fall issues. So, ensure to check if your network settings are ideal for your Phone’s capabilities.
Changing your network mode is very easy on an Android phone.
- First, head to your settings.
- Select the “Mobile Data” section.
- Tap on “Network Mode” and select the best option for your Phone.
- Try moving down to 2G as it is the easiest to connect.
If your phone has an option of 2G/3G/4G Auto, select it, so your device automatically uses the best one available for itself.
Note: while changing network mode to 2G means that you won’t enjoy high-speed connectivity. Once you’ve solved the mobile data issue, make sure you switch back to the Automatic settings in the Network Mode so that your internet connection quality returns.
Solution #4: Select your mobile network manually
After purchasing an expensive smartphone, it can be a disappointment that mobile data doesn’t work. But, thanks to the ability to manually select your network operator, you can solve the no mobile network issue almost instantaneously.
- Go to the Settings app.
- Go through the options to find the SIM & Network or Connections tab in the Settings and open it.
- If you have multiple SIM cards on the phone, select the one for whom you’d like to change the network mode.
- Select the Network operators tab from the list and open it.
- Disable Choose option automatically.
- Wait while the mobile searches for available networks and then tap on the name of your network carrier.
- You will be able to see a pop-up message reading “Registration complete” at which the compatible mobile network should be available.
You will be directly connected to the preferred network, and the device won’t have to cycle through different frequencies. It is a sure-shot way to make sure that you get your signal bars immediately, so you can start making phone calls and send out texts right away.
Solution #5: Reset Network settings
If all of the solutions you’ve failed, you can refresh the network settings. Reset helps you clean-up the saved preferences for your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Mobile Network settings. In the event where nothing else seems to solve data malfunction issue, you can perform a network reset.
- Go to the Settings on your Phone.
- Choose the Backup & reset option and select it.
- Select the Network settings reset tab and open it.
- If you have multiple SIM cards on the device, choose the one you wish to perform a network reset on.
- Press the Reset Settings button and wait as it completes its process.
Once the settings have been reset, reboot your Phone to refresh everything and start again.
Solution #6: Pull-out Your SIM Card and re-insert it
It is merely re-inserting your SIM card.it is capable of solving most mobile data issues.
- Switch off your phone before removing your SIM card.
- Wait for half a minute and then insert your SIM card.
- Switch your smartphone back on, wait for your Phone to reconnect to networks.
Hopefully, your mobile data issue has been fixed.
Solution #7: Reset Your APN
APN –Access Point Names are used by network carriers to communicate with your device. It isn’t that simple it also includes your IP address and the gateway settings needed to connect you to the internet. As crucial as they are, they can still cause some issues, try resetting your APN and see if it solves your cellular data issues.
To reset your APN, follow these steps;
- Head to settings.
- Select “Mobile Data.”
- Once you’re in the section, select “Mobile Networks.”
- Click on “Access Point Names.” you should be able to see the list of APNs saved on your Phone.
- tap on the menu icon and then choose “Reset to Default.”
If even after resetting APN your data hasn’t started working you can try this trick of;
- Change Your APN Protocol
If your automatic APN reset didn’t work, you might have to alter your APN protocol. Unfortunately, not all devices provide this option in the APN section.
However, many phone models allow you to change the APN Protocol and save it as blank. If you have the delicacy of option, replace the field to IPv4/IPv6. Ensure to choose this option instead of just having one of the two options.
Solution #8: Factory Reset
If all of the solutions in this list don’t work and if you couldn’t find the culprit, your last resort is to go for factory reset. A factory data reset might be the practical solution for a connection problem you couldn’t find the culprit no matter how carefully you looked for it.
Before you select factory reset, ensure with backing up all of your important files as the reset will eradicate all data stored on your Phone. Once you’ve performed a backup, go to your settings section. Then, choose “Backup and Reset” and then tap “Factory Data Reset.”
You will need to factory reset your Android entirely in the hopes that the network issues will be fixed. A clean format should set your Android device straight and remove the error from surfacing again.
( For Android users)
- Open the Settings menu, find Backup & reset option, then click on Factory data reset and Reset phone.
- You’ll be questioned for your passcode and then to Delete everything.
- Once it is done, select the option to restart your phone.
- Then, you can restore your phone’s data.
(For iOS users)
- Connect your iPhone device to your Mac-pc.
- A window will come up asking for your device passcode
- Select your device when it appears on your computer
- Click Restore [device].
Frequently Asked Questions
Does radio effect in mobile data issues?
Your Android device handles Bluetooth, Mobile Network, Wi-Fi and even Radio signals at once, along with NFC too. All of this networking in such a small phone it makes it certain to cause signal interference, causing network issues to occur. One solution that several experts have outlined is turning off is accessing the hidden Phone info menu in Android. By using the Phone info menu, you can conveniently turn off the Mobile radio power in hopes to fix this grave problem for good.
How to reset network issues on CDMA network?
A simple and robust solution for data not working is to enter an SCRTN (Special Code to Reset the Network).
Note: that only works for phones using CDMA networks as Sprint, Verizon and US Cellular.
Go to the dial pad and enter the following code, depending on your device:
- Google Pixel, Moto G4: *#*#72786#*#*
- Moto G5, Nexus 5, Nexus 6: #*#*72786#*#*
- Android phones: ##72786#
Last Words
As the age of 5G mobile devices is upon us, the problem of low connectivity should be a thing of the past soon. Many variables come in the equation of your mobile data to work, and these variables decide the speed, sometimes concrete jungle varies, sometimes the farmlands and poor network range. Under such circumstances, your only solution that remains could be switching SIM cards with a preferable network carrier. Were’ you able to counter the mobile data problem with the tips above? Or do you have a solution of your own up your sleeve? Be sure to share it with the rest of the Android community in the comments right down below.
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