What to do when mobile data doesn't work on Android device?

Not only iPhones, but even Android users also encounter cases of using mobile data (3G, 4G.) but not being able to access the network. In many necessary cases, not being able to connect to the mobile network makes users extremely uncomfortable. In the article below, Network Administrator will guide you how to fix this error on Android devices.

In addition, you can refer to how to fix the error of turning on 3G data but not connecting to the Internet on iPhone here.

1. Some quick ways to fix mobile data not working on Android

Before trying some of the more technical fixes, start with these quick and simple methods. This may be all you need to resolve the problem.

1. Restart your phone . This is very simple, but that quick reset will fix many problems.

2. Check if mobile data is enabled . Swipe down your notification tray and make sure the Mobile Data icon is turned on.

3. Turn Mobile Data off and back on .

4. Make sure Airplane Mode is turned off . The icon is in your notification tray.

5. Turn off WiFi . This setting is in your notification tray. On some devices, mobile data won't work when a WiFi network is detected, even if you're not connected to that network.

6. Check for system updates . Go to Settings -> About phone -> Software update or Settings -> Device Care -> Software update .

7. Check if your carrier is having problems . Switch to WiFi or use your computer to check your service provider's website or social media accounts for outage notices.

As a final note, if none of these fixes work, back up your phone, including text messages, and do a complete factory reset. This is the last resort. 

2. Reset or edit APN

Access Point Name (APN) is how your mobile network provider connects your phone to the Internet. It sets up all the important settings on your phone, like IP address and port, to help you connect. However, this process can sometimes go wrong and need to be reset.

Reset APN 

To reset the APN (access point name), follow the steps below.

1. Access Settings => Network and Internet.
2. Find and click Mobile Networks => Access point names . For Android 11 and earlier, you need to tap Advanced under Mobile Networks to access Access Point Names . If you don't see Network and Internet , look for Connections instead .
3. You will now see a list of APNs. Click the Menu icon in the top right corner, select Reset to default .

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Set APN Protocol to iPv4/IPv6

This option doesn't exist in all phones' APN settings, but some devices (like the OnePlus 3) give you the option to leave the APN Protocol field blank. If that's the case in your network's APN settings, make sure it shows IPv4/IPv6. Likewise, for other devices, make sure this option is selected instead of just iPv4 or IPv6.

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3. Wipe the cache partition from the recovery screen

On phones, there is a large portion of device memory dedicated to cache - where data for different applications and processes is stored, automatically activated so that these applications and processes start up faster on the phone. your device.

But sometimes, as reported by some Android users, errors can occur in cache memory, which can cause important processes - in this case, your data connection - to stop working. . To fix this problem, you need to wipe the system cache partition, accessed from the recovery screen of your phone. The restore process will vary slightly between phones, but on a standard stock Android device, do the following:

Step 1: Turn off your phone, then when you turn it back on, hold the Power and Volume Down buttons until the Android robot icon appears on your screen.

Step 2: Use the volume buttons to navigate to 'Recovery Mode'. The next screen may display "No command".

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If you see this, you may need to try holding different combinations of the volume and power buttons until you get into recovery mode (depending on your device). The way to do it in the example case is to hold down the Volume Up button and the Power button.

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Once you restore, use the volume buttons on your phone to select 'wipe cache partition' or 'wipe cache' , then select the option with the power button.

This process will only take a few seconds. Once done, restart your phone.

4. Reset the phone's network connection

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A simple and powerful fix for data not working on your Android device is to enter SCRTN (Special Code to Reset the Network). Note that this fix will only work for phones using CDMA networks.

Assuming you're on a CDMA network, go to your phone's dial pad and enter the following code, depending on your device:

1. Google Pixel, Moto G7: *#*#72786#*#*
2. Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Moto G5: #*#*72786##
3. Other Android phones: ##72786#

Note that phone service providers are gradually trying to phase out CDMA networks as they look to fully transition to the newer, faster LTE standard, so this particular fix may not be available. still applicable.

5. Turn on the appropriate network mode

It is possible that during the update process or simply in the phone's default settings, the phone's network mode (3G, 4G, etc…) is set to a mode that does not provide optimal coverage.

For example, if you own a 4G phone, you should always make sure that 4G is selected in the network modes. Or if your phone does not have 4G but you are running on an operating system with 4G network mode (for example, by rooting), then your phone may be trying to connect to the 4G signal that the device Not available.

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Changing this is very simple. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile network > Preferred network type , then switch to the type that best suits your phone. Since the phone in the example is 4G, the 2G/3G/4G Auto option is selected so that the phone always tries to connect to the best signal available.

Some devices do not allow you to switch and only support 4G or 4G/5G networks.

6. Reset networks

Sometimes, the only option is to reset all your network settings to default. Apps, system updates, and glitches all cause problems that cause mobile data to not work.

Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Network settings reset . If you don't see this option, go to Settings -> General management -> Reset -> Reset mobile network settings .

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Click Reset Settings . You will need to tap it again to confirm. Restart your phone when prompted.

You will need to re-enter any WiFi passwords and re-pair any Bluetooth devices once the process is complete.

7. Remove and reinsert the SIM card

Some people will disregard suggestions like 'restart the phone' and 'remove and reinsert the SIM card', but this should always be one of the first measures to try when trying to fix data problems mobile. Another option is to test the phone with a different SIM card to see if the problem originates from the phone or the SIM.

There is also an additional little trick for restarting your phone that may help:

1. Before rebooting, turn on Airplane Mode.
2. Wait for 30 seconds, then turn off Airplane Mode.
3. If you still can't use mobile data, turn airplane mode back on, turn off your phone, wait a minute, turn your phone back on, turn off airplane mode, wait 30 seconds, then turn on mobile data.

8. Is your Android device limited to mobile data?

On Android mobile devices, users can set mobile data usage limits and warn users when limited mobile data has been used up.

By default this option is disabled, however it is likely that the limit setting has been set previously. To test:

Step 1:  Access Settings => Network & Internet => Data Usage . Again, on some devices you will see Connections instead of Network & Internet .

Step 2: Turn on Limit mobile data usage . Tap the current default limit and enter the limit you want. If you don't see these options, tap Mobile data usage , then tap the Settings gear in the right corner. Set billing cycles, data limits, and alerts.

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For Android 11 and earlier, go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Mobile network . Make sure Mobile data is turned on, then tap Data warning & limit .

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Make sure that Set data limit is turned off or at least not lower than the limit provided by your network.

Good luck!

Samuel Daniel

Update 08 December 2023