Mobile Internet Not Working but Wi‑Fi Works — Full Fix Guide 📱

Mobile data not playing nice while Wi‑Fi works? Don’t worry — this guide walks you through simple checks and fixes so you can get back online fast.

Why this happens 🔎

There are a handful of common reasons your phone can connect to Wi‑Fi but not to mobile data. Here’s a friendly breakdown:

• Weak or no cellular signal — your SIM can’t reach 4G/5G properly.
• Mobile data turned off accidentally.
• Airplane mode is on, which blocks mobile networks.
• Phone locked to the wrong network type (for example, 5G only in a 4G area).
• APN (Access Point Name) misconfiguration — wrong APN can prevent internet access.
• Carrier-side problems like outages or maintenance.
• SIM card issues — misaligned, damaged, or not activated.
• Software bugs or corrupted network settings.
• You’ve reached a data limit and the carrier paused your connection.

Step-by-step troubleshooting & fixes 🛠️

1. Basic checks ✅

• Make sure Mobile Data is ON (Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Data).
• Confirm Airplane Mode is OFF.
• Look at your signal bars. If weak, move to an open area and check again.

2. Restart & reset connections 🔄

• Restart your phone — the classic fix for many glitches.
• Toggle Airplane Mode ON, wait ~10 seconds, then turn it OFF.
• Remove the SIM card, gently clean the contacts, reinsert it, and reboot.

3. Check network settings 📶

• Open Settings → Mobile Network → Preferred Network Type.
• If it’s set to 5G only, switch to 4G/3G (auto) so it can fall back when 5G isn’t available.
• Enable Data Roaming if you’re traveling and your carrier requires it.

4. Fix APN settings (important!) 🌐

The APN tells your phone how to reach the internet through your carrier. If it’s wrong, you’ll have no mobile data.

• Go to Settings → Mobile Network → Access Point Names (APN).
• Compare the listed APN with the official settings from your carrier’s website or support page.
• If an APN is missing or incorrect, add a new one and enter the correct values.
• Save the APN and make sure it’s selected.

5. Check data limits & settings 📊

• In Settings → Mobile Data Usage, look for daily/monthly caps that might be blocking you.
• Turn off any Data Saver features that restrict background data.

6. Carrier-related checks 🏢

• Ask a friend on the same network if they’re having issues, or check your carrier’s outage page.
• If you recently activated a new SIM, confirm it’s fully activated.
• If nothing helps, contact your carrier — they can refresh your SIM or check for provisioning problems.

7. Advanced fixes 🔧

• Reset network settings: Settings → System → Reset Options → Reset Wi‑Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth (this clears saved networks and paired devices).
• Update your phone’s software — updates sometimes fix network bugs.
• Try the SIM in another phone. If it still doesn’t work, the SIM is likely faulty and needs replacement.

When to get professional help 🚑

• If the SIM works in another phone but not yours — suspect a phone hardware issue.
• If you’ve corrected APN settings and reset everything but still have no mobile data — contact your carrier’s support for deeper troubleshooting.

Quick fix summary ✅

Here’s a short checklist to run through:

• Turn mobile data ON and airplane mode OFF.
• Restart the phone and reinsert the SIM card.
• Change network mode from 5G to 4G if needed.
• Update or reset APN settings.
• Reset network settings if all else fails.
• Contact your carrier for persistent problems.