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phone-stack-apple-iphone-android-google-pixel-1750 — Struggling with poor signal is a frustrating experience.
Angela Lang/CNET

Staring at your signal meter or the progress bar as you try to load a webpage or send a text message on your phone is a frustrating experience. It's even more maddening if it happens when you're in a spot where you know you have reliable service. Personally, I get annoyed when it takes far too long to refresh my email or send a message, all because my data connection is struggling.

The tried-and-true approach of turning Airplane mode on, waiting a few seconds, and then cycling it off can help. But that doesn't always work, and when it doesn't, you'll need to take more drastic steps, like removing your SIM card or resetting network settings.

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Before you get to that point, I want to offer the best troubleshooting steps you can take to get your phone working at peak performance once again. The steps below go from simple to extreme.

airplane-mode-android-iphone — Left: Toggle Airplane Mode on your iPhone. Right: The Airplane Mode toggle on a Pixel 3 XL.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Toggle Airplane mode on and off

Toggling your phone's connection is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. For me, it works 99% of the time.

Android: You can swipe down from the top of your screen to view the Quick Settings panel. Tap on the Airplane icon, then wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn't happen instantly, so give it a good 30 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.

iPhone: Open Control Center -- iPhone X-series users can swipe down from the top-right corner, older iPhone models swipe up from the bottom of the screen -- and tap the Airplane mode icon. It will turn orange when it's enabled. Again, wait up to a minute before turning it off.

restart-android-iphone — Left: Restarting an Android phone. Right: Powering off an iPhone.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Restart your phone. Don't just turn it off and then back on.

Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues by restarting them.

Android: Hold in the power button, or power button and volume down key depending on your Android phone, until the onscreen menu shows up and then select restart. If your phone doesn't offer a restart option, hold in the power button until the screen goes black and then turns back on. You may also be able to power off your phone through the settings menu (look for the Gear icon.)

iPhone: If your iPhone has a home button, you can hold in the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed. Drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone X-series or newer users will need to press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, even after your phone's screen goes black, until you see the Apple logo appear again.

sim-pixel-3-xl — Removing and putting your SIM card back into your phone takes just a couple of seconds.
Jason Cipriani/CNET

Take your SIM card out for a minute

Another troubleshooting step to try is to remove and then place your SIM card back in your phone with the phone turned on. You'll need a SIM card tool -- usually included in your phone's box -- or an unfolded paperclip to get the SIM tray out of your phone.

All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it's damaged and in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone.

eSIM: For phones with an eSIM -- that is, the embedded electronic SIM in your phone -- there's nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone.

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Tips just for your iPhone

Apple's support page for troubleshooting signal issues has some of the tips mentioned above, but it also highlights two things to try that are iPhone specific.

Check carrier settings

iphone-view-carrier-settings — View the carrier settings on your iPhone to check for an update.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

If you've used an iPhone for a while, you've probably seen an alert, even if just briefly, that your carrier settings are up to date. Those updates help the iPhone optimize connectivity.

To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, open Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you'll be prompted to install it.

Reset the network settings

iphone-reset-network-settings — Resetting network settings on an iPhone should be one of the last troubleshooting steps you should try.
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying issue. Refreshing your phone's network settings is another tip that Apple suggests trying. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and any custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.

If you're good with that, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Confirm your selection and your phone will restart. Just remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.

galaxy-s10-plus-macro-1 — Sometimes your carrier is the only way to get signal issues resolved.
Angela Lang/CNET

Contact your carrier

Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower's fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.

For consistent problems latching onto and staying on a cellular or data network, it's possible your carrier's coverage doesn't extend well into your neighborhood. Some carriers will offer a network extender, a device that acts as a small wireless tower that relies on your internet connection, such as AT&T's MicroCell or T-Mobile's Personal CellSpot.

Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that's gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you've tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal.

A signal booster is your last resort.
Patrick Holland/CNET

If all else fails, try this

If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options and you're still struggling to keep a good signal -- try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house.

It's been a while since we've reviewed any signal boosters, but we saw Wilson Electronics' boosters consistently live up to their promise of increasing signal.

The only downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $399 for single room coverage, to $999 for entire home coverage. To be clear, we haven't specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any issues.

With your signal issues resolved, using your phone as a mobile hotspot for a backup connection is easy, but there are some things you need to know. If you're looking for iPhone-specific tips and tricks, check out our guide to iOS 14. And for Android fans, we have some tips to help you get the most out of Android 11.