How to fix it when mobile data is not working

Despite all the added convenience that smartphones can bring, their 4G and 5G connections can sometimes stop functioning, leaving you wondering, «Why isn’t my cellular data working?»

Reasons why mobile data is not working

No data transfer error can be the result of a major software failure, hardware corruption, or even an entire system failure that renders the entire mobile network unavailable. The following are some of the proven solutions to get your cell phone’s cellular data working again. iPhone and Android .

Woman using offline maps on her smartphone while traveling around the world. — KlausVedfelt/DigitalVision/GettyImages

How to fix connection errors without data

These troubleshooting solutions to get your data back on the cellular network have been proven to work on most smartphone models iPhone and Android, and can also work on phones from other manufacturers.

Restart your smartphone . This is a simple solution, but it can often fix a lot of technical glitches and bugs.
Turn off your mobile device . Different from rebooting or just turning off your phone’s screen before putting it in your pocket. Completely shutting down your iPhone or Android smartphone is worth a try if restarting doesn’t work, as it forces you to reconnect to your mobile network.
Disable Airplane Mode . If you’ve been to the cinema or on an airplane, don’t forget to turn off airplane mode on your mobile device afterwards. If you don’t have a data connection, this feature may still be enabled.
Disable WiFi . It shouldn’t be, but sometimes it does, especially on older iPhones. Wi-Fi is known to interfere with mobile network connectivity, so turning it off can help get cellular data back.

Don’t forget to turn Wi-Fi back on when finished. You don’t want your monthly data limit.
Disable Bluetooth . As with the Wi-Fi issue, the presence of Bluetooth also affects cellular connections on Android smartphones and iPhones.

If your Bluetooth keeps causing conflicts with your phone’s cellular connection, you can try turning it off for good and connecting your Bluetooth devices to your tablet or laptop instead.
Check your network provider. If you’re getting a «Mobile network not available» error, a network failure might be the cause of the problem. The easiest way to check if this is the case is to look at the official account your provider in Twitter . Many companies use this social network to inform users about network status and updates.
Install the latest system update. Upgrade to latest version of iOS or Android can often fix a lot of bugs related to your mobile data not working. Some carriers even require the latest versions of the operating system to function properly.

Always make sure that the mobile operator’s Twitter accounts you follow are verified with a blue checkmark next to their name or linked to the company’s official website. Never post your account or billing information in public Tweets.
Check your SIM card . If you have traveled abroad, you may have forgotten to insert your SIM card back to your personal smartphone. If you are unable to activate your cellular data network on your new phone, this may be the reason. It is also useful to check if the SIM card is damaged. Small scratches are usually fine, but if they show burn marks, they may need to be replaced.
Perform a factory reset. Performance factory reset on your iPhone or android should be the last thing, which are you trying, because it has the potential to delete some of your data. However, it can solve a lot of problems, so it’s definitely worth a try before buying a new handset.
Unlock your phone . If your phone is locked to its original carrier, it may not work with another company’s SIM card. In this case, you need to unlock it in order to use cellular data properly.