The world has gone digital and many important things in our lives depend on this digital world. And one key way we access this new world is by using our mobile data. So when our connection doesn’t work well, especially when we are out in the world and need information on the fly, it can be very frustrating. SmartphonesPLUS wants to help, and we’ve compiled these tips on how to increase your mobile data speed to keep your connection running quickly and smoothly. If its actually your wi-fi speed that’s responsible for your lag, we’ve got a whole article dedicated to tips on increasing that as well. 

 1. Increase Mobile Data Speed By Closing Background Apps

Your mobile data may appear to be running slowly, but that may not actually be the case. Sometimes your mobile connection is fast and perfectly adequate, but some resource or data-hungry apps are using your cellular data in the background. As a result, your data connection will be slower when you’re trying to actively use it. To combat this, try closing all apps you aren’t currently using that may be running in the background. You should see a difference in your mobile data speed immediately.

2. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

You’ve probably heard this one many times, but it’s popular because it works well. As you may know, when you put your phone on airplane mode, it disconnects from every kind of network or radio signal. And when you turn airplane mode off, everything reconnects.

Where the magic happens in this popular trick is when you take your device off of airplane mode. When you do this, your phone automatically connects to the strongest tower near you. Hence, you get a better connection and faster internet speeds.

3. Restart Your Phone

Sometimes, all you need to do to give your mobile data speed a boost is to hold your phone’s power button and hit restart or power off. Especially if you haven’t turned off your device in a while. This might seem like a cliché tip, but it works well.

4. Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

Your phone’s network settings might be the root cause of all your mobile data speed issues. Who knows, you might have turned on something you weren’t supposed to by mistake, or an important setting might have been changed and that could be what’s affecting your data speed. So resetting your network settings is a good way to return everything to normal. Keep in mind that this solution is a drastic move, as it resets everything related to your network back to default. You’ll have to re-pair your Bluetooth devices, reconnect firmly saved Wi-Fi passwords, and so on.

 Here’s how to reset your network settings:

iPhone

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Android

Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.

 

*Note that the exact location of this menu may differ depending on individual phone brands.

5. Check Your Mobile Data Plan

Most data plans have an internet speed cap, even unlimited plans. If you’re on an unlimited data plan, once you hit the data usage threshold, your speed decreases. While on a regular plan, your internet speed is limited. So before complaining about slow mobile data speed, you should check the details of your data plan.

Other Options for Increasing Your Mobile Data Speed

Change Your APN

Your APN (access point name) gives your phone all the details it needs to connect to mobile data. So by changing your APN, you can get a better internet connection.

You can check online for different APN configuration settings. Try them out and see what works for you.

Change Your Location

Your cellular network connection is supplied by signal towers that blast out network signals in all directions. And sometimes those signals might have range issues and the data these signals carry decrease the further they go. So moving closer to the nearest network tower can get you a stronger signal, thereby improving your internet speed. Yes, it isn’t the most convenient thing to do, but if it’s urgent this is probably your best solution.

Switch Your Mobile Carrier

If slow data speeds have become unbearable to you and no tip or trick seems to be working, Then it’s best to just give up on improving your current provider’s speed, if your phone isn’t locked to the network.