If you’re dealing with Mobile Data Not Working After Update Android, you’re not alone. It usually hits right when you need your phone the most. Wi Fi works at home, but the moment you step outside, nothing loads. WhatsApp will not send, Instagram will not refresh, and Maps cannot pull directions when you need them. That stress is real, especially when your phone is how you get around, stay in touch, and finish school or work tasks.
This issue is common after a system update. Android can reset mobile network settings, switch the data SIM on dual SIM phones, or change APN settings (the carrier’s internet settings that power mobile internet). You may notice 4G or 5G disappear, get stuck on E or H+, or see “connected” but still have no internet. The fixes below start with the safest, fastest steps. Most take 1 to 5 minutes, and the early steps will not delete your photos, apps, or messages.
Mobile Data Not Working After Update Android? Here’s the Fix
Follow these steps in order, and stop as soon as your connection returns. After each fix, give your phone 20 to 30 seconds to reconnect and watch for the 4G/5G icon to come back. If you use prepaid service, travel often, or run dual SIM, pay extra attention to the SIM and APN steps, because updates change those most often.
Try This First (30 Seconds)
Quick toggle: Swipe down from the top of your screen. Turn on Airplane mode, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off.
This refreshes your network connection and often fixes minor glitches caused by the update.
Quick Checks (1-Minute Fixes)
Start here. These simple steps solve most cellular data issues without touching any complicated settings.
1. Toggle Mobile Data On and Off
Swipe down from the top of your screen to open quick settings. Tap the mobile data icon to turn it off. Wait 5 seconds. Tap again to turn it back on.
What this does: Forces your phone to reconnect to your carrier’s network. This refreshes the connection that the update may have interrupted.
If you see the 4G or 5G icon appear at the top, you’re done. Stop here.
2. Restart Your Phone
Hold the power button. Tap “Restart” or “Reboot.” Wait for your phone to fully turn back on.
What this does: Clears temporary system glitches that updates sometimes create. Takes about 1 minute total.
3. Check Your Signal Bars
Look at the top of your screen. Do you see signal bars? If there’s an exclamation mark, “no service,” or an “X,” the problem may be coverage, a SIM issue, or a carrier outage.
Try moving to a different spot. If you’re indoors, step outside for a minute to test. Updates can make weak signal areas feel worse because your phone re-registers on the network.
4. Test With Another App
Open Chrome, YouTube, or any browser, not just WhatsApp or one app. Sometimes one app has a cache issue while mobile data is actually working.
If other apps work fine, the problem is app-specific. Clear that app’s cache in
Settings > Apps > [App name] > Storage then tap Clear cache.
Common Fixes for Mobile Data Not Working After Update Android
If quick checks didn’t work, the update likely changed one of these settings. Don’t worry, these are safe to adjust and won’t delete your stuff.
5. Check Which SIM Is Set for Data (Dual SIM Users)
This is one of the most common reasons for data loss after updates on dual SIM phones. Updates sometimes switch your data to the wrong SIM slot.
Here’s how to fix it:
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Tap “Network & internet” (or “Connections” on Samsung phones)
Step 3: Tap “SIMs” or “SIM card manager”
Step 4: Look for “Mobile data” or “Preferred SIM for data”
Step 5: Make sure it’s set to the correct SIM card (the one you actually use for internet)
What this fixes: Puts your data connection back on the right SIM. This solves the issue instantly for many dual SIM users.
If your data comes back after this, you’re done.
6. Reset Your APN Settings
APN stands for Access Point Names. These are the settings your phone uses to connect to your carrier’s mobile internet. Updates can reset these to generic defaults that don’t work with your specific carrier.
Here’s the quick fix:
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “Network & internet” > “Mobile network” (Samsung: “Connections” > “Mobile networks”)
Step 3: Tap “Access Point Names” or “APN”
Step 4: Tap the three dots menu in the corner
Step 5: Tap “Reset to default”
Your phone will restart the connection. Wait 30 seconds and check if your data icon appears.
What this fixes: Restores the correct internet connection settings for your carrier. This works for many prepaid SIM users and smaller carriers.
You can also check DownDetector to see if other people are reporting issues with your carrier.
Note: On some brands (Xiaomi, Oppo, Realme), you may need to manually enter APN settings.
Search “[your carrier name] APN settings” and use the official carrier values.
7. Change Preferred Network Type
Sometimes updates switch your network preference from 4G/5G down to 3G or even 2G. This can make data extremely slow or completely unusable.
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “Network & internet” > “Mobile network”
Step 3: Tap “Preferred network type”
Step 4: Select “5G/4G/3G auto” or “LTE/4G” depending on what your carrier supports
What this does: Forces your phone to use the fastest available network. You should see the 4G or 5G icon appear at the top of your screen within seconds (if coverage is available).
8. Turn Off Data Saver Mode
Updates sometimes enable Data Saver, which limits background data. This can make it feel like data isn’t working.
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “Network & internet” > “Data Saver”
Step 3: Turn it off
What this fixes: Allows your apps to use mobile data normally again.
9. Check Data Limit Settings
Your phone might think you’ve exceeded your monthly data limit and shut off mobile internet to protect you from extra charges.
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “Network & internet” > “Data usage”
Step 3: Check if there’s a data warning or limit set
Step 4: Turn off “Set data limit” or increase the limit
10. Toggle VoLTE Setting
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) helps with call quality but can sometimes cause odd carrier behavior after updates, depending on your network.
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “Network & internet” > “Mobile network”
Step 3: Look for “VoLTE calls” or “Enhanced 4G LTE”
Step 4: Toggle it on if it’s off, or off if it’s on, then test your data
Deeper Fixes (Still Safe, Won’t Delete Your Stuff)
If nothing above worked, try these. They’re still safe. You won’t lose photos, messages, or apps.
11. Reset Network Settings
This is the most effective fix for persistent Android mobile data problems after system updates. It resets all network-related settings to defaults.
Step 1: Open Settings
Step 2: Go to “System” > “Reset options” (Samsung: “General management” > “Reset”)
Step 3: Tap “Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth”
Step 4: Confirm and restart your phone when it finishes
What you’ll lose: Saved Wi-Fi passwords and paired Bluetooth devices. You’ll need to reconnect manually.
What you won’t lose: Photos, apps, messages, contacts, and downloads stay exactly as they are.
What this fixes: Clears network configurations that the update may have changed or corrupted. This solves a large number of stubborn data issues.
This is your best bet if you’ve tried everything else.
