Signal Booster for iPhone and Android: 10 Methods to Boost Your Cell Signal

Our world is interconnected. These days, losing your cell signal could mean the difference between life and death, not just that you can’t check Instagram. Service disruptions are unavoidable, regardless of your phone type or cellular service provider. These can be caused by inclement weather or distant locations that can impede your phone signal’s strength.

Losing your cellphone signal can put you in a tight spot, especially with travel intensifying for this Thanksgiving and the impending winter holidays. There are a few strategies you can employ to boost your cellphone signal if you want to prevent losing signal while driving, missing critical calls with friends and family, or even missing important travel updates and advisories this holiday travel season.

Reception can undoubtedly be improved by using the tried-and-true method of turning on Airplane mode, waiting a short while, and then turning it off again. However, if that fails, you may need to take more extreme measures, such as uninstalling your SIM card or changing your network settings.

Spend a few minutes doing some simple troubleshooting techniques to see if you can get your phone operating at its best before you go into the settings.

Note: While software on various iPhone models is largely similar, software on Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and other Android devices may vary, and as a result, some settings and their locations may vary from one device to the next.

To improve your cellphone service, try these steps first

The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.

• Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.
• Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it’s thick, so that the phone’s antenna isn’t blocked by anything and can get a better signal.
• Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service.

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Attempting to resolve your signal issues can be as simple and quick as turning off and back on your phone. Switching between Airplane and Manual mode forces your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network modems to search for the strongest signal available when you’re on the go.

Android: To access the Quick Settings panel, swipe down from the top of your screen, then tap the Airplane mode icon. Await the complete disconnection of your phone from both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Give it a solid 15 seconds before tapping the Airplane mode icon once more because it doesn’t happen instantly.

iPhone: Depending on the model you own, the Control Center on the iPhone may be used to enter Airplane mode. To access Control Center on iPhone X and later models, swipe down from the upper-right corner. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen on older iPhone models. Next, tap the icon for Airplane mode, which will turn orange when activated. Once more, give it up to 15 seconds before shutting it off.

If airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone

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

Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn’t offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.

iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.

As an alternative, you can force reset your iPhone by pressing and holding the side button while simultaneously pressing the volume up and down buttons. Once your phone’s screen goes black, keep holding it in until the Apple logo appears once more.

If the home button on your iPhone is present, press and hold it to reveal the power slider. Then, drag it to the right. Press and hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears after the device has been turned off.

Take your SIM card out of your phone

If your phone has a SIM card, taking it out and putting it back in while the phone is on is another troubleshooting step that might be helpful. Clean the SIM card if it’s dirty. Should it possess any physical flaws, it might require replacement.

To remove the SIM tray from your phone, you’ll need a SIM card tool, which is typically included in the box with your device, an unfolded paper clip, or a sewing needle.

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

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

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Updates to carrier settings are regularly sent by mobile carriers to help enhance network connectivity for calls, data, and messages. All iPhone models have this feature, but not all Android phones have it, so if your phone isn’t supported, you might not be able to access carrier settings.

iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you’ll 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 and type in “carrier settings” to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions.

Reset your phone’s network settings

Occasionally, a fresh start is all that’s required to resolve a bothersome connectivity problem. One way to accomplish that is to reset the network settings on your phone. However, be aware that changing your network settings will also erase any custom APN settings for users on carriers that need extra setup, as well as any saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN connections.

Android: In the Settings app, search for “reset” or more specifically “reset network settings” and tap on the setting. On the Pixel 6 Pro running Android 13, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.

iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart.