How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working

This article explains why your mobile data isn't working and what you need to do to get online again.

Causes of Mobile Data Not Working

A no-data connection error can result from a basic software glitch, damaged hardware, or even a network-wide outage that renders the entire mobile network unavailable.

How to Fix No Data Connection Errors

These solutions for getting your cellular data connection working again have been proven to be useful on most iPhone and Android smartphone models. They may also work on handsets made by other mobile manufacturers.

1. Turn Airplane Mode on, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back off. A cycle in and out of this mode has been known to fix mobile connections for some people.
   

   Airplane Mode might already be on, in which case that's the reason you can't use mobile data. If so, make sure you turn it off.

2. Restart your iPhone or restart your Android. This is a simple solution, but one that can often fix a variety of tech glitches and bugs.

3. Turn on your mobile data. This is on by default, but it's not that hard to accidentally switch off, especially if someone else has been using your phone. It's an easy fix; just flip the toggle back on and you should establish a mobile data connection in a few moments.
   

   It's possible that your phone is configured correctly but you've simply run out of data. Contact your carrier and ask about your data plan usage.

4. Disable Wi-Fi. This can fix issues with no data if you're not getting a strong enough Wi-Fi signal but are still connected.

   You may, for example, be in your yard or almost out of range from the router but not far enough to fully drop the connection and switch to mobile data. You can't get online over Wi-Fi or mobile in this in-between area.

   Don’t forget to turn your Wi-Fi back on when it makes sense. You don’t want to reach your monthly data cap.

5. Disable Bluetooth. Similar to the Wi-Fi problem, having Bluetooth enabled has also been known to affect cellular connections on Android and iPhone smartphones.

   Suppose your Bluetooth continues to cause conflicts with your phone’s cellular data connection. In that case, you might try disabling it permanently and connecting your Bluetooth devices to your tablet or laptop instead.

6. Turn your Android off or turn your iPhone off. This is different than a restart or simply turning off the screen before putting it into your pocket. A complete shutdown of your iPhone or Android is worth a try if the restart doesn’t work, as it forces a re-connection to your mobile network.

   After a few minutes, feel free to power it back up and check if your mobile data works.

7. Check your network provider. If you’re getting a "mobile network not available" error message, the cause of the problem may actually be a network outage. The easiest way to check if this is the case is to look at your provider’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. Many companies use this social network to keep users informed of network status and updates.

   Always check to make sure the mobile carrier X accounts you follow are either confirmed by a blue checkmark next to their name or are linked to the official company website. Never share your account or billing information in public tweets. 

8. Install the latest system update. Updating to the newest version of iOS or Android OS can often fix bugs associated with mobile data issues. Some carriers even require the latest operating system to function correctly.

   How to Fix It When Mobile Data Is Not Working on a Samsung

9. Check your SIM card. If you’ve been traveling abroad, you may have forgotten to insert your other SIM card into your smartphone, which is necessary before mobile data will work. If you can't activate your cellular data network on a new phone, this could be the cause. 

   It can also be a good idea to see if the SIM card is damaged. Small scratches are usually okay, but it may need to be replaced if it has burn marks.

10. Unlock your phone. If your phone is locked to its initial carrier, it may not work with a SIM card from a different company. In this case, you’ll need to unlock it to get it to use cellular data properly.

11. Reset your network settings. This will remove all stored networking data and let you begin again with a fresh connection. We've seen this fix data issues a number of times, especially in cases where an old phone is being activated with an existing SIM card.
    

12. Reset your phone to its factory default settings. You can reset an iPhone or reset an Android. This process is highly effective at fixing software-related issues because it wipes the device and makes it feel and act brand new.

    A full reset deletes all your apps, contacts, and any other items stored on your phone. It's best to reserve this step as your last attempt to fix mobile data problems before you decide to buy a new phone.