Nothing ruins the perfect fall road trip faster than watching your phone’s signal bars disappear. One moment you’re cruising along, listening to a podcast and following GPS to a scenic overlook, and the next, everything cuts out. Dropped calls and a frozen map are frustrating, but losing signal in a remote area can also be a serious safety concern, particularly on those beautiful backroads where cell towers are few and far between.
But you don’t have to put up with bad reception or invest in a pricey new phone plan. Most of the time, you can get a stronger, more reliable signal on your iPhone or Android with a few simple tricks. Things as simple as toggling your Airplane mode or knowing the best place to keep your phone in the car can make all the difference. Before your next adventure, check out these easy ways to boost your cell signal and stay connected.
Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android phones may have different software versions, so certain settings and their locations might vary depending on the device.
To Improve Your Cellphone Service, Try These Steps First
The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.
- Move Yourself to Minimize Obstructions. Move away from metal objects or concrete walls, which can interfere with reception. Instead, find a window or go outside if possible.
- Remove Your Phone Case. It doesn’t hurt to take off your phone case, especially if it’s thick. This lets the antennas have a clearer shot at the signal.
- Ensure Your Phone is Charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains your battery, so a low charge can impede service.
Start by Turning Airplane Mode On and Off
Switching your phone’s connection off and then back on is often the quickest way to address signal woes. If you’re moving around, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network modems, helping them find the best signal.
Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings panel, then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect, which may take about 15 seconds, before tapping it off again.
iPhone: Access Airplane mode from the Control Center, depending on your model. On the iPhone X or newer, swipe down from the top-right corner; on older models, swipe up from the bottom. Tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when enabled. Wait about 15 seconds before turning it off.
If That Doesn’t Work, Restart Your Phone
Sometimes, simply restarting your phone can fix issues like network connectivity glitches.
Android: Hold the power button or the power and volume down key together until the menu appears, then tap Restart. If there’s no direct restart option, select Power Off, then turn it back on.
iPhone: For iPhone X and older, hold down the sleep/wake button and one of the volume buttons, then swipe the power slider. Wait until fully turned off, then press the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.
If you need to force restart your iPhone, press the volume up button, then the volume down button, and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo. If your phone has a home button, hold the sleep/wake button until the power slider shows, drag it to the right, and turn it back on as usual.
Older Phone? Try Removing Your SIM Card
Another troubleshooting step you can take is to remove your SIM card and then reinsert it with the phone turned on. If your SIM is dirty, clean it; if damaged, consider a replacement.
All Phones: Use a SIM card tool (often included with your phone) or a paper clip to remove the SIM tray. Check that the SIM card is not damaged and is placed correctly before reinserting it.
eSIM: If your phone uses an embedded electronic SIM, you won’t need to remove anything. Just restarting your phone is your best bet.
Check Your Carrier Settings and Update Your Software
Mobile carriers often release updates to improve connectivity for calls, data, and messages. This feature is generally available for all iPhones, while support may vary across Android devices.
iPhone: Carrier updates generally appear automatically. You can also check manually by going to Settings > General > About. If an update is available, a prompt will appear.
Android: Not all Android devices have carrier settings updates. To check, open the Settings app and search for “carrier settings.” For supported Pixels, navigate to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier’s name, and check Carrier settings versions.
Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings
Sometimes all you need is a clean slate. Resetting your phone’s network settings can refresh your connectivity. However, this will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN connections.
Android: In the Settings app, search for “reset” or “reset network settings.” For Google Pixel devices, look for Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. Reconnect to your home and work networks afterward.
iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You’ll be warned that this will reset your settings for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. Confirm the reset, and your phone will restart.
Contact Your Phone Carrier
If signal issues persist, they might be linked to your wireless carrier. There may be a problem with a tower or a defect with your device or SIM card. Reaching out to your carrier can help diagnose these troubles.
Sometimes it turns out your carrier doesn’t cover certain areas well, or a recent update has caused latency issues.
If All Else Fails, Consider a Signal Booster
If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling to maintain a good signal, it may be time to invest in a signal booster. These devices capture and amplify cellular signals, enhancing coverage in specific areas like a single room or your entire home.
However, be aware of the costs. Some options from reputable brands, designed for home use, range from around $349 for single-room coverage to $999 for full home coverage. Make sure to check the return policies and warranties for peace of mind.