How to boost your signal for better cell reception on your iPhone or Android

Imagine this: you’re on vacation in the middle of the desert, scrolling through Instagram or checking out YouTube, and then your signal drops out. If you’re just wasting time, it’s not a big deal. Huge Running out of supplies and getting lost can be disastrous. Not only can you not call for help, you can’t see important travel information and advisories, and you could completely miss the warnings that a heatwave is on its way. So what do you do?

Hopefully you never find yourself in a similar situation, but if you do, there are quick and easy ways to improve your cellular reception, like toggling airplane mode or resetting your network settings. Below, we’ll share some tried-and-true approaches, as well as some of our own that can help keep your phone running at its best.

Here’s what you need to know:

Note: While the software between different iPhone models is largely the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android devices may have different software versions, and certain settings and their locations may vary from device to device.

For more info, check out how to use Google Maps when you’re offline and how to fix your internet when it goes down.

To improve your cell service, try these steps first

Cellular settings can help improve the quality of your cellular service, but there are other ways to improve reception without touching your phone’s software.

• Move so there are no obstacles between your mobile phone and the outdoor base station.You may need to move away from metal objects or concrete walls that block signals. Instead, move closer to a window or go outside if possible.
• Please remove your phone caseIt’s okay to remove any case your phone has, especially if it’s a thick case, so that your phone’s antennas can get a better signal without being blocked by anything.
• Make sure your phone is chargedSearching for and connecting to a stronger signal uses power, so if your phone’s battery is low, it can be harder to get good service.

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Turning your cellular connection off and on is the quickest and easiest way to fix signal problems. If you’re traveling from one place to another, toggling Airplane Mode will reboot your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network modem to find the best signal in the area.

Android: Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings panel, then tap the Airplane Mode icon. Wait until your phone completely disconnects from Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It won’t disconnect immediately, so wait about 15 seconds before tapping the Airplane Mode icon again.

iPhone: On your iPhone, you can access Airplane Mode from Control Center, which varies depending on your iPhone model. On iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane Mode icon. It turns orange when it’s enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.

If Airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone

Our phones are little computers, and like computers, sometimes a simple restart can solve problems like network connectivity.

Android: Press and hold the Power button, or the Power button and Volume down key (depending on your Android phone), and then tap Restart when the on-screen menu appears. If your phone doesn’t have a Restart option, power off Shut down your device and restart it with the power button.

iPhoneOn iPhone X and earlier, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and either volume button, then swipe the power slider to the right to turn off your device. Wait until it’s completely powered off, and then press the Sleep/Wake button to turn it back on.

Alternatively, you can force reset your iPhone by pressing and holding the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, and then the Side button until your phone’s screen goes black and the Apple logo appears again.

If your iPhone has a Home button, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the power slider appears, then drag the slider to the right. After the device turns off, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo.

Remove the SIM card from your phone

Another troubleshooting step that may help is to remove the SIM card from your phone, if there is one, and then reinsert it with the phone powered on. If the SIM card is dirty, try cleaning it. If it has a physical defect, it may need to be replaced.

To remove the SIM tray from your phone, you’ll need a SIM card tool (usually included in the phone’s box), or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle.

All Phones: Remove the SIM card, check it for damage and that it’s correctly placed in the SIM tray, then put it back into your phone.

Electronic SIMFor mobile phones with eSIM, that is, Embedded Electronic SIM There is nothing left on your phone, there is no need to delete it, the best thing to do is reboot your phone.

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to improve call, data, and messaging connectivity on their networks. This feature is available on all iPhone models, but it’s not universal on Android, so if you don’t have a supported phone, you may not be able to find the carrier settings.

iPhone: You will see a carrier update and you can update it when you see the pop-up message. To force your iPhone to check for carrier settings updates, setting > general > about If an update is available for your phone, you will be prompted to install it.

Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you’ll have to open the Settings app, type in “carrier settings,” and look for anything you can update. On a supported Pixel, setting > Network and Internet > internetTap the gear next to the carrier name Carrier Settings Version.

Reset your phone’s network settings

Sometimes a clean slate is all you need to fix annoying connectivity issues. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do this. But be aware that resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections, and custom APN settings for carriers that require additional setup.

Android: Search for “Reset” or “Reset Network Settings” in the Settings app and tap the setting. On a Pixel, the setting is Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile and BluetoothAfter resetting your network settings, don’t forget to reconnect your phone to your home or work Wi-Fi network.

iPhoneGo to: setting > Transfer or Reset iPhone > reset > Reset network settingsOn the next page, you’ll see a warning that resetting network settings will also reset your Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings. Tap it. Reset network settings Your phone will restart.

Please contact your mobile phone company

Unexpected signal problems can be caused by issues with your wireless carrier: a cell tower may be down, or the tower’s fiber optic cable may be cut, causing an outage.

If you continually have problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, your carrier’s coverage area may not extend far enough to your neighborhood.

Your newly discovered signal issue may also be due to a defective phone or a faulty SIM card. After trying these fixes, contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting is the next best thing to resolving your unstable signal.

If that doesn’t work, try using a signal booster to improve your cell phone reception

If you’re struggling to maintain a good signal after trying all of our troubleshooting steps, including contacting your cell phone carrier to check your options, try a signal booster. A signal booster takes the same cell phone signal your cell phone carrier uses and amplifies it enough to cover an entire room or home.

The big drawback here is cost. Wilson sells three different boosters designed for home use, priced at $349 for one room coverage or $999 for the whole house coverageTo be clear, we haven’t tested these models specifically, and Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty in case you have any issues with the product.

If you’re looking for iPhone-specific tips and tricks, check out our guide to hidden features in iOS 17. If you’re an Android fan, make sure to keep up to date with the new features coming in Android 15.