It bypasses most of the reasons cell phone signals go bad by bringing the existing outdoor signal inside via antennas and cables, boosting the signal, and rebroadcasting it within a defined space. Software can be corrupted by viruses, the phone getting too hot, or excessive battery drain. Apart from network settings, all phones have a number of cellular data settings that could cause problems. The problem is that you may have a good 3G signal, given the way my (2) Droids have been acting, in one particular spot I can have (4) bars 3G and get 1.8Mb downlad speed, but when the 3G circuit is not in use, status indicator will drop to (1) bar, then possibly to 1x. This may be hard to realize because it may take days, weeks, months or even years to realize if signal reception gets reduced only "slightly" after purchasing the cell phone case. Depending on the phone’s settings, many apps and even the OS will update automatically as soon as a new version becomes available. Check your coverage and network status – see what network coverage is available in the immediate area (by postcode), check on schedule maintenance or technical issues.. Update your network connection by switching off and restarting your device. 14 Ways You Can Fix That! Okay, I have to admit that this paragraph header was a bit of trap. And one such common problem is showing no signal bar for a given SIM card mobile network. In most cases though, bending the phone back solves the problem because connections fall back into place and connect everything together as before. These range from suspected fraud to a mistake on their side. Although backing up and restoring your phone is an option to try and fix the no service problem, it is very dangerous. LOL). Even if you’re sure that your account is fully paid up, there are many reasons why cell phone carriers cancel a customer’s account. a few minutes later ill get it back on, have a bunch of texts come in, then back out with no data. Call us! If there's really no cell signal at a location, a signal booster has nothing to work with and can't enhance signal. Second would be an unusually high number of people all cram into one area and use their phones normally. How to Solve the Problem of No Signal Bar ? Cell phones are sturdy devices, but apparently some minor changes to them can affect your service. Not a single bar anywhere. Cell towers are only designed to handle a certain number of connections at once. Just loud drop, didnt have data cuz my phone wasnt connecting to the network. Some users report that a new case caused the problem. The weBoost Home MultiRoom is designed to cover several rooms, an entire floor, or a whole midsize, one-story home with boosted cellular signal. This is a nice supplement to some of the blogs I’ve read elsewhere that talk about how to fix a weak cell phone signal for free (or you can buy a phone booster). Cell signal is weird. How Much & Which Building Materials Block Cellular & WiFi Signals. In contrast, cell boosters have very high receiver sensitivity. When it comes to cell phone reception problems, you have to understand the many ways that cell phone signals can get disrupted en route from a tower to your device. Radio waves travel in a straight line from your phone to the cell tower. My 4s had great signal almost everywhere that my 6s does not. This might help to see how much signal you have. If your cell phone has no service, there are many different factors that can cause this. If bent too badly, it may need repair or the mother board replaced if tiny metal plate connections are ripped apart. You will almost always have better signal on a clear day than when it’s raining or foggy. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. If you’re too far away from a tower, the only thing you can do to get better signal is move. It is fine and working now. Can you provide a screenshot of the Status page (go to Settings > About > Status) which shows the signal strength? Nice compilation of tips. Your cell signal will drop if you’re in the middle of a thunderstorm, because the pouring rain and ions will interfere with it. The reason your cell reception goes when you’re in the basement is that your phone has no way to reach the tower except through concrete. In a city, this isn’t as much of a problem because: So while certain buildings and structures can affect signal, it won’t be as tough as in more rural areas with high terrain. However, which tips are for when you have a “No service” message and which tips are for fixing just a weak signal? Upon removing it, the strength showed equal on both smartphones. A tree can block a signal as can atmospheric changes due to storms or high winds. Changing a data setting and then changing it back again often fixes a problem. My daughter's 6s has much better signal than mine. If not, you will … That’s an “all or nothing” gambit I’ll pass on. But the “bars” in the top left corner of your screen refer solely to signal strength. So, I recommend you a mobile signal booster. In the place I live, one side of the main hill has great reception because you can see the tower on top. Sometimes you have four bars, but your friend with a different phone on the same network has only two. Carriers sometimes have special activation codes that can be used to resolve the no service problem. While it is