Is your iPhone cellular data turned on but not working? Don’t worry! You can try a few fixes before turning to your cell carrier’s customer support line.
The issue of cellular data not working on iPhone is not new as it has been experienced on almost all iPhone models. The issue has affected many iPhone models, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone SE.
First off, it would be better to get to the root of the problem, trying to figure out the reasons why the iPhone cellular data is not working even when it’s turned on.
Why is iPhone cellular data turned on but not working?
Some mobile data plans have limitations and throttles. You might be capped or throttled. Also, consider the fact you may be late on your payment. Even the best of us forget about bills sometimes. Not to mention sometimes cards get declined for no apparent reason.
If you’re in a remote area, or there are a lot of natural barriers around you (such as hills, mountains, and valleys), you’ll probably experience a poor signal.
Also, consider that, while rare, carrier networks can go down too, causing service outages.
Finally, cellular data not working on iPhone could be due to the fault of the phone’s modem or hardware. If you’ve recently dropped your phone, that could have damaged the antenna or other internal components.
How to fix iPhone cellular data turned on but not working issue
1. Ensure your iPhone has cellular coverage
Many physical factors can cause problems with cellular data on iPhone. These include weather, network congestion, and even solar activity. But chief among these are geography and buildings.
Look at the status bar to check how many bars are there for your cellular network. If it’s one or zero, cellular data may work poorly or not work at all.
If you’re in a remote area, or there are a lot of natural barriers around you (such as hills, mountains, and valleys), you’ll probably experience a poor signal. Try to move to a more even-leveled location if the landscape around you fits one of these extremes.
The same goes for being inside buildings. You might be in the middle of a heavily populated urban area with full bars on your device, then wonder why your mobile data is not working when you enter certain structures. Being underground, or surrounded by concrete in a structure like a basement, can negatively affect your data signal.
If you’re having cellular data problems on iPhone that only started in a certain location, try moving somewhere else. You may need to leave the building you’re in or drive a few miles away. While this may not be convenient, it’s a good way to troubleshoot this issue.
This step is likely something tech support will ask you to do anyway if you call for help. Unfortunately, current network technology doesn’t provide perfect coverage in all areas, so location is still a big factor. As 5G continues to become more popular, we’ll hopefully see fewer dead zones.
2. Check If You’ve Reached Your Cellular Data Limit
Most carriers offer mobile data services and plans with limited data. And let’s be honest, many of us would have taken for granted roaming without keeping track of the data usage. Hence, if your cellular data is is on but not working on your iPhone, then this is one possible reason for it. The only scenario in which you don’t have to consider this is if you have an unlimited data plan.
It’s a good idea to know if you have data left. If you’re not sure, check your account through the company’s mobile app or website. That will show how much data you have per month, and how much you’ve used so far. You can also communicate with your carrier to check you’ve reached data limit.
3. Toggle Airplane Mode to fix iPhone Cellular Data problem
Sometimes, all you need to do when your iPhone cellular data is on but not working 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.
You can do this by following the steps below:
- Go to Settings,.
- Turn on Airplane Mode,
- wait for 30 seconds, then turn Airplane Mode off, wait for your networks to reconnect, and then double-check if your cellular data is working.
4. Set the correct date and time
Sometimes the most obvious fix is the most reliable one. If your mobile data is turned on but not working, one of the things you should check is your date and time settings. iPhone cellular data may not work if the time and date settings are incorrect. You can fix this by following the steps below:
- Go to Settings.
- Go into General.
- Select Date & Time
- Toggle on the switch for Set Automatically.
5. Restart your iPhone
If you’ve tried the above fixes and your data still stubbornly refuses to work even if it’s turned on, the next step you should try is to restart your iPhone. It may seem silly to remind you of this basic rule, but most problems encountered on an iPhone can be solved this way. Follow the steps below to restart your iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Go into General.
- Tap Shut Down.
- Drag the Power off slider to the right, then wait 30 seconds before powering the device back on.
6. Update your Carrier settings
If your carrier has recently updated its network, running this update will allow your iPhone to sync with the new technology such as 5G. It will also help eliminate issues that could be causing your iPhone Cellular Data to stop working even when it’s turned on. To run a carrier settings update: follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select About.
- If there is an update available, you’ll immediately see a prompt that says Carrier Settings Update and asks whether you want to proceed with the update now. Install any updates that show up here.
7. Update iOS on Your Phone
If your iPhone cellular data is on but not working, an important fix is to look for any iOS update that may be available. Ensuring that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS can help fix cellular data problems.
To check for and install iOS updates, follow the steps below:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- If an iOS update is available, tap download and install.
8. Reinsert SIM Card
If your iPhone cellular data is on but not working, the next thing you should try is removing and reinserting your SIM card. While it’s unlikely the card got dirty or dusty while in your phone, reinserting forces your phone to re-read the card and can jolt your cellular data back to life.
Follow the steps below:
- Power off your iPhone.
- Remove the SIM card. (You will need a safety pin or something small to remove the SIM card tray.)
- Reinsert the SIM card by sliding it back in.
- Power your phone back on.
9. Turn Off VPN
If you are using or are subscribed to a VPN on your iPhone, in some rare cases, it can also block your cellular signal from connecting. Having a VPN can be used for things like staying safe on public Wi-Fi or bypassing geographical viewing restrictions. Should you find that you are having trouble connecting to your cellular signal, disable your VPN temporarily and see if that helps resolve the connection issue.
It might also help to disable the VPN by going into the VPN settings and toggling your app of choice to “off,” then doing a forced restart. With the forced restart, you can be sure that you are completely disconnected. Now see if the cellular signal returns, and if not, continue to the next step.
10. Reset Network Settings
If you are scratching your head wondering “why is my cellular data turned on but not working?”, It could be that some extraneous setting was changed inadvertently. It is likely related to the network, so resetting your network settings to factory defaults might fix the issue.
- Start the Settings app.
- Select General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings.
- Type in your passcode, when prompted.
- Tap Confirm.
Once completed, your iPhone will forget any network settings that you had previously configured. This includes any Wi-Fi networks, or any other data settings that you had created in the Settings app.
11. Contact Your Wireless Carrier
An additional human interference might help you to resolve the issue of cellular data turned on but not working on iPhone. If you have tried everything mentioned above and still there is no solution for you then please call your network provider customer care and a representative will help you.
Here is the customer care number of 4 major carriers in the USA –
- AT&T: 611 from AT&T Mobile or 800-331-0500
- US Cellular: 611 from registered mobile or 1888-944-9400
- Sprint: 888-211-4727
- T-Mobile: 611 from registered mobile number or 1877-746-0909
- Verizon Wireless: 800-922-0204
12. Contact Apple
If you are reading this line then I am sad that you might have to check your iPhone hardware for damaged internal parts as disappearing or inconsistent cellular connection may be due to fault of hardware. If it’s under warranty then take it to your nearest Apple Store.
iPhone mobile data is on but not working: Problem Fixed!
You’ve fixed the problem with your iPhone and cellular data is working again. If you have been experiencing cellular data problems on your iPhone, but found another way to fix the issue, drop a comment and let us know. That way we can share any other methods with other folks looking for answers on solving this problem!