“Why is my mobile data not working on Android devices?” This is a very common question we come across on social media and community forums. It is every user’s worst nightmare, ultimately affecting their smartphone use.

We now live in a world where smartphones have become an integral part of our lives; some use them for business meetings, games, chatting with friends on social media, and much more.

mobile data not working on android

When mobile data stops working, performing any of the above tasks is almost impossible, resulting in a disappointing and annoying experience. If you work from home, it might also be essential for you to get your mobile data working again as soon as possible.

How to be sure the Mobile Data is not working on Android

A few telltale signs indicate that your mobile data might be turned off or not working correctly. One of the most common symptoms is when you’re trying to access the internet, and it either doesn’t load at all or loads very slowly. You might also experience issues with apps that rely on an internet connection, such as streaming music or videos, playing online games, or using GPS navigation. If you notice any of these problems, try some of the following solutions in this article.

First, confirm that your mobile data is turned on by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Mobile Data and checking the box next to “Enable Mobile Data.” If it’s already enabled, try turning it off and then back on again. Next, test your internet speed to see if there’s a problem with your service provider’s network. You can do this by going to a website like Speedtest.net and running a speed test. If the results show that you have low speeds or no connection at all, contact your service provider for help troubleshooting the issue.

Now that you have confirmed the issue’s existence, how do you fix the mobile data not working problem on Android? Well, let us find out below.

1. Check if Airplane Mode is turned on

One of the most popular and easiest ways to fix the problem of mobile data not working on Android is to check the airplane mode settings. Since airplane mode temporarily blocks SIM networks, mobile data does not work.

Simply turn off airplane mode if it is already enabled. Alternatively, you can manually turn airplane mode on and off once. After that, the mobile data should work properly again.

2. Check if you are using the right mobile network

Another simple yet usually ignored reason for mobile data not working is choosing the wrong mobile network. So first, ensure you’re using the right network mode for your device and enabled the correct settings.

There are different phone models with different requirements, so it’s essential to check network settings before attempting to use your device. For example, 4G-capable phones work well with 4G networks, while some devices have a “4G” option but operate less efficiently in that mode.

Different data modes are optimized for different phone models, so make sure you’re using the correct one for your required type of connection. You can find this information in the “Mobile Data” section of settings on your Android phone.

The best option for your phone is found in the “Mobile Data” section of settings, then choose to switch to 2G/3G/4G Auto. This setting will automatically detect which type of network is available and optimize your device’s performance accordingly. After changing your network mode, you’ll need to check if mobile internet access is working again by restarting your device.

Related Read: Disable Auto App Updates to Save Mobile Data on Android

3. Restart your Android Device

Another hassle-free way to fix the problem of Android mobile data not working is to restart the device simply. And why? Well, every time you restart your Android device, all the system processes will be restarted, including the network processes in the background, which will fix most network-related issues.

4. Remove, Clean, Insert SIM Card

Many of us are guilty of never opening the SIM card compartment after inserting SIM cards when the device is in use. For this reason, sometimes your SIM card may not work properly.

Simply pull out the SIM card tray, clean the SIM card and tray with a clean cloth, and put it back into the phone. Once you have cleaned the SIM card and reinserted it into the device, restart your smartphone and check if the mobile data not working issue is resolved.

5. Reset APN

Let us now move on to some slightly more advanced ways to fix the mobile data not working problem on Android, and the first way is to reset the network APN settings. Let us take a look at it.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
  2. Navigate to the Sim and Network settings on your device.
    network settings android
  3. Now, click on your network provider’s name.
    sim settings android
  4. Once done, look for the Access points names option and click on it.
    apn network android
  5. Here, tap on the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner of your screen and select the Reset access points option from the drop-down list.
    reset apn settings
  6. Restart your Android device, and the mobile data should start working again flawlessly.

Related: How to Fix Android Wi-Fi Not Turning On

6. Change APN Protocol

If mobile data does not work even after resetting the APN, you should try to change the APN protocol. But how do you do that? Well, let us find out.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
  2. Navigate to the Sim and Network settings on your device.
  3. Select your network provider’s name.
  4. Once done, look for the Access network points option and click on it.
  5. Here, tap on the pre-selected APN option and scroll down till you see the APN Protocol option.
  6. Click on the APN protocol option and change it to IPv4/IPv6. After that is done, save the settings and restart your Android device.
  7. Now, mobile data should start working effortlessly on your Android device.

7. Wipe Cache Partition from recovery

Another easy way to fix the mobile data not working issue is to wipe the cache partition via Device Recovery. However, accessing the recovery menu differs from device to device, so you should try it at your own risk.