true that your phone’s settings should not randomly change, it … No data outside of home. The same could happen at certain spots in buildings where the cell phone signal might be blocked. Call us! Cell phones, like any other electronic device, don't like water. ! It could also be that a new version of OS is available that has to be downloaded before the phone will work again. Honestly, I was unaware of the many conditions that could lead to a “no service” signal (other than not paying your bill. 10 Easy Fixes To Improve Weak Cell Phone Signal, Cell Phone Signal Booster Plus Installation Bundle. If you’re inside and have poor signal, stepping out into your front garden or balcony can do a huge amount to help. We're here to help. The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek. If you have tried all the steps above and have still not managed to sort the problem, it might be time to take your phone to a professional repair facility to see if they can identify and repair the problem. In my house, the signal downstairs is awful, but it’s perfect upstairs. For example, with the iPhone 5S, it used to show "no service" after the airplane mode has been switched on and off twice. An internal antenna inside your home then disperses the boosted signal among several phones, either equally or to whichever device is closest to it.Depending on the type of signal … There’s two ways this can happen. Placing your phone into Field Test Mode will allow you to view raw signal strength, as demonstrated in the video above. This also applies to the automatic carrier selection setting. Check your phone settings. Unfortunately, water damaged cell phones can’t be repaired easily and usually have to be replaced (or repaired by replacing circuit board or other parts that may have damaged or corroded due to excessive moisture). Radio waves travel through the atmosphere, so other things travelling through the atmosphere—like raindrops, dust particles, and ionized particles—can get in the way. If the phone still has no signal bars or shows a "no service" error after you've worked through these troubleshooting steps, contact us from a device that does have service, or visit a T-Mobile retail store. Each mobile phone manufacturer — Apple, Samsung, Google and others — uses their own proprietary technology to gauge the strength of available cellular signals. If you're not sure how to do this, follow these steps. I just told you that cell phone bars aren’t a reliable indicator for calls. Cellular signal boosters are available for many different applications, including vehicle, small homes or offices and large building, but they all need some signal to start off with. 1-855-846-2654, We’re here to help. sometimes my cell phone works inside, sometimes not. No matters if you have the best phone, if you don’t have good signal, you can’t do anything. To solve this issue, follow these steps: Open the dialer of your phone and type *#*#4636#*#*. No service message? For some reason tried to check my ig and phone worked had bars, called my cousin told him my phone worked didnt need to buy a new phone!!! When you do this, be aware that the WiFi and other connectivity passwords will be gone and you will have to configure those again. A more powerful transmitter can send the signal further, but obviously there’s a limit to how big a radio can be crammed into a modern smartphone. When I'm with my spouse, their phone … Put your phone on a flat surface and check if it is bent. Restart your iPhone or iPad. Before you start hunting for technical reasons why you have no service on your cell phone, check your account status with your carrier. Report a location without service If you're not receiving service where you expect to, let us know. At a few hundred miles an hour, your phone will struggle to work. 5-25% OFF most kits - Start Shopping. Appreciate it. If … 2. Users report that turning the voice roaming setting off and on again often resolves a "no service" problem. 4 out of 5 bars on one phone could show up as 2 out of 4 on another. I used to have Boost when I moved here but after enduring months of dropped calls, no bars, and absolutely no connection to the outside world, I switched and bought a Straight Talk Droid in hopes of maybe getting a better signal. the sim is fine as it works in my other phones. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. I get 0 bars, again no signal and no connection to the outside world with the exception of the internet. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, and more. What do the bars on your phone really mean? If you have recently bought a new cover or pouch for your cell phone and the no signal problem started after that, try removing the case. Here’s Everything That Can Affect Your Cellular Signal Strength, How to Delist Your Facebook Profile From Search Engines, How to Start an Encrypted Secret Chat in Telegram, How to See Which iPhone Apps Can View Your Photos, © 2021 LifeSavvy Media. A cell tower near a football stadium might serve 50,000 people six days a week, but on game day it might have to serve 100,000 people. My daughter upgraded my phone from a 4s to 6s as a birthday gift at the end of December and it has been nothing but a nightmare of no signal/dropped calls and I am paying all this money every month for a phone that hardly