No signal on your phone? 5 quick and easy ways to get better reception

I grew up watching The X-Files. In the late 1990s, cell phone reception was nothing like it is today. So back then, I couldn’t help but question how Scully and Mulder could call their boss, Skinner, back in Quantico even when they were investigating the most remote, bizarre locations across the continental US. 

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Suspending disbelief aside, maybe FBI agents Scully and Mulder knew real-life tricks to get reception in the middle of nowhere. 

We can be sure our Special Agents’ little flip phones were not satellite phones. And, that show aired before the advent of the iPhone in 2007. But if you are one of the billions of people using an iPhone or Android today, there are a few factors to consider and tricks you can try if you find yourself struggling to get a signal.

1. Rule out physical factors first

Tucked neatly inside each handset is at least one antenna — possibly up to four antennas. Metal objects and concrete walls impede signals to those antennae, so be sure to move yourself (i.e., your phone) away from obstructions. Climbing to a higher location is always helpful, as I long ago discovered by summiting the hill behind my friend’s cabin in Cub Run, Kentucky. Similarly, moving nearer to a window helps if going outside isn’t an option.

Even your phone’s protective case might hinder the strongest signal. It might be a pain, but removing that Otterbox or LifeProof could make the difference if you’re struggling to find a few bars.

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You’ll also want to be sure that your iPhone has enough battery power to search for and connect to an elusive signal. This might require as much as three watts at 15 decibels, a bandwidth that draws directly from your power supply. A low battery indication means the phone is working exponentially harder to bridge a connection. 

2. Toggle Airplane Mode, then reboot

Turning on Airplane Mode disables all wireless communication functions, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Toggling it off restarts these systems, forcing them to connect with the strongest signal in the area.

The airplane icon is in either the Control Center (for iOS) or Quick Settings panel (for Android), which you can access by swiping down from your screen. You can toggle the feature on from there or through your phone’s settings list.

After enabling Airplane Mode, wait 10 to 15 seconds before turning it back off. This brief power interruption clears any temporary data hang-ups and errors, restoring the transceivers to a default state.

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If that doesn’t work, take a minute to restart your phone entirely. 

Like with all computers, some network connections can be repaired by a complete reboot. To restart your phone, press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously until reset settings appear. From there, tap or swipe the power off prompt. 

Be sure to wait at least 10 seconds before powering on the device again. This allows any residual power in the device’s capacitors and circuitry to dissipate completely, preventing issues caused by lingering electrical charges. 

3. Check your SIM card, if you have one

Like removing your phone’s protective case, removing the tiny piece of hardware that connects the device to your carrier can take a minute. And it requires a SIM tool or a paperclip. Most Android phones and any model prior to the iPhone 14 will have a SIM tray slot on the left, right, or possibly the top of the device. 

If you have one of these phones, use your SIM ejector tool to pop out the tray, clean the SIM card off (and blow on it because we all do that), and then reinsert the SIM, much like you would with a disc in a gaming console.

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As noted above, iPhone models released in 2022 and later do not have a physical SIM card. Apple replaced them in favor of an embedded digital version (called eSIMs), making it easier to switch between providers and mobile networks.

4. Is your phone fully updated?

Phone makers regularly release software updates to improve connectivity for calls, text messages, and overall performance. However, users are responsible for installing these updates. While installing updates can take a considerable chunk of time, especially when you need to shut down or restart your phone, they’re crucial in keeping your device optimized and secure. 

To see if your device is up to date, you can check the Software Update section within settings — this applies to both Android and iOS devices.

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Some users are wary of updates because, yes, occasionally, they can contain new bugs that clog up the system. For that reason, some people delay until a revised update is released. Overall, though, updates are essential to getting the most out of your phone, including how it performs in terms of connectivity.

5. Last-ditch effort: reset network settings

I hope you never find yourself this desperate, but it is an option: refreshing your phone’s network settings. This might just improve your chances of snaring a signal — at the cost of losing your saved Wi-Fi passwords as well as settings for your mobile data and Bluetooth. Settings for VPN connections and APN configurations will also need to be reprogrammed.

If you’re in a real pickle, though, navigate on your iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. The pathway will vary across Android models, but it generally looks like: Settings > General management > Reset > Reset mobile networking/Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

Fortunately, this does not induce a full erase of all content on your phone (unless you opt for that). While not ideal, this kind of reset may improve your chances of gaining connectivity to speak with a human being.

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These troubleshooting efforts are intended to resolve short-term hiccups, such as during emergency situations in which you cannot reach the outside world. When in doubt, cycle through these measures to grab a signal, and may the unseen forces swirling about us shine upon you.