We will use a OnePlus device to demonstrate the process.

  1. First, completely switch off your Android device.
  2. Now, press the volume up, down, and power button until you see the manufacturer boot screen/logo.
  3. Here, choose your preferred language and select the Wipe data/cache option on the following screen. (Use the volume buttons to toggle through the different options in the recovery screen)
  4. After that is done, select the wipe cache option and confirm the pop-up warning message.
  5. Hit reboot system and the mobile data not working on Android issue should get resolved.

Related Read: How to Fix Android Connected to WiFi but No Internet Error

8. Reset Network Settings

Many modern devices offer users the option to reset only the network settings instead of formatting the entire device, which solves most network-related issues like WiFi and mobile data.

Simply launch the Settings app on your Android device and navigate to the Backup and Reset menu. Here, click Reset and select the Reset network settings option. After that, the entire network on your Android device will be reset, resolving mobile data issues.

9. Enable the Right Network Mode

Gone are the days of 2G and 3G sim cards, and the world has quickly moved on to 4G and 5G. For this reason, many modern SIM cards do not work when the preferred network is selected as 2G/3G, as they do not support these bands.

However, you can quickly fix this by changing the preferred network mode again; just follow the steps below.

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
  2. Navigate to the SIM Card and Network settings on your device.
  3. Select your Network provider and looks for the Preferred network type option.
    preferred network type android
  4. Tap on it and change it to 4G/5G depending upon your device and mobile data connection.
  5. Reboot your Android device.

10. Check Mobile Data Limit

Another reason for mobile data failure is the data limit. If you have set a specific data limit for a month and this limit happens to be exceeded, mobile data will stop working.

I do not remember setting a data limit; how can I check or change the settings? Actually, it’s relatively simple: go to Network Settings on your Android device and click Data Usage. Scroll down here, and you’ll find a data limit option. Tap on it and change the limit to your liking.

11. Insert SIM card into another device

If mobile data does not work despite all the above measures, try inserting a SIM card into another device.

Now you might be wondering why you should even try this. Well, there is a high chance that the SIM card is damaged, and if the mobile data does not work on another device either, that confirms that there is a problem with the SIM card, and you need to have it replaced by your service provider.

But what if the SIM card works on another device? In such a case, your last option is to factory reset the entire device and check if the mobile data works again. If the SIM card does not work after resetting the device to factory settings, we recommend that you visit the nearest service center and have the device diagnosed.

Fix Mobile Data Not Working on Android in No Time

As you have seen in this article, there are a few ways to troubleshoot and fix the problem of mobile data not working on Android, and most of them are pretty simple and do not require rocket science.

Let us know in the comments below if you found this article helpful and successfully fixed the mobile data not working issue on Android.

FAQs about Mobile Data Not Working on Android

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If your Android device is connected to both WiFi and mobile data, in most cases, it prefers WiFi over mobile data because it has greater bandwidth and speed. Also, the data cap is much higher with WiFi than mobile data.

Mobile and cellular data mean and work the same in any case. In fact, did you know that 4G and LTE mean the same thing? Let us know in the comments below.

If mobile data is turned on but not working, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. First up, uncheck the "Auto-connect to available Wi-Fi" option in Settings and then reconnect to WiFi when it isn't connecting automatically. If that doesn't work, restart the phone or tablet and set it up as a new device. You can also try running a factory reset on your smartphone.  If this still doesn't work, contact your carrier for help with your phone or device.

If your Samsung Galaxy phone isn't connecting to the internet, there are a few things you can do.

First, check to make sure that mobile data is turned on. You can find this setting in the "Wireless and networks" menu. If that doesn't work, try restarting your phone.

If you're still having problems, you may need to update your carrier settings. To do this, go to the "About device" section of your phone's settings menu. Tap "Software update", then "Update Android".

Finally, if all else fails, you can try resetting your phone to its factory settings. This will erase all of your data, so be sure to back it up first.

There are a number of reasons why your cellular data may not be working. The most common reason is that your phone is unable to connect to the network. This can be caused by a number of things, such as hackers or intruders who have disrupted your network, or by checking out website down detector services to find out if your network is actually down.

Another reason for this problem could be that your phone is trying to switch to WiFi mode. When this happens, you will usually see a notification on your screen telling you that the cellular data connection has been lost. You can usually fix this problem by going into your settings and turning off the "Data Saver" feature.

Another thing you can do is turn off airplane mode and turn on wifi; this will allow your device to search for networks and connect automatically. You can also try restarting your phone or rebooting it in safe mode. If all else fails, you may need to contact customer service for help.

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