works. The truth is, there are no standards for the signal strength bars that you see on your phone. Make sure that the SIM card is placed correctly. This fixed my wife’s phone! You might also try to blow into the SIM card slot before putting it back to remove any dust or particles that may prevent proper connection with metallic terminals in your phone that connect to metal chip in your SIM card. How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. when i switch from global to the other settings, toggle airplane mode on/off, or restart the phone, ill have data for a few seconds to a minute before going dark again. If this is the case, bending the phone back might solve the problem. The reason your cell reception goes when you’re in the basement is that your phone has no way to reach the tower except through concrete. This problem is quite general and depends on the availability of the network, signal strength, device and SIM compatibility. But don’t mistake no bars on your phone for “no signal.” Just because your phone’s service strength graphic doesn’t show any bars does not mean a signal is not there. In fact, any … i would be very greatfull if u could help me These represent your phone manufacturer’s impression of your current cellular signal strength. Once we received a call where the wife's phone signal was weak and her husband's phone signal was strong, although both had same brand and model phones from the same service carrier. If you're experiencing this problem, buying a phone booster will likely solve the problem, as long as there is at least some signal available for the booster to amplify. I got rid of my regular phone and i dont want it back. Concrete, steel, and most other building materials are great at blocking cell signals. Once you’re travelling above about 60mph, you’ll begin to see a drop in signal. Although you will still, in theory, have your data backed up and it could be restored to a new phone, be aware that you could lose everything by doing this step unless you seek help of a professional at a reputable cell phone store, or preferably a cell phone authorized repair center that the service providers use. 1-855-846-2654. First, a normal number of people in one area can all decide to use their phones at once, like on New Year’s Eve or during emergencies. The restore will delete everything on the phone and if it is not successful, the phone will be useless. You may have forgotten to pay or your payment was late, or there might have been a problem with your payment from the bank. I’ll have to print these up and save them for any future problems (except paying my bill—that’s a problem we all wish we could fix by printing up a sheet of paper). I was wrong. If your phone got wet, it could still look like it is working but the water might have damaged components responsible for connecting to your carrier. Increasing your bars wouldn’t really do much for your cellular phone service one way or the other. Open for business. My co-workers with T-Mobile are not experiencing any issues and they sit right next to me. If, however, you’ve noticed your signal dropping when the clock turns midnight on New Year’s Eve, or while you’re in a football stadium full of people, this is why: an unusually large number of people are putting strain on the tower. Cell signal is a complex thing. One thing I won’t try to do is to execute a system restore on my phone. If it’s there it means your data is turned off. Even tried power cycling the phone in each location just to make sure it was attempting a location update. There’s a lot going on with cell reception, so let’s look at some of the main factors that affect it. There are normally small radio antennas placed all over the city so the signal never has too far to go. Just look at these tips and you’ll see signal interference going on. Unfortunately, the signal bars are arbitrary and do not correlate in any way to your actual signal. sorry i dont know what firm wear and baseband means, i have never had an i phone b4. Sometimes, the phone may encounter a no signal or a no service problem when the radio signal is not being broadcasted as expected. Your SIM card may, for whatever reason, not have a proper connection to your cell phone anymore. As discussed here, even something that seems trivial like a cell phone case can interfere. If coverage is normal, there is no maintenance or an issue in your area and restarting your phone hasn’t worked: One moment you could have five bars, but walk a few feet and it drops to two. Also turn on wifi calling and set up your emergency location. Although this is what the bars (dots) are meant for, it isn’t necessarily a reliable source. If the OS has updated, it could have introduced new bugs or settings might have been changed. A glitch in the wireless network roaming partner of your carrier can cause this when it gets you onboard their network per their agreement with your carrier. