How to Fix No Internet Connection on Android and iPhones

No internet connection on Android and iPhone is a common problem faced by phone users everywhere. One minute, everything is going great, the sky is blue and all – then suddenly, your internet crashes, and you’re left to wonder why the colour of the sky just had to change.

Don’t let that ruin your day! This article contains the best secrets to getting back online with an even better connection. From troubleshooting tips to step-by-step fixes, you are guaranteed to find the solution to your problem here.

No Network Connection on Android and iPhones? Possible Causes

Poor coverage is the most common cause of no internet connection on Android and iPhones. If you are in an area with poor coverage or on a 2G/3G network, you might experience network connection problems. You should also check that you have not reached your data limit or are not late on your payment – if this is the case, it means your ISP has turned OFF your data.

Sim Card

Another popular cause for no internet connection on Android and iPhone is the SIM card. It could be faulty, old, placed wrongly, damaged, dirty, or shifted due to a fall. Either way, if something is wrong with the SIM card, it can cause connectivity issues.

Updates

One of the significant reasons why it is highly recommended to update your phone regularly is because every update comes with bug fixes that are likely to correct any underlying issues on the phone. So, if you are experiencing no internet connection on Android and iPhone, your phone might be on an outdated OS. Updating it could be the solution.

Data Saver

Your phone might be set to automatically turn on data saver mode to manage battery life. Some people also turn this on themselves to manage data. However, it is essential to note that this feature also slows down the internet connection.

How to Fix No Internet Connection on Android And iPhone (Working Tips)

To fix no internet connection on Android and iPhone, you can try restarting your phone. Using the power off button, turn your phone OFF. Wait at least a minute and turn it back ON. This will allow your phone to refresh and probably fix or correct whatever is causing the connection problem. If this does not work, here are a few more fixes to try;

Fix 1: Sim Card

As aforementioned, your SIM card might be the culprit. To check this, you might need to use a SIM ejector tool or an unfolded paper clip to eject the SIM tray. Afterwards, take out the SIM card and carefully inspect it for any dirt, dust or damage – you can clean it with a clean cloth. Then, properly replace it in the tray. Be sure to turn off your phone before attempting to eject the SIM tray. This fix will not work for eSIMs as they are embedded and cannot be removed.

Fix 2: Updates

If your phone runs on an outdated OS, you could start experiencing issues similar to the no internet connection problem. To update an iPhone;

1. First, connect your phone to a stable WiFi
2. Then, go to Settings >> General >> Software Update
3. If there is a pending update, click on Download and Install
4. Afterwards, click on Install Now and wait for the installation to complete

To update an android;

1. You might need to connect to WiFi
2. Go to Settings >> System/About Phone >> System Update >> Check for update
3. You can also toggle on the Check automatically option, so your phone can automatically inform you of recent updates
4. If there is an available update, an Update button should appear; click on it
5. Then, click on the install button – it might be Install Now, Reboot and install or Install System Software, depending on the OS
6. Wait for the update to be installed and your phone to reboot
7. Note that the buttons might be labelled differently depending on your OS

Fix 3: Network Reset

Rebooting your network settings will return them to factory defaults and might correct whatever is causing the connection issues you are facing. To perform a network reset;

1. On an android, navigate to Settings >> System >> Reset options >> Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth >> Reset Settings
2. On an iPhone, navigate to Settings >> General >> Transfer or Reset iPhone >> Reset >> Reset Network Settings
3. Once it’s done, restart your phone

Note that you will need to reconnect your Bluetooth and WiFi after this.

Fix 4: Low Data Mode/Data Saver

If you have data saver mode/low data mode turned on, it could be the reason for a no internet connection error. You can turn it off with these steps;

1. On Android, go to Settings >> Network & Internet >> Data Usage and toggle off Data Saver (some android devices have Data Saver under Network & Internet)
2. On an iPhone, go to Settings >> Mobile Data >> Mobile Data Options and toggle off Low Data Mode

Alternatively, you can allow your phone to charge fully. In a case where your phone turns on the data saver mode automatically due to a low battery, charging it would automatically turn it off.

On Android phones, you can also turn off data limits;

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet >> Data Usage/Mobile Network
2. Here, you can either toggle off Limit mobile data usage or toggle it on and increase the limit
3. For Android 11 and earlier, click on Data warning & limit after step 1 above and toggle off Set data limit or increase the limit

Fix 5: Google

If you get the no internet connection error when trying to use google apps, it might not be your connection but google itself. You can try clearing the cache from Google Play Services or resetting your Google account. This fix is only for Android devices.

To clear cache from Google Play Services;

1. Go to Settings >> Apps >> See all apps
2. Find and select Google Play Services on the list
3. Click Storage & cache >> Clear cache

To remove and add your Google account again;

1. Go to Settings >> Passwords & accounts
2. Select your Gmail or Google account and tap Remove account
3. On the Passwords & accounts page, click Add account and re-add your Google or Gmail account

Fix 6: APN Reset

Resetting your APN to factory defaults could be the fix you need to restore your internet connection. To do this on Android;

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet
2. Select your SIM
3. On the SIM page, scroll down and click on Access Point Names
4. Click on the menu icon (three dots) at the top right corner of the APN page
5. Click on the Reset to default option
6. Afterwards, you can reset your network with airplane mode – turn it on, wait a few seconds and turn it back off

To do this on an iPhone;

1. Go to Settings >> Mobile Data >> Mobile Data Network >> Reset Settings
2. You can reset your network with airplane mode – turn it on, wait a few seconds and turn it back off

How to Get Back Online on Android And iPhones

To get back online on Android and iPhone, you can connect to a stable WiFi connection or a family/friend’s hotspot. If you were on WiFi and not getting any internet connection, you can try switching to mobile data or another WiFi network. You can also try all the fixes mentioned in this article.

Tips to Fix Unstable Internet Connection on Sim

To fix an unstable internet connection on your SIM, you can change your network type. If you are on a 2G or 3G network, you should switch to 4G, LTE or 5G for a faster internet connection. To do this on Android;

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet
2. Select your SIM
3. Click on Preferred network type and select the highest network type available to you

On an iPhone;

1. Go to Settings >> Mobile Data >> Mobile Data Options >> Voice & Data
2. Select the highest network type available to you

Fix 1: Browser Cache

If you are facing an unstable internet connection while using your browser, it might mean that your browser’s cache is full or corrupted. To clear browser cache on Android;

1. Press and hold your browser icon, i.e. Chrome icon
2. Select Application details from the menu that pops up; this should open a settings page
3. Click on Storage & cache >> Clear cache
4. Afterwards, restart your phone

On an iPhone;

1. Go to Settings, scroll down to find Safari and click on it
2. Scroll down and select Clear History and Website Data >> Clear History and Data – this will clear your history, cookies and other website data
3. To clear only website data, scroll down to the bottom on the Safari page and select Advanced > Website Data
4. Scroll down and select Remove All Website Data >> Remove Now
5. To clear cache for another browser app;
   1. Go to Settings >> General >> iPhone Storage
   1. Find and select the browser app
   1. Click on Offload App – this will remove the storage used by the app but keep its documents and data
   1. To reinstall it, simply click on the app’s icon

Fix 2: Background Data Usage

Disabling background data usage or background app refresh could save your bandwidth and improve your internet connection. To do this on an android;

1. Go to Settings >> Network & Internet >> Mobile Network >> App data usage
2. Select the app you want to disable background data usage on and toggle off Background data or toggle on Restrict app background data
3. Repeat this step for as many apps as you want
4. To disable background data usage for all apps, repeat step 1 above and click on the menu icon (three dots) at the top-right corner of the App data usage page
5. Select Restrict background data

On an iPhone;

1. Go to Settings >> General >> Background App Refresh
2. Click on Background App Refresh again and select Off to disable it for all apps
3. To disable it for selected apps, select WiFi or WiFi & Mobile Data, go to the previous page and toggle on or off on the selected apps

Fix 4: Mobile Data

You can turn OFF mobile data on your iPhone for network-heavy apps. To do this;

1. Go to Settings >> Mobile Data
2. Here, you can see how much data each app has used over a period
3. Toggle OFF on any app to turn OFF mobile data for it

How To Fix Network Error On Android

To fix a network error on a particular app on Android, you can try clearing the app’s cache. If an app’s cache is corrupted or full, it can cause a malfunction. To do this;

1. Go to Settings >> Applications
2. Select the particular app and click on Storage >> Clear cache
3. You can also click on Clear data to clear the app’s data

If this does not work, you can force stop the app from running. Follow step 1 above and click on the Force stop button instead of Storage. You can also uninstall the app and install it again.

Alternatively, you can try out the fixes and troubleshooting tips mentioned in this article.

Read also: How to Get Wired Internet in Another Room

How To Troubleshoot My Phone With Internet Connectivity Issues – First Things To Check

Here are some troubleshooting tips to fix no internet connection on Android and iPhone;

1. Restart your phone
2. Turn ON airplane mode, wait at least a minute and turn it back ON
3. Turn OFF cellular data, wait at least a minute and turn it back ON
4. Try to find better network coverage within your environment
5. Charge your phone
6. Disable low data mode/data saver mode
7. Turn OFF VPN or VPN apps
8. Turn off services you don’t use, e.g. Bluetooth or WiFi
9. Switch to WiFi
10. If you are on a 2G or 3G network, switch to 4G, LTE or 5G and vice versa
11. Turn OFF auto-download updates
12. Remove your phone pouch
13. Set the correct time and date on your phone or allow your phone to set them according to your zone automatically
14. Perform a factory reset on your phone
15. Contact your ISP

Can You Get Your Internet Turned Back On Without Paying?

It is advisable to pay the bill when your internet is disconnected for non-payment. It typically takes 3-5 business days to get your internet back after paying the bill. Alternatively, you can connect to public WiFi networks. For instance, if you are in a coffee shop, hotel lobby, library, transport hub, or restaurant – places like this usually have open networks.

Apps like WiFi free spot, WifiMap, InstaBridge, WiFi finder or WiFi master key can help to find nearby free WiFi. We recommend taking some security measures when connecting to public WiFi to protect your privacy – use a VPN, avoid sites that don’t use HTTPS, and always log out of your accounts.

You can check with your internet service provider for discounted plans or free services. You can also use platforms like Connect to compete, All free ISP, FreedomPop, Lifeline, EveryoneOn.org, NetZero, and CheapInternet to get free internet.

Read also: What to Do If Spectrum Internet Keeps Dropping, Cutting, or Going out Almost Every Hour

How To Check If Internet Is Down

To check if internet services are down, visit DownDetector.com or BroadbandReports.com, type in your carrier and tap the search button. It will confirm if your network is down or not – if it is, you will have to wait until it’s back up. In the meantime, you can switch to WiFi or connect to a friend’s hotspot.

You can also check social media for information about your network. Chances are, other people using the same network have tweeted or made posts about the network outage. This way, you can confirm that it’s not just you.

Some alternative sites to check if your internet is down include; ismyinternetworking.com and downforeveryoneorjustme.com.

Tips To Get Better Mobile Data Connection

Here are some valuable tips to get a better mobile data connection;

1. Disable background data usage or background app refresh
2. Move around to find better coverage
3. Disable network-heavy apps
4. Use cell phone signal boosters
5. Turn OFF services you don’t use, e.g. Bluetooth or WiFi
6. Use a different carrier
7. Uninstall or disable apps or widgets you don’t use
8. Use an ad blocker
9. Clear cache
10. Remove your phone pouch
11. Switch between network types

Conclusion

Frustrated? Don’t be!

If you’re battling no internet connection on Android and iPhone, you should calmly try out the fixes and troubleshooting tricks highlighted in this article. If they don’t work, you can seek the assistance of a licensed professional.

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