Arguably everything we do on our smartphones today requires an internet connection. And while mobile networks have gotten better and better over the years, it can be frustrating when yours is not working. My mobile data is on but not working; what can I do? Check out our tested solutions to restore your lost mobile connection.
What to do when my mobile data is on but not working:
- Toggle on/off Airplane mode
- Restart your device
- Empower the right network mode
- Reset your device’s APN settings
- Set APN protocol to IPv4/IPv6
- Wipe cache partition from recovery mode
- Reset your phone’s network settings
- Bonus: How to fix certain apps not working on WiFi but working on mobile data and vice versa
Toggle on/off Airplane mode
Sometimes, all you need to do when mobile data is on but no internet connection is to turn on and off Airplane mode. Doing so will cut off your phone from the mobile network and can fix the problem alongside it.
On most Android devices, you’ll find the Airplane mode toggle in the Quick Settings. Otherwise, you can go to Settings → Network & Internet → Airplane mode to do the trick.
Simply turn on the Airplane mode for a minute, then turn it off again. Check if your mobile data is working now or try the next solution.
Restart your device
Aside from toggling on/off Airplane mode, restarting mobile devices has been a one-click solution to various problems. “My mobile data is on but not working” could be caused by a minor system glitch or an error from your mobile operator that can be fixed by rebooting your phone.
In that case, just reboot your phone to see if the trick works:
- You can restart most Android devices by long-pressing the power button for about 10 seconds.
- Otherwise, long-press the Power button, then select Restart from the options.
Try turning on your mobile data again to see if you can browse the internet now.
Empower the right network mode
Eight out of ten times, choosing the wrong mobile network mode can hamper your browsing experience. Or at worse, slower the internet speed and convince you to say my mobile data is on but not working.
Most devices come with a 4G mobile network and some recent ones with 5G networks. The better the network type, the faster your internet connection. However, if you’ve chosen the wrong one, you might face problems connecting to the internet.
Follow the steps below to choose the appropriate network mode for your device.
- Open your device
- Tap Network & Internet (or SIM card and mobile network on some devices.)
- If you’re using dual SIM cards, select the one you use for mobile data. E.g. SIM 1.
- Next, locate the Preferred network type and click on it.
- For the best experience, set it to the highest available network with automatic mode. For instance, if you have a 4G device, you should select 2G/3G/4G auto or something similar.
Note: ensure you do not select 4G only to ensure you can make/receive calls on the mobile network. Mobile data is working but call is not working could occur if your device is set to 4G only.
Reset your device’s APN settings
Access Point Name, also known as APN is the gateway that connects your mobile network to the internet. Without it, you won’t be able to connect to the internet via mobile data, even if your SIM card is loaded with a data subscription.
It is usually provided by your carrier when you insert a new SIM card into your phone. However, things may go wrong sometimes when the APN is changed manually or after a system upgrade.
The easiest way to fix that and resolve “my mobile data is on but not working” is to reset the APNs. Kindly do so by following the steps below.
- Fire up the Settings app.
- Tap Network & Internet (or SIM card and mobile network on some devices.)
- If you’re using dual SIM cards, select the one you use for mobile data. E.g. SIM 2.
- Next, select Access Point Names or APN
- In the top right corner, tap the 3-dot button.
- Hit Reset to default.
Doing so should reconfigure your APN, and your device should be ready to browse. You can toggle on/off Airplane mode once again to refresh the network, then turn on your mobile data.
If that didn’t do the trick, you may contact your network provider and ask for the right APN settings for your device. After that, add a new APN address by tapping the + icon on the APN settings page.
Set APN protocol to IPv4/IPv6
Though not that effective on all Android devices, leaving your APN protocol to IPv4 only could hinder your mobile network from connecting to the internet, even if you have an active subscription. That’s why many people say “I have data but no internet connection on my device.”
While IPv4 is the fundamental protocol for many internet communications, some advanced servers may require IPv6 to work correctly. Follow the steps below to set the APN protocol on your device to IPv4/IPv6.
- Open your device
- Tap Network & Internet (or SIM card and mobile network on some devices.)
- If you’re using dual SIM cards, select the one you use for mobile data. E.g. SIM 1.
- Next, select Access Point Names or APN
- Tap the first APN in use.
- Then, scroll down and select APN protocol.
- Set it to IPv4/IPv6
- And finally, tap the 3-dot button at the top right, then hit
- You may receive a warning prompt. Tap OK to confirm the changes.
Wipe cache partition from recovery mode
Sometimes the cached data accumulated in the Android cache partition may course serious problems on your device, such as the one you’re currently facing. Clearing the cache partition via the recovery menu may fix that.
Here’s how:
- Power off your device and wait for a few seconds to let it shut down completely.
- After that, long-press both the Power and Volume down button until the Android logo shows on your screen.
- After a few seconds, you’ll see a fallen Android bot. Press the Power and Volume down buttons again to show the recovery menu properly.
- From there, use the Volume down button to navigate to the Wipe cache partition or Wipe cache, then select it with the power button.
- Once the cache partition is cleared, reboot your device.
Reset your phone’s network settings
If none of the solutions above has worked for you so far, you might need to reset the network settings on your phone. Probably, it could be some underlying errors hindering your mobile network from communicating with the internet. On the flip side, resetting network settings will reset everything related to mobile data, WiFi, and Bluetooth on your device. So, it’s worth giving your shot:
- Go to
- Scroll to the bottom and tap System
- Next, hit Reset options.
- Handpick Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
- If you use dual SIM cards, select the affected one and hit RESET SETTINGS below the screen.
- Finally, confirm your screen lock to complete the process.
- You may give your device a quick reboot to ensure all the settings are restored. You’ll not lose any of your data.
BONUS: How to fix certain apps not working on WiFi but work on mobile data and vice versa
If the network problem is specific to certain apps, like Netflix not working on WiFi but working on mobile data, something might be wrong with the app itself. In that case, we recommend you reset the app to see if it works things out.
Here’s the trick:
- Open the Settings app and hit Apps & Notifications
- Tap See all apps
- Select the affected app on the list. Select Netflix, for instance.
- Tap Storage & Cache
- Hit Clear storage.
Try using the app again to see if it connects to the internet. Otherwise, you can try the following:
- Ensure the app is updated.
- Update your device’s software to the latest version via Settings → System → System Update → Check for updates.
- Reset app preferences from Settings → System → Reset options → Reset app preferences. Confirm the action and reboot your device.
My mobile data is on but not working: FIXED!
Trying all the tips and tricks mentioned in this article should be able to reconnect your mobile network to the internet. However, if nothing else worked, you can contact your network provider for assistance. You may also try another mobile network to see if the problem is tied to your SIM card. And finally, if the problem is coming from your device itself, consider performing a factory reset…
