Mobile Data Is Not Working
Restore cellular internet when calls may work but apps and websites cannot use mobile data.
Restore cellular internet when calls may work but apps and websites cannot use mobile data.
Symptoms you may notice
- The feature or device does not behave as expected.
- The issue returns after retrying the same action.
- You may see an error message, warning, delay, or missing response related to this problem.
Before you begin
- Connect the device to reliable power if battery level is low.
- Save open documents and close any application that contains unsaved work.
- Write down the exact error message or take a screenshot before changing settings.
Step-by-step troubleshooting
Check cellular signal and account status
Confirm there are signal bars and no carrier outage or account suspension. Move outdoors or to another location if signal is extremely weak.
What you should see: The device should have usable cellular coverage.
Make sure mobile data is enabled
On iPhone open Settings > Cellular and turn Cellular Data on. On Android open Settings > Network & internet or Connections > Mobile network and enable Mobile data.
What you should see: The cellular data indicator should appear when Wi-Fi is off.
Check app-specific data permission
Verify the affected application is allowed to use cellular data. iPhone lists apps under Cellular; Android may show Mobile data & Wi-Fi or Data usage per app.
What you should see: The app should be permitted to use the cellular network.
Toggle Airplane mode
Turn Airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then off. This forces the device to register with the cellular network again.
What you should see: Signal and cellular data should reconnect.
Restart the device and check for carrier/system updates
Restart normally. Install supported system updates and any carrier settings update offered by the device.
What you should see: Network registration should refresh with current settings.
Contact the carrier before changing APN settings
If data still fails but calls work, contact the mobile carrier. Do not randomly edit APN values unless the carrier provides the exact settings.
What you should see: The carrier should confirm provisioning and correct network configuration.
Confirm the problem is resolved
- Repeat the action that originally failed and confirm it now completes normally.
- Restart the affected application or device once more and verify the fix remains in place.
- Confirm that no new warning or error message appears during normal use.
If the problem continues
If none of the steps resolve the problem, stop making additional changes and contact technical support. Provide the exact error text, screenshots if available, the device model, operating-system version, and a list of the steps already completed.