Android Mobile Data Not Working? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• Mobile data turned off
• No coverage or a weak signal where you are
• A Pixel data limit that turned mobile data off
• Data Saver on a Pixel limiting apps’ background data
• Roaming off on a Pixel outside your carrier’s coverage area
• Buildings, walls or a phone case blocking the signal
• A carrier outage or a change to your data plan

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the first step and work down the list, checking whether mobile data works after each one.

1. 1

   Step 1: Turn mobile data off and on

   Make sure mobile data is on, and switch it off and on again if it already is.

   Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections, then Mobile data or Cellular data. On some devices, you may need to select Data usage before you find this.

   Turn Mobile data or Cellular data on. If it’s already on, turn it off and on again.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then SIMs, and make sure Mobile data is on. Then tap your carrier’s name and make sure Use SIM is on.

   Good to know

   On Pixel 11 phones, call and mobile data diagnostics can auto-detect and potentially resolve mobile data issues. Open Settings, tap Device health & support, then Mobile data diagnostics. This feature is only available in the US for US subscribers.

2. 2

   Step 2: Turn airplane mode on and off

   Android Help suggests turning airplane mode on, waiting and turning it off again.

   Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections, then Airplane Mode. Depending on your device, these options may be different.

   Turn Airplane mode on, wait for 10 seconds, then turn Airplane mode off.

   Good to know

   On a Pixel, Google’s steps also say to turn off airplane mode, and you can switch airplane mode on and off to shut down the active processes.

3. 3

   Step 3: Check your signal and data indicator

   Look for a data indicator next to the signal strength bars, and move if you have no coverage.

   Look for a data indicator, like 2G, 3G, 4G or H, next to the signal strength bars at the top of the screen. It sometimes won’t display if you have an active Wi-Fi connection. If so, turn Wi-Fi off and check again.

   If you don’t get a data indicator, you may be in an area without coverage. If you can, move to a different area, or go outside, and check your signal again. If this happens a lot, contact your mobile service provider.

   Pixel Phone Help also notes that signal obstructions, like buildings, walls and some phone cases, can interfere with mobile service. It suggests avoiding or removing obstructions, and removing the phone case if you have one.

   Good to know

   On a Pixel, a triangle icon in the top right corner shows the network signal strength. The more filled in the triangle is, the more signal your phone has.

4. 4

   Step 4: Turn off a data limit you’ve reached

   On a Pixel, if you set a data limit, your mobile data turns off automatically when you reach it.

   Google documents this for Pixel phones: when you reach a data limit you’ve set, your mobile data automatically turns off.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then SIMs, then Data warning & limit. To turn mobile data back on, turn off Set data limit.

5. 5

   Step 5: Check Data Saver

   On a Pixel, Data Saver lets most apps and services get background data only over Wi-Fi.

   On a Pixel phone, with Data Saver on, currently active apps and services can still use mobile data, but most apps and services get background data only via Wi-Fi. When Data Saver is on, you’ll see the Data Saver icon in your status bar.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then Data Saver, and turn Data Saver on or off.

   On a Pixel, to let an app use mobile data in the background while Data Saver is on, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then Data Saver, then Unrestricted data, and turn on that app or service.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check roaming outside your carrier’s area

   On a Pixel, Roaming lets your phone send data over other carriers’ networks when you leave your carrier’s coverage area.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then SIMs, and turn Roaming on or off.

   Pixel Phone Help notes that data roaming may be the only way to connect to the internet in some places, and that some carriers charge extra for data roaming.

   Good to know

   Users of Google Fi on Pixel and Android devices don’t need to turn on Roaming to roam domestically.

7. 7

   Step 7: Choose the SIM for mobile data

   On a Pixel with more than one SIM, only one SIM can be the default for data.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then SIMs. Under “Your primary SIMs,” tap Mobile data and choose the SIM you want to use for data.

   On a Pixel, during a phone call, all data goes through the SIM making the call. To use data during calls on a SIM not normally used for data, turn on Data during calls in the same place.

8. 8

   Step 8: Check your preferred network type

   On a Pixel, you can pick your preferred network type from options like 5G and LTE.

   On a Pixel phone, open the Settings app, tap Network & internet, then SIMs. Select your carrier, then select your preferred network type, based on carrier availability. For some countries, the options may vary.

   When 5G service isn’t available, Pixel phones with 5G fall back to 4G and lower networks. Check with your carrier to make sure your phone works on its 5G network.

   On a Pixel, Battery Saver turns off 5G. If your 5G connection is slow, turn off Battery Saver.

   Good to know

   Pixel Phone Help notes that the options in mobile network settings vary by phone and Android version.

9. 9

   Step 9: Restart or power off your phone

   Restarting your phone can fix a bad connection.

   Restart your phone. Sometimes a restart is all it takes to fix a bad connection.

   On a Pixel phone, Pixel Phone Help suggests powering off instead of restarting. Power off the phone, wait for 30 seconds, then turn the phone on and test it.

10. 10

    Step 10: Update Android and reset mobile network settings

    On a Pixel, Google suggests checking that you have a current version of Android and shows how to reset all mobile network settings.

    On a Pixel, Google suggests checking that you have a current version of Android.

    On a Pixel phone, to reset all mobile network settings, open the Settings app, tap System, then Reset options, then Reset mobile network settings.

Frequently Asked Questions