(Solved) LTE not working on iPhone – Causes and how to fix
Most of the times we access the internet on our phone through Wi-Fi, however, there those moments you need to use your cellular data. One assumption when your cellular data is not working is that you lack good network coverage. The root cause for your LTE not working is that you have not turned on your cellular data. It also can be causedby Wi-Fi connection interference or a bug that is corrupting the phone OS.
Table of Contents
How to fix LTE connection issues on your iPhone
Restarting your phone
One of the most common solutions to solve any phone problems is to simply restart your iPhone. This allows your phone to fix any software issues within the phone. Most of the time your cellular data icon should revert to normal on the first restart, if not then you need to check other solutions for troubleshooting. For your iPhone to switch it off, hold on the power button long enough for the “slide power off” to appear on the screen. Slide it to your right and once off switch your phone back on. You may also want to go to settings then check cellular. Ensure that the cellular data is actually enabled.
LTE icon
If restarting is not solving the issue, then you need to isolate more potential problems. On your iPhone check the top left corner of the screen, for the LTE/4G icon, if you do not see it then know their problems with your mobile data. At times the logo may appear and disappear which at this time resembles a network problem. You can try launching some common apps and see how they respond. If you are struggling with a specific app, then you can remove it and then reinstall it.
Wi-Fi calling
Wi-Fi calling is where your phone automatically switches you to a Wi-Fi network in case your phone thinks you will get better reception from the network. In some cases, the Wi-Fi calling does not work as intended as it will only work when you are in airplane mode or it may interfere with your existing data connections. If you have an active Wi-Fi calling it may cause your data connection to not work properly and so you may need to switch it off. To change this go to your phone settings, then click Wi-Fi calling. Tap the slider for the feature so that it is grey.
Re-inserting your SIM card
The SIM card is mainly the main way through which you connect to the ITE network. It is what gives you legitimacy to access cellular data. If your LTE is not working consider removing your SIM card and re-inserting it back again. This forces your phone to re-read your SIM card and in the process the problem will be solved. To do this effectively, first of all switch off your phone. Then remove the SIM card and wipe it off dust and other elements before re-inserting it back in.
Reset Network settings
After you have tried everything and you are still not getting a signal, you may want to reset your network settings. This will totally wipe out any saved data including saved Wi-Fi networks. This should not worry you as you are resetting your cellular and Wi-Fi settings are being reset to default. To do this on your iPhone go to the settings app and open it. Scroll down until you get to General Menu option and click it. Scroll down until you reach the place written “reset” option and tap it. Choose Reset network option. This is often at the middle of the screen. You may be required to enter your iPhone passcode. Confirm reset and it should erase all your network settings.
Issues |
How to fix it |
Cellular icon not showing |
Restart your iPhone
Switch on/off cellular data icon Re-insert SIM card |
Wi-Fi interference |
Turn on Wi-Fi calling tab |
Bug problem |
Reset Network settings
Update carrier settings Update iOS software |
Complete failure to switch on cellular data |
Restore phone to factory settings |
Switch on Data roaming
This is a solution that works for some iPhone users and you may want to give it a try even though it sounds very counterproductive. Certain iOS updates have caused challenges with LTE connections due to bug problems infecting the OS. To activate this go to the settings tab and click on Mobile data, then data options. Click the tab to switch to data roaming. Then reboot your device. Remember to switch it off when traveling abroad so that you do not get charged a lot of roaming fees.
At times the problem can be solved by simply toggling off/on the cellular data button. To do this go to the airplane mode by opening the phone command center. Press the airplane mode and wait for a few minutes so that the iPhone radios turn off. Tap the airplane mode again and it will start searching for a connection.
Check for IOS updates
If the reason for you not receiving your cellular data is connected to a bug then you may want to get a carrier update, though this are not that frequent you may want to see whether there is an update. You do this by opening the settings app and scrolling down to the general menu option. While there click on the about menu option and click on the carrier settings update. If there is one then the update button will be visible which you can click. You can also check for iOS updates. Take the same process for the carrier update but under the general tab, click on software updates. If there is an available update your iPhone will reveal a button for update which you can click.
Restore factory settings
If you have tried everything and the problem still persists your next cause of action will be to restore your phone back to factory settings. Be careful with this cause of action as it will erase all your phone data. Backup all your files by encrypted backups on your computer or cloud.
Conclusion
It can be very irritating trying to access your cellular data only for your phone to malfunction. The first thing your need is to check whether the cellular button is on. Switching on/off your iPhone can fix some of the issues. If all fails you may need to restore your phone to default factory settings.
FAQ
How do I restore iPhone to factory settings?
Open settings tab then go to General and under it reset. Tap on erase all content and settings.
Can I use cellular data and Wi-Fi at the same time?
No, you have to choose which is best for you at a particular time.