cellular

Without question, we live in a constantly linked world where losing your mobile signal can have serious consequences, such as making it unable to check social media sites like Twitter and Instagram or even resulting in death. Whatever phone you use or cellular service provider you have, service outages are inevitable due to inclement weather or distant locations that may impede your phone signal.

During winter vacations, when travel is increasing, losing your mobile signal can be quite difficult. There are a few strategies you may employ to boost your mobile signal this Christmas season to prevent getting lost or missing crucial calls.

Reception can undoubtedly be improved by using the tried-and-true method of turning on airplane mode, waiting a short while, and then turning it off again. However, if it fails, you may need to take more extreme measures, such as uninstalling your SIM card or changing your network settings.

Spend a few minutes using some simple troubleshooting techniques to see if you can get your phone operating at its best before you go into the settings.

Note: While software on various iPhone models is largely similar, software on Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android devices may vary, and as a result, some settings and their locations may vary from one device to the next.

To start, try these methods to get better phone service.
Your phone’s settings can help you improve your cell service, but there are additional methods you can use to boost your reception without changing the software on your device.

Make sure your phone and any outside mobile towers are not obstructed by moving. This may entail moving away from concrete walls or objects made of metal, as they both hinder reception. Instead, if you can, move to a window or outside.

Take off the phone cover. To ensure that your phone’s antenna is unobstructed and able to receive a stronger signal, it is not harmful to take off any thick phone cases you may have.

Verify that the phone is fully charged. Finding and connecting to a stronger signal costs energy, so you might find it challenging to get reliable service if your phone’s battery is already low.

Always begin by turning on and off airplane mode
Attempting to resolve your signal issues can be as simple and quick as turning off and back on your phone. Switching between airplane and manual mode forces your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network modems to search for the strongest signal available when you’re on the go.

Android: To reach the Quick Settings panel, swipe down from the top of your screen, then hit the Aeroplane mode symbol. Await the complete disconnection of your phone from both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Give it a solid 15 seconds before tapping the Aeroplane mode icon once more because it doesn’t happen instantaneously.

iPhone: Depending on the model you own, the Control Centre on the iPhone may be used to enter Aeroplane mode. To open Control Centre on iPhone X and later models, swipe down from the upper-right corner. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen on previous iPhone models. Next, tap the icon for Aeroplane mode, which will turn orange when activated. Once more, give it up to 15 seconds before shutting it off.

Restart your phone if the airplane mode doesn’t function
Our phones are tiny computers, and much like computers, they may occasionally be fixed by just rebooting them to resolve problems like a lost network connection.

Android: Depending on your phone, hold down the power button or both the power button and the volume down key until the on-screen menu appears, then select Restart. In the event that your phone does not have a restart option, you can restart it by pressing the power button after tapping Power Off to turn it off.

iPhone: To switch off the iPhone X and previous models, press and hold the volume down and sleep/wake buttons, then swipe right on the power slider. To turn it back on, wait until it shuts down completely before pressing the sleep/wake button.

As an alternative, you can forcibly reset your iPhone by pressing and holding the side button while simultaneously pressing the volume up and down buttons. Once your phone’s screen goes dark, keep keeping it in until the Apple logo appears once more.

If the home button on your iPhone is present, press and hold it to reveal the power slider. Then, move it to the right. Press and hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears after the iPhone has been switched off.

Remove the SIM card from your phone
If your phone is turned on, taking out and then re-inserting your SIM card could be another helpful troubleshooting step. Clean the SIM card if it’s dirty. Should it possess any physical flaws, it might require replacement.

To remove the SIM tray from your phone, you’ll need a SIM card tool, which is typically provided in the package with your device, an unfolded paper clip, or a sewing needle.

Every phone: Take out the SIM card, make sure it’s in the SIM tray correctly and isn’t damaged, and then replace it in your phone.

eSIM: If your phone has an embedded electronic SIM, or an eSIM, you don’t need to take anything out of it. Restarting your phone is the greatest thing you can do.

Verify the carrier settings (as well as software updates).
Updates to carrier settings are often sent by mobile carriers to help enhance network connectivity for calls, data, and messaging. All iPhone models have this function, but not all Android phones have it, thus if your phone isn’t supported, you might not be able to access carrier settings.

iPhone: You should only be able to upgrade via the pop-up notification that displays when carrier updates become available. Go to Settings > General > About on your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update. Installing any updates that are available will be asked of you.

Android: Since not all Android phones have carrier settings, you’ll need to search for “carrier settings” in the Settings app in order to see whether there are any updates available. Navigate to Settings > Network & internet > Internet on compatible Pixels, select Carrier settings versions by tapping the gear next to your carrier’s name.

Reset the network settings on your phone.
Occasionally, a fresh start is all that’s required to resolve a bothersome connectivity problem. One way to accomplish that is to reset the network settings on your phone. However, be aware that changing your network settings may also erase any special APN settings for users on carriers that need extra configuration, as well as any saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN connections.

Android: Look up “reset” or, more precisely, “reset network settings” in the Settings app, then tap on the option. Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth is the setting on the Pixel 6 Pro running Android 13. Reconnecting your phone to the Wi-Fi networks at home and at work is important to remember after you reset your network settings.

iPhone: To reset the network settings on your phone, navigate to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. You will be cautioned on the following page that wiping your network will also wipe your Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mobile data settings. Your phone will restart if you tap Reset Network Settings.

Speak with your phone provider.
Unexpected signal problems might occasionally be linked to carrier troubles with your wireless service provider. An outage could be caused by a downed cell tower or a cut fibre optic cable inside the tower.

If you frequently experience difficulty getting onto or maintaining a connection to a cellular or internet network, it’s probable that your neighborhood is not well served by your carrier’s coverage. In order to assist, some carriers will provide a network extender, such as AT&T’s MicroCell or T-Mobile’s Personal CellSpot, which functions as a tiny wireless tower and is dependent on your internet connection.

In other cases, a recently discovered signal problem may be the result of a SIM card malfunction or a phone flaw. The best course of action for fixing your poor signal after trying these options is to get in touch with your carrier to start troubleshooting.

Try a signal booster to enhance cell reception if everything else fails.
Try a booster if, despite following all of our troubleshooting advice and consulting with your carrier to discuss your choices, you’re still having difficulties maintaining a strong signal. The identical cellular signal that your carrier uses is received by a signal booster, which then amplifies it just enough to cover a room or your whole house.

Here, the expense is the main drawback. Wilson offers three distinct home-use boosters that range in price from $349 for coverage in a single room to $999 for whole-home coverage. We want to be clear that we haven’t tested these models in particular. Should you experience any problems with Wilson’s products, Wilson provides a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

It’s simple to use your phone as a mobile hotspot as a backup connection once your signal problems are fixed, but there are a few things you should be aware of. For advice tailored specifically to iPhone users, see our guide on iOS 16’s hidden features. We also have some secret features for Android 12 for enthusiasts of the operating system.