Nothing is worse than discovering your cell signal has gone down when you’re on a road trip. No music, no GPS, and no method to call for assistance in case of an emergency. The good news is that there are a few easy solutions that might get you back online quickly, even if a poor signal can create a variety of issues.
These easy tips will assist improve reception and keep you connected when you need it most, whether you’re using an Android or iPhone.
No matter what kind of phone plan you’re on, there are several ways to enhance your iPhone or Android phone’s reception, whether you’re performing some regular maintenance or you’re in an emergency. Even something as basic as switching to airplane mode may be the solution.
Here are some things you should know if you want to transition from dropped calls to full bars.
The software on various iPhone models is essentially the same, while Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android phones may have different software versions. As a result, the location of some settings may vary depending on the device.
For further information, see how to use Google Maps offline and how to potentially restore your internet when it goes down.
Try these methods first to get better service on your cell phone.
You may improve your mobile service by adjusting the settings on your phone, but there are more ways to obtain better coverage without even adjusting the software.
Make sure there are no obstacles in the way of your phone and any external mobile towers. This might entail avoiding concrete walls and metal items, both of which impair reception. Rather, approach a window or, if you can, step outside.
Take off the case from your phone. It doesn’t hurt to take off your phone’s case, especially if it’s thick, to gain a stronger signal and make sure nothing is blocking the antenna.
Verify the battery life of your phone. You might find it challenging to receive adequate service if your phone battery is already low since searching for and connecting to a better signal uses power.
Cases for the Moshi iPhone 13
The signal is disrupted more by some phone cases than by others.
Always begin by turning on and off airplane mode.
The simplest and fastest approach to try to resolve your signal issues is to turn off and then re-connect your phone. Switching to Airplane mode causes the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network modems to locate the strongest signal in the region by restarting them while you’re moving from one place to another.
Android: Tap the Airplane mode icon after swiping down from the top of your screen to see the Quick Settings menu. Await the complete disconnection of your phone’s cellular and Wi-Fi connections. Give it at least 15 seconds before tapping on the Airplane mode indicator once more, since it doesn’t happen right away.
iPhone: Depending on the model you own, you can adjust the Control Center to access Airplane mode on the iPhone. To open the Control Center on the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen on previous iPhone models. Next, press the symbol for Airplane mode, which will become orange when it’s activated. Wait up to 15 seconds before shutting it off once more.
Android, iPhone, and airplane mode
Left: Your iPhone in airplane mode. Right: An Android device in airplane mode.
Restart your phone if you are unable to use Airplane mode.
Since our phones are little computers, you may sometimes resolve problems like network connectivity by just rebooting them.
Android: Press and hold the power button until the on-screen menu appears, or press and hold the power button and the volume down key, depending on your Android phone, and then select Restart. If there isn’t a restart option on your phone, you may just hit Power Off to turn it off and then press the power button to turn it back on.
iPhone: To switch off the device on the iPhone X and previous versions, hold down the sleep/wake button and one of the volume keys. Then, swipe right on the power slider. Holding down the sleep/wake button will turn it back on after you wait for it to completely shut off.
As an alternative, you may forcibly reset your iPhone by pressing the volume up and down buttons, then holding down the side button. Hold it in until the Apple logo reappears after the screen of your phone turns dark.
Hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider appears on your iPhone, then drag it to the right if it has one. Press and hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears after the iPhone has been switched off.
restart-iPhone-Android
Restarting an Android phone is seen on the left. Right: Turning an iPhone off.
An older phone? Remove your SIM card.
If your phone has a SIM card, taking it out and putting it back in while the phone is powered on might be another helpful troubleshooting step. Clean the SIM card if it’s filthy. It could need to be replaced if it has any physical flaws.
To remove the SIM tray from your phone, you’ll need a SIM card tool, which is often supplied in the box, or an unrolled paper clip or sewing needle.
Every phone: After removing the SIM card and making sure it is in the SIM tray correctly and is not damaged, replace it in your phone.
eSIM: If your phone has an electronic SIM built into it, or an eSIM, you won’t need to take it out. Restarting your phone is your best option.
It only takes a few seconds to take out and replace your SIM card in your phone.
Verify your carrier settings and make sure your software is up to current.
Updates to carrier settings are often sent out by mobile carriers in an effort to enhance network connection for calls, data, and texts. All iPhone models have this functionality, but Android does not, thus if your phone isn’t supported, you might not be able to access carrier settings.
iPhone: You can update from the pop-up message that shows up, and carrier updates should just show up. Go to Settings > General > About on your iPhone to have it search for a carrier settings update. You will be requested to install any available updates.
Android: To locate any potential upgrades, launch the Settings app and enter “carrier settings” because, as previously said, not all Android phones have these options. Navigate to Settings > Network & internet > Internet on Pixels that are compatible, then choose Carrier settings versions by tapping the gear next to your carrier name.
Settings for carriers on iOS and Android
iOS carrier settings on the left. Right: carrier settings for Android.
Reset the network settings on your phone.
Sometimes a fresh start is all you need to resolve a bothersome connectivity problem. One way to accomplish it is to reset the network settings on your phone. But be aware that if you change your network settings, it will also reset any VPN connections, cached Wi-Fi passwords, and specific APN settings for carriers that need further configuration.
Android: Look up “reset” or more precisely “reset network settings” in the Settings app, then touch on the option. Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth is the setting on the Pixel. Remember to reconnect your phone to the Wi-Fi networks at home and at work once you’ve reset your network settings.
iPhone: Select Settings > Reset > Reset Network settings under Transfer or Reset iPhone. You will be alerted on the next screen that wi-fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings will be reset if you reset your network settings. Your phone will restart if you select Reset Network Settings.
iOS and Android network settings
One of the final things you should do while troubleshooting is to reset the network settings.
Speak with your phone provider.
Unexpected signal difficulties can occasionally be linked to wireless carrier troubles. An outage might be caused by a cell tower going down or by a fiber optic cable being severed from the tower.
It’s likely that your carrier’s coverage doesn’t reach far into your area if you frequently have trouble connecting to or maintaining a connection to a cellular or broadband network.
In other cases, a newly discovered signal problem may be the result of a SIM card malfunction or a phone flaw. The next best step to fixing your poor signal is to contact your carrier to start troubleshooting once you’ve tried these remedies.
S10-plus-macro-1 galaxy
Sometimes the only method to fix signal problems is to get in touch with your carrier.
Try a signal booster to enhance mobile reception if everything else fails.
Try a booster if you’re still having difficulties maintaining a strong signal after following all of our troubleshooting instructions, which include discussing your alternatives with your carrier. The same cellular signal that your carrier uses is received by a signal booster, which then amplifies it just enough to reach a room or your entire home.
The price is the main drawback here. Wilson offers three distinct home-use boosters that range in price from $349 for coverage in a single room to $999 for coverage throughout the entire house. To be clear, these models have not been specially evaluated by us. Wilson provides a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you experience any issues with its items.