Manually select a phone network

[Alex_M]

Sometimes if you are experiencing connectivity issues, manually selecting a mobile network or toggling on/off the 'automatic' option can help.

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iPhone Users

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Find Mobile Data or Cellular from the menu.
   
3. Tap Mobile Network
   
4. Disable the automatic option.
   
5. Tap on the required network, or toggle the automatic option back on.
   

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Android & Samsung Users

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Connections or search for 'Network Operators'.
   
3. Tap Mobile Networks
   
4. Tap Network Operators
   
5. Uncheck Select Automatically
   
6. Tap on the required network, or toggle the automatic option back on.
   

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[Katie_B]

What a super helpful post @Alex_M. 

Many users will be able to benefit from this. 

Thank you for coming here and posting this information and providing the steps for both iPhone and Android users. 

Katie

[Alex_M]

No problem! 😊

[Shentinal]

Hello,

Does anyone know if automatic network selection will automatically toggle itself back on overtime?

We have a few users within our business with issues in their local area, and manual roaming to 4G is resolving the problem temporarily. Unfortunately over time the devices are enabling automatic selection again and they then lose signal.

Does a setting on the Sim card override this at all?
We use Android 11 and I don't believe there is any setting device side which cause this to revert.

Thanks

[Christopher_G]

Hi @Shentinal 

It could be after a software update each time that it's reverting the settings. The only solution would be to manually change the settings again.

Chris

[Alex_M]

@Shentinal,

I'm pretty sure that it will revert to automatic after a device restart - not sure if anything can be done to bypass this.

[Shentinal]

Hi @Alex_M  @Christopher_G 

Thanks for your replies.

Interestingly it doesn't seem to revert to automatic selection after a reboot, at least in the instance I just tried then.

We also control our software updates via a MDM, generally nothing updates automatically unless we allow it, this is for apps such as Google Maps etc,  so I don't believe it is a software update doing this.

Thanks again.

[Alex_M]

I've just been looking on some forums online - seems like a common bug with Android and one that hasn't been fixed for years.

Some people who have had similar issues have found success instead by dialling *#*#4636#*#* and forcing a particular network type.

Unfortunately I don't have an Android so cannot test.

Thanks,
Alex

[EssexBoyEE]

On Android you can force a 5G Device to 2/3/4G Only by using the hidden Phone Info Menu (Note: some Device manufactures prevent access to this feature).

Using your Phones Call Dialler, dial *#*#4636#*#* this should bring up Phone Info (You need to be careful in this Menu), scroll down until you see something like "set preferred Network Type" if its set to 5,4,3,2G it will show something similar to this "NR/LTE/CDMA/UMTS auto (PRL)", where NR=5G, LTE=4G and so on, select the line and it will show a drop down list, in order to block 5G (NR) you need to select an option WITHOUT the NR and ideally a line that is similar to what you had before ie, "LTE/CDMA/UMTS auto (PRL)", select, close and you may need to Restart the Phone.

On Dual Sim Devices, you will need to do the above for each Sim Slot Type, where Sim1 on Phone Info is Phone0 and Sim2 on Phone Info is Phone1.

If you cannot get access to Phone Info through the Dialler using the direct *#*#4636#*#* access number, download a Free App called NetMonster from the App Store, Set Up the App then go to Menu (3 Dots, bottom right) Phone Info. NetMonster is a good App for showing Signal Quality and which Bands you are using etc for your info, if you cannot access Phone Info via the Dialler or using the NetMonster App then your Device is restricted from accessing it.