Limit Your Dropped Calls: 10 Tips to Improve Your Cell Phone Signal During the Holidays

You know that special kind of panic when your phone’s signal bars disappear? One minute you’re tracking your GPS, the next your map is frozen, your music is dead, and you’re stuck in a dead zone. This isn’t just an inconvenience; this can be a real security issue.

But before you start cursing your cell phone carrier, know that the problem often isn’t with the network, but rather with your phone’s laziness. And the solution is usually a ridiculously simple trick that takes about five seconds.

Stop putting up with terrible reception like it’s just a reality. Whether you have an iPhone or Android, there are quick and easy ways to force your phone to find a better signal. Here’s how to do it.

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Note: Although the software of different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones may have different software versions, so some settings and their locations may differ depending on the device.

To learn more, learn how to use Google Maps when you’re offline and how you might be able to fix your internet connection when it’s down.

To improve your cell phone service, try these steps first

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

• Move so that there are no obstacles between your phone and cell towers outside. This may involve moving away from metal objects or concrete walls, both of which kill reception. Instead, go to a window or go outside if possible.
• Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove the 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 consumes power. Therefore, if your phone battery is already low, you may have trouble getting good service.

Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off

Turning your phone’s connection off and on again is the quickest and easiest way to try to resolve your signal issues. If you’re moving from one location to another, switching to Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular modems, forcing them to find the best signal in the area.

Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen (to access the Quick Settings panel), then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. This doesn’t happen instantly, so wait a good 15 seconds before tapping the Airplane mode icon again.

iPhone: On iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from Control Center, but this varies depending on the model of iPhone you have. On iPhone X and later, swipe up from the upper right corner to access Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.

If Airplane mode isn’t working, restart your phone

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

Android: Press and hold the power button, or the power button and volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu appears, then tap Restart. If your phone does not provide a reboot option, you can simply tap Power off to turn off your device, then restart it with the power button.

iPhone: On iPhone Wait for it to turn off completely, then press the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.

Alternatively, you can perform a force reset on your iPhone: press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button, then press and hold the side button. Continue to hold it after your phone screen goes black and until the Apple logo reappears.

If your iPhone has a home button, press and hold the sleep/wake button until the power slider appears, then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears.

An older phone? Remove your SIM card

Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, then put it back in with the phone on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has physical defects, you may need to replace it.

You’ll need a SIM card tool – usually included in your phone’s box – or a straightened paperclip or sewing needle to remove the SIM tray from your phone.

All phones: Remove the SIM card, check if it is damaged and correctly positioned in the SIM tray, then put it back into your phone.

For example: For phones with an eSIM, i.e.: an on-board electronic SIM in your phone: you don’t have to delete anything. The best you can do is restart your phone.

Check your carrier settings (and update your software)

Mobile carriers frequently send carrier settings updates to help improve call, data, and message connectivity on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it is not universal on Android. So you may not find your carrier settings if you don’t have a supported phone.

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 will be prompted to install it.

Android: As mentioned earlier, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you will need to open the Settings app and type in “carrier settings” to find possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Internettap the gear next to your carrier name, then tap Operator settings versions.

Reset your phone’s network settings

Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to resolve an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do this. But be warned, resetting your network settings will also reset all saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections, and custom APN settings for those from carriers that require additional configuration.

Android: In the Settings app, search for “reset” or more precisely “reset network settings” and tap the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile and Bluetooth. After resetting your network settings, don’t forget 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 Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth settings. Faucet Reset network settings and your phone will restart.

Contact your telephone operator

Sometimes unexpected signal problems can be attributed to problems with your cell phone carrier. A cell tower could be down or the tower’s fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.

If you have constant problems connecting or staying connected to a cellular or data network, your carrier’s coverage may not extend well in your neighborhood.

Other times, a new signal problem could be due to a fault in your phone or a faulty SIM card. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after trying these fixes is the best next step to resolve your spotty signal.

If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cellular reception

If after following all of our troubleshooting steps, including speaking with your carrier to review your options, you are still having trouble maintaining a good signal, try a repeater. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then boosts it just enough to provide coverage in one room or throughout your home.

The big downside here is cost. Wilson offers three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we have not specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty if you have any problems with its products.