Android Mobile Data Not Working? Try These Fixes
Key Points
- If your mobile data isn’t working, check the signal strength and coverage of your mobile network.
- In many cases, restarting your device may fix the problem while in others it may be necessary to remove and reinsert the SIM card or reset network settings entirely.
- If even the factory resetting of your mobile device does not fix the issue, it could be a hardware malfunction and professional assistance may be required.
If you’re like most people, there’s nothing worse than having your Android mobile data not working. Your phone suddenly stops connecting to the internet and you can’t access emails or apps that require a connection. You feel like the whole world is being turned upside down without an online connection!
Fortunately, there are solutions and steps you can take to quickly get your mobile data back up and running again. Whether it’s a software or hardware issue causing the problem, there are several tricks and techniques for resolving any issues related to mobile data issues on Android phones. Read on for all of our top tips and advice when it comes to recovering from what could otherwise be a huge inconvenience.
Possible Causes of Mobile Data Not Working
The following are a few potential reasons why your mobile data might not be working:
- There might be an issue with your mobile network provider
- Signal strength and coverage issues
- You might have exceeded your mobile data limit.
- Issues in your mobile APN settings
- Problem with a specific app or Google services.
- There might be an unknown issue with your phone that you can resolve by restarting it or performing a factory reset.
Note: Some android phones may have different settings names or options, so the steps to resolve mobile data issues might be a little bit different in different Android phones.
1. Check Signal Strength and Coverage
The first step in figuring out why mobile data isn’t working is to check the signal strength and coverage of your mobile network. If you are in a poor mobile reception area, this could be the reason why mobile data isn’t working. You should make sure that you are in an area where the mobile data signal is strong.
2. Check Your Mobile Data Package and Data Limit
If your mobile data isn’t working, first check to see if your data package is expired or used up. Also, check if you have set a limit on mobile data usage on your Android phone. Android phones let you set mobile data limits, so if you have reached your mobile data limit, mobile data may not work until the mobile plan gets renewed. To check your data limits:
- Go to Settings > SIM & network settings (or Network and Internet in some phones)> Data settings & Data usage.
- Here you can change the data limit that you may previously set. Tap on Settings > Data Usage warning level reminder and increase the data limit to your desired level. After setting the new data limit, tap on Done.
3. Turn On and Off Airplane Mode
Airplane mode turns off mobile signal reception, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth on your phone. First, make sure that the Airplane mode is off. You can check this by swiping down the notification area from the top of the screen and looking for the Airplane mode icon. If it is on, just tap it to turn it off.
If your phone isn’t in Airplane mode, turn the Airplane mode ON, and after 15-20 seconds, turn it OFF. This will reset your mobile data connection and may solve the issue.
4. Restart the Device
In some cases, restarting your device may be all that is necessary to get your mobile data working again. This is because restarting a device can often remove system glitches or network errors that may be preventing your mobile data connection from working.
It is a simple fix that takes only a few minutes and may save you the trouble of performing more complex troubleshooting tasks. Furthermore, restarting a device will not result in any data loss and is generally safe to perform.
To restart your Android phone, press and hold the Power button until you see the Power menu. Tap on Restart (or swipe the Restart button down on most Android phones) and wait for your device to restart. After it has restarted, mobile data should work again.
5. Choose the Right Acces Point Name (APN) Settings
Your mobile data might not be working because of the APN settings on your phone. The APN settings control how your phone connects to the mobile network. To make sure that your mobile data is working correctly, check if you have the right APN settings for mobile data.
To check and change mobile APN settings on your Android phone:
- Go to Settings > SIM & network settings. If you are using a dual SIM phone, your SIMs will show here. Tap on the SIM you are using for mobile data. Then scroll down, find the Access Point Names option, and tap on it.
- Tap the three vertical dots a the top right corner and choose Reset to default. This will reset mobile data APN settings to their default values.
- Now on the same menu, select the APN you are using. In our case, it is the internet. Scroll down and find the APN protocol option. Choose IPv4/IPv6 and save your settings. IPv6 is a newer mobile data connection protocol, so most mobile networks now use IPv4/IPv6.
If mobile data still isn’t working after resetting mobile APN settings, contact your mobile network operator. They can provide you with the correct mobile data APN settings.
6. Choose the Right Network Type
Android mobiles support 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. Some recent devices support 5G mobile networks as well. 4G mobile networks offer more high-speed mobile internet than 2G and 3G mobile networks. If you choose a lower mobile network speed like 2G or 3G, mobile data may not work on your device. It is important to choose the right network type to avoid mobile data issues.
- Go to Settings > SIM and network settings. Tap on the SIM option for which you are using mobile data. Scroll down and tap on the Preferred network type option.
- Now select 2G/3G/4G auto and tap OK.
This will automatically select the highest mobile network available in your area and should fix mobile data issues.
7. Remove SIM Card and Insert It Again
In some cases, a loose connection between the SIM card and its slot can cause mobile data issues. Also, the SIM card may be displaced in its slot, resulting in a lack of connectivity. If this is the case, you may need to remove it and insert it again.
Before re-inserting your SIM card, make sure that the contact points are clean and free of dust or dirt. You can use a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to gently clean the contact points before inserting it again.
8. Check the Specific App
Sometimes, the issue is not with mobile data connection but with a specific app. Check if the mobile internet works in other apps and browsers on your device. If mobile data works in other places but not in a few specific apps, the issue may be with those apps.
In such cases, you can try clearing the app cache data or reinstalling the app to see if that fixes mobile data issues. If this doesn’t work, clear the Google Play Store cache. If still the issue persists, contact the developer of the app for further assistance.
9. Reset Network Settings
In some cases, resetting network settings may be required to fix mobile data issues. This will restore Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings to their defaults and should resolve mobile data issues. Please note that resetting network settings will delete any saved Wi-Fi or network passwords, APNSs, and saved Bluetooth devices.
To reset mobile network settings:
- Go to Settings > System > Reset phone.
- Tap on Reset Wi-Fi settings. If you are using a dual SIM mobile, select the SIM card for which you are using mobile data and tap Reset Settings.
10. Check for System Updates
Sometimes, mobile data connectivity issues may be related to system software updates. Old outdated software versions may have mobile data compatibility issues which can be fixed by updating your device with the latest version of Android.
Go to Settings > System > System update > Online Update. Here, you can check for any available updates. If an update is available, install it and restart your device. After the update is installed, mobile data should be working again.
11. Factory Reset Your Android Phone
If all the above methods fail to fix mobile data issues, you may need to reset your device to its factory settings. This will delete all the user data and restore the phone’s software to its original state. Make sure to back up all your important data before performing a factory reset. Here is a detailed guide on how to factory reset an Android phone.
Fixing Mobile Data Issues In Android Phones
To sum up, mobile data issues on your Android phones can be fixed by:
- Cleaning and reinserting the SIM card
- Checking for mobile data issues with a specific app
- Resetting network settings
- Updating the device software
- Performing a factory reset
What if the Mobile Data Issue Still Persists?
If mobile data issues persist even after performing a factory reset, it is possible that the device may have hardware or software-related issues. In such cases, it is best to take your device to an authorized service center for assistance.
Do not try to open up your Android phone to inspect it as this will void its warranty. An authorized service center can diagnose and fix mobile data issues without voiding your device’s warranty.
Note: Does this article provide the info you’re looking for? Is there any information you think of missing or incorrect? You can give your opinion in the comments section below.
If you like this tutorial, share this post and spread the knowledge by clicking on the social media options below because “Sharing is caring”.
