How do I restore mobile data when a phone has no cellular connection?
Answer
Refresh the cellular radio with Airplane Mode, restart the phone, then confirm Mobile Data and Data Roaming are enabled in Cellular or Mobile Network settings.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Stop if a site or popup asks you to pay a fee or install unknown software to restore network service.
Follow these steps
Toggle Airplane Mode
Open Control Center or Quick Settings, turn Airplane Mode on, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it off and wait for the phone to reconnect to the network.
You should see: Cellular signal returns in the status bar, or you get a clearer No Service message.
Restart the phone
Power the phone fully off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and unlock it.
You should see: The phone boots and attempts a fresh network registration.
Confirm mobile data settings
Go to Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Network, and make sure Mobile Data is on. If you are outside your home coverage area, also turn Data Roaming on.
You should see: Mobile Data (and Data Roaming if needed) are enabled.
Test data with Wi-Fi off
Turn Wi-Fi off briefly and open a simple web page or app that needs the internet to confirm cellular data is working.
You should see: Pages or apps load over cellular, or you still see a clear carrier error to report to support.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Whether the status bar shows no bars, No Service, or LTE/5G without working internet, and whether Mobile Data and Data Roaming are off
Before you change anything: Note whether calls and texts still work even if data does not. Confirm the SIM or eSIM is active with your carrier. Avoid deleting the eSIM or doing a factory reset until simpler network steps fail. Never share account passwords or one-time codes with unexpected callers.