Cellular plan isn't currently active on this iPhone: Solutions here!

Most people today rely heavily on their cellular data for both work and pleasure. So, it can be a real inconvenience when your cellular plan isn’t active.

It’s frustrating when you can’t figure out what’s wrong, especially when your iPhone is not connecting to cellular network. Some people end up taking their phone into the Apple Store, only to be told there’s nothing wrong with their device- it’s just a matter of activating the plan.

If you’re having this issue, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through some of the most common reasons why your cellular plan isn’t active on this iPhone and how to activate cellular data on the iPhone.

Cellular plan isn’t currently active on this iPhone: The main problems and solutions

Depending on your carrier, you can activate your plan in a few different ways. The most common way to do this is by signing into your carrier’s website or app and going through the activation process.

Here are common problems and how to fix them:

Confirm Airplane Mode Is Off

It’s easy to turn on Airplane Mode and not realize it accidentally. When Airplane Mode is on, your iPhone cellular data is not working. It means that even if you have an active cellular plan, you won’t be able to use it.

You can switch Airplane Mode off in the Control Center or the Settings app.

Restart iPhone

If you can’t seem to get your cellular plan working, restarting your iPhone might be all you need to do. It can fix minor software glitches that might prevent your iPhone from not connecting to internet cellular data.

To restart your iPhone, press and hold the power button until “Slide to Power Off” appears on the screen. If you have an iPhone with Face ID, you’ll need to press and hold the power and volume buttons.

After your iPhone turns off, press and hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.

Turn Cellular Data On

If you’re unable to use your cellular data, you may have accidentally turned it off. You can check and turn cellular data on in the Settings app.

First, open the Settings app and tap “Cellular.” Then, turn on the “Cellular Data” switch.

If you don’t see the “Cellular Data” switch, it could mean your carrier doesn’t offer cellular data plans. In this case, you’ll need to use Wi-Fi to connect to the internet.

Remove and Re-Insert SIM Card

Sometimes your sim card can become loose, preventing your iPhone from connecting to the cellular network. One way to fix this is to remove and re-insert your SIM card.

You’ll need a SIM card ejector tool or a paper clip. Gently insert the SIM card tool or the paperclip into the pinhole on the SIM tray.

Push firmly until the iPhone pops out the SIM tray. If you’re using a paperclip, be careful not to bend it. Once the SIM tray is out, remove your SIM card and inspect it for any signs of damage.

If everything looks normal, re-insert the SIM card into the tray and ensure it’s pushed in.

Update Carrier Settings

Carriers release updates for their networks from time to time. These updates can add new features or fix bugs.

To see if a carrier settings update is available, open the Settings app and tap “General.” Next, tap “About.” You’ll see a prompt to update your carrier settings if an update is available.

Update iPhone Operating System

You can try this option if you still could not activate the cellular data network and have already tried all the other solutions on this list.

To check for updates, open the Settings app and tap “General.” Next, tap “Software Update.” If an update is available, tap “Download and Install.”

Reset Network Settings

If you’ve tried all the other solutions and nothing has worked, you can try resetting your iPhone’s network settings. It will delete all your Wi-Fi passwords and other network-related settings.

To reset your iPhone’s network settings, open the Settings app and tap “General.” Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and tap “Reset.” Tap “Reset Network Settings” and enter your passcode when prompted.

Call Your Phone Company

After trying the solutions on this list, if you’re still having trouble activating your iPhone, the next best thing to do is to call your phone company. They should be able to help you troubleshoot the issue and get your cellular plan working.

Get Support From Apple

Apple’s support team can help you troubleshoot your iPhone if you’re still having trouble after trying all the solutions on this list.

You can contact Apple’s support team by visiting the Apple support website or contacting them.

Check Coverage Area

If you’re in an area with poor cellular coverage, it can prevent your iPhone from connecting to the cellular network. If possible, try moving to a different location with better cellular coverage.

If you cannot move to a different location, you can try using your iPhone in an area with better coverage.

You can also try turning on Airplane Mode and turning cellular data on. It temporarily disables all wireless radios on your iPhone, which can sometimes fix cellular data issues.

Cellular plan isn’t currently active on this iPhone model

Depending on your iPhone model, the causes of this error message can be different. We’ve prepared a list of solutions for each iPhone model.

If you’re using an iPhone 6s, 7s, or earlier, and still wonder “why is my Cellular data not working on iPhone?”, the error message can mean one of two things:

Your iPhone isn’t compatible with the current cellular plan
The current cellular plan isn’t available in your area

You can fix these problems by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan.

iPhone 8

When cellular data is not working on iPhone 8 or later, the error message can mean one of two things:

The current cellular plan isn’t available in your area
The current cellular plan doesn’t support the features on your iPhone

You can fix these problems by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan.

iPhone X and XS

If you’re using an iPhone X or XS, the error message can mean one of three things:

The current cellular plan isn’t available in your area
The current cellular plan doesn’t support the features on your iPhone
Your iPhone isn’t compatible with the current cellular plan

You can fix these problems by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan. You can contact Apple’s support team for help if you’re still having trouble.

iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Max

If you’re using an iPhone 11 or 11 Pro Max, the error message can mean your iPhone isn’t compatible with the current cellular plan. You can fix this problem by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan.

iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Max

If you typed iPhone 12 cellular data not working on Reddit and you’re still asking yourself “how do I get my cellular data to work on my iPhone 12?” if you’re using an iPhone 12 or 12 Pro Max, the error message could mean the current cellular plan isn’t available in your area or doesn’t support your iPhone’s features.

You can fix these problems by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan. If you’re still having trouble, you can contact Apple’s support team for help.

iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max

If your iPhone 13 cellular data is not working, often, the error message appears on the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max because of a software issue. If this is the case, you can fix the problem by updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

If you’re still having trouble after updating your iPhone, you can contact Apple’s support team for help.

iPhone 14 and 14 Pro Max

The new iPhone models (14 and 14 Pro Max) support 5G networks. If you’re having trouble connecting to a 5G network, it could be because:

The 5G network isn’t available in your area
Your iPhone isn’t compatible with the current cellular plan

You can fix these problems by contacting your phone company and switching to a different cellular plan.

If you’re still having trouble, you can contact