Slow mobile internet (4G/5G): 10 ways to get your speed back

By The SpeedFibre team, updated . 3 min read.

Slow mobile internet (4G/5G): 10 ways to get your speed back
In short First check your data allowance and network mode (4G/5G enabled), then toggle airplane mode to force a fresh connection. Mobile speed depends mostly on your location and cell load: test outdoors and at another time to compare.
Contents
  1. 1. Check your allowance and plan
  2. 2. Check the network mode
  3. 3. Airplane mode for 10 seconds
  4. 4. Restart the phone
  5. 5. Change location
  6. 6. Compare times of day
  7. 7. Turn off savers
  8. 8. Check data-hungry apps
  9. 9. Reset network settings
  10. 10. Check the SIM and the phone
  11. When to contact your provider

In most cities, 4G and 5G now deliver tens to hundreds of Mbps. If your phone is much slower, the cause is often local: signal, settings or the phone itself. Here is how to find it.

1. Check your allowance and plan

Once your data volume is used up, speed can be sharply reduced. Check your balance in your provider's app or with a USSD code.

2. Check the network mode

In mobile network settings, make sure the preferred mode is 4G/5G (or "automatic"), not 3G or 2G.

3. Airplane mode for 10 seconds

Turning airplane mode on and off forces the phone to look for the best cell. Simple and often effective.

4. Restart the phone

This restarts the phone's modem and frees memory.

5. Change location

Indoors, every wall weakens the signal. Move to a window, go up a floor, or step outside for a few minutes and test again. If speed jumps outdoors, indoor coverage is the problem.

6. Compare times of day

If it is slow mainly in the evening or in a crowded place (stadium, shopping centre), the cell is busy. See why speed drops in the evening.

Measure your connection now. Start the test

7. Turn off savers

"Data saver" and "battery saver" modes limit background activity and sometimes speed. Turn them off during a test.

8. Check data-hungry apps

Photo backups, automatic updates and autoplay videos use bandwidth in the background.

9. Reset network settings

As a last resort, resetting network settings clears Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings without touching your photos or apps. Note your Wi-Fi passwords first.

10. Check the SIM and the phone

A very old SIM card may not be optimised for 4G/5G; your provider can replace it. And an older phone does not support every 4G frequency or 5G.

When to contact your provider

If speed stays poor in an area where it used to be good, outdoors and at different times, report it with the exact address and your test results. To test without wasting your plan, see testing speed on a smartphone. At home, a router may be an option: 4G/5G router or fibre.

#5GSpeedTest#5G

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Why don't I get 5G?

You need a compatible phone, a plan that includes it and to be in a covered area. Also check that 5G is enabled in settings.

Why is 4G fast outside but slow at home?

Walls, especially concrete, strongly weaken radio waves. Near a window or higher up, the signal is better.

Does a speed test use a lot of data?

On a fast connection, a full test can use several hundred MB. Use it sparingly if your plan is limited.

The SpeedFibre team Guides written and reviewed by a telecom engineer specialised in fibre optics (FTTH), with more than 8 years of hands-on network maintenance and measurement. Editorial policy.

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