How to improve phone signal - settings worth checking

If mobile reception becomes worse after switching to a new smartphone, the operator may not be at fault. Network mode and supported bands can make a difference. Start with the settings before assuming the phone needs repair.

What is the reason for the poor reception in the new phone?

Not everyone lives close to a mobile network transmitter. An older button phone may hold a basic connection where a newer smartphone keeps switching between network technologies. After moving the same SIM card, the new phone may show weaker reception or interrupted calls regardless of the tariff.

Why a smartphone searches for a signal differently than an old phone

Newer phones are set by default to search for the fastest network first - LTE. Only when they don't find it, do they check slower variants. It's a bit like transport:

• LTE - as if you only wanted to fly on a scheduled plane at an altitude of 10 km. Fast, but only where there is an airport.
• 3G - this is a plane flying low, at 2 km. Slower, but it reaches more places.
• GSM - regular driving on the road. The slowest, but you can get almost anywhere.

When the phone cannot maintain its preferred network, repeated searching and switching can contribute to unstable reception or dropped calls.

How to change network mode step by step

If you live further away from your network's transmitter, you can change the network mode on your phone yourself:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to Mobile Networks.
3. Select Network Mode.
4. Instead of LTE (automatically), select 3G/2G and check the connection.

The Internet will be slower than on LTE, but it will work - and calls will stop interrupting.

When 3G doesn't help either: "GSM only" mode

If changing to 3G/2G does not help, switch the mode to GSM only. Then you will make calls almost always, although the Internet will only work via GPRS (up to approx. 230 kb/s) - enough for messages, not streaming.

You can return to the default settings (LTE automatically) at any time - it doesn't break anything, it just changes which network the phone looks for first.

Frequently asked questions

Can changing the network mode damage my phone?

No. This is a normal system setting - you change it as safely as the screen brightness and you can return to LTE automatically at any time.

Will I lose internet access after switching to 3G or 2G?

You won't lose, it will just be slower. On 3G you can easily view websites and messages, on GSM only the Internet is limited to basic functions.

What if changing the network mode does not improve coverage?

Then the SIM card, antenna and phone hardware may need checking. Visit our repair service at ul. Krótka 3 in Łomża and we can diagnose the problem on site.

- Sklep Sympatia team, Łomża