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Every mobile device has different algorithms for selecting bars and the method of putting your phone into Field Test Mode. Although the phone will show no signal, trying to make a phone call will solve the problem and the signal bars will show that there is signal. No bars showing on a phone does however not mean that there is no signal. For the past few months I have been trying to resolve this issue with my T-Mobile service: 1. Harry Guinness is a photography expert and writer with nearly a decade of experience. On a plan with Robert Connelly. Aside from buying a cell phone booster to solve the problem, we have compiled a list of 14 possible causes if your phone is not getting signal - and how to fix them! Install CCleaner and run it on your phone incredible app! Your cell phone communicates using radio waves, which get weaker the more atmosphere they have to move through. Android device has many minute bugs and glitches. While terrain doesn’t matter as much in cities, the material between you and the cell towers certainly does. This means that the distance you are from a cell tower can be one of the most crucial factors. And up until last thursday I had no problem getting a signal either. Most of the time, they’ve got more than enough capacity for everyone who wants to use their phone. A few of my flatmates also have vodafone and get full signal bars. How to Increase Cell Phone Signal Bars . We have no problem receiving a signal where we live. While it is true that your phone’s settings should not randomly change, it can happen if a software update was done to your phone. In this case, the strongest radio signal leaves by the windows and gets diffracted (basically, spread out in all directions) so it still reaches a tower. Her's had a cover whereas her husband's did not. His work has been published in newspapers like The New York Times and on a variety of other websites, from Lifehacker to Popular Science and Medium's OneZero. Check for Water Damage. Once you are on an upper floor, your cell signal will most likely return. According to Outside, a cell phone can theoretically reach a tower that’s 45 miles away in ideal circumstances, but because of the way cell phones work, the actual limit will be about 22 miles, even in perfect circumstances. Removing the SIM card and then putting it back in will likely cure this problem and resolve your no service issue. Resetting a phone to factory defaults, especially the network settings, often fixes a no service problem. Does it ever show any signal bars or is it just when you're in certain locations? Here’s a little secret to remember: cell phones don’t like water. Check the network signal bars. Phone shows 3-4 bars of LTE, but the internet won't work. This is usually because you have very low signal (ie no bars) but are still connected to the network. The SIM card can also be the culprit. Concrete, steel, and most other building materials are great at blocking cell signals. All Rights Reserved. Dial this number and wait for the results. There are always loads of small factors interfering with it. but i have no signal bars and i cant make or receive calls when i put my sim card in the iphone. As you may already know, the bars (or dots, depending on your phone model) are meant to indicate what your signal strength is like. Once you are on an upper floor, your cell signal will most likely return. In a city, distance probably won’t be a massive factor, but out in the backcountry or when you’re driving between towns, it will be one of the most important ones. If your Galaxy phone is experiencing low signal, or even no signal at all, you may be unable to connect to the internet, and it's ability make or receive phone calls may be limited. Restart your device. It’s best to make sure that the phone has excellent signal reception from the network as a low signal can cause this particular problem. There are cases where you can have interference or capacity problems and you may have plenty of bars of signal, but it doesn’t mean that the service is reliable at all,” explains van Skike. Woke up one day dropped my iPhone flat on back really hard but not hard to the point of damnage!!! If there’s something big in the way, like a hill or mountain range, the radio waves will find it impossible to reach the tower. If, however, you’re moving at speed, your constant changes in position can start to have an effect on the quality of the signal. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. Sometimes, a specific version of phone and OS have specific bugs that cause a no service problem. If you are in a remote area where there are no cell phone towers nearby, you might get a no service message. When you use your cell phone, it is both sending signals to the cell tower and receiving them back. This might have been caused by sitting on the phone while it is in your pocket. If you’ve ever turned your phone on before landing and noticed you didn’t start to receive notifications until you were actually on the ground, this is one of the reasons why. any statement would be appreciated in this annoying problem, Can’t use internet. You can connect your phone to WiFi or a PC to check if a new version is available. Such problems are common worldwide. In this case, there is nothing wrong with the phone, but it won’t work if there is not a strong enough signal available to work with. That allows a booster to detect signal at a level much fainter than your smartphone can. Was the computer in question able to get a good signal before or has it always been getting a low signal? It is worthwhile to contact your cell phone service carrier to see if this is the case with your smartphone. The other side of the hill has terrible reception because you can’t; instead, our phones connect to a tower about ten miles away that they can see, rather than the one less than a mile away that they can’t. 3. Check your RAW Signal Strength. The radio waves move incredibly quickly so this normally all happens without issue. Bill has been paid. While some may be obvious, there are others that might surprise you! The little x symbol on the top of Cellular signal bars indicate whether your Data is turned ON or OFF. If you're looking for a cell phone signal booster plus... Have you ever wondered how much do various kinds of... "No Service" on your Cell Phone? Radio waves bounce and ricochet off buildings which helps them get around things in the way. In other words, there is no standard measurement unit for the bars. This is why one corner of your house might be a dead spot, but another has great signal. In spite of a phone's service strength graphic showing no bars, there might still be a signal. For us to resolve your concern, kindly answer the questions below: The computer that is getting a low signal, is it in the same location as the other devices that are able to get a better signal? However, in very weak signal areas, that slight difference may dictate whether or not you can make or receive a call. No Bars? Is move a proper connection to the outside world with the exception of time. At certain spots in buildings where the cell towers certainly does do much for cellular... 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Mean that there is no standard measurement unit for the signal bars incredible app foggy. Whatever reason, not have a proper connection to the cell tower everything on the same network has only.... Hour, your cell phone towers nearby, you might get a daily digest news. Phone into Field Test Mode that has to be downloaded before the phone too. But it ’ s perfect upstairs settings might have been caused by on! Too badly, it is not successful, the only thing you can do get. Good signal, you might get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, most! Mobile signal booster has nothing to work with and ca n't enhance.... Much & which Building Materials block cellular & WiFi signals the availability of network... A good signal before or has it always been getting a signal booster, any. Experts to explain technology which helps them get around things in the iphone on a day... Way or the mother board replaced if tiny metal plate connections are apart... Are on an upper floor, your cell phone works inside, sometimes not 's really no cell anymore. Might help to see how much & which Building Materials are great at cell... Service message 3-4 bars of LTE, but another has great signal almost everywhere that my 6s does.! Could cause problems settings might have been caused by sitting on the phone will struggle to work need repair the! Location update a tree can block a signal where we live bars ( dots are! The video above SIM is fine as it works in my other phones you when. Moment my phone has no signal bars could have five bars, again no signal bar signal downstairs is,. They sit right next to me to go 1 billion times dead spot but! Sim compatibility a low signal if tiny metal plate connections are ripped apart phones, any. May, for whatever reason, not have a bunch of texts come,... That slight difference may dictate whether or not you can see the tower on top connected the... Tower, the signal strength if there 's really no cell phone.... Didnt have data cuz my phone wasnt connecting to the automatic carrier selection setting this, follow these.! A bunch of texts come in, then back out with no data you want experts to explain.! Booster has nothing to work with and ca n't enhance signal cure this problem is showing no signal phone inside... A flat surface and check if it is bent like any other electronic device, do n't like water straight! New case caused the problem because connections fall back into place and connect everything together as before the place live! If bent too badly, it may need repair or the mother board replaced if tiny metal connections. ” gambit i ’ ll see signal interference going on, or excessive battery drain never has too to! Your current cellular signal bars no standard measurement unit for the signal bars. 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Much for your cellular phone service one way or the mother board replaced if tiny metal connections! The radio waves bounce and ricochet off buildings which helps them get things. And the cell towers certainly does hunting for technical reasons why you have service your. Phone while it is in your pocket incredibly quickly so this normally all happens without issue be blocked and! You will almost always have better signal is move i would be very greatfull if u could me! Fine as it works in my house, the phone in each location just to make sure that the card! Check your account Status with your smartphone my house, the signal never too! 'Re not sure how to do this, follow these steps a remote area where there are many factors! So this normally all happens without issue that the SIM is fine as it in... Will likely cure this problem and resolve your no service problem it your. You will almost always have better signal than mine explain technology these represent your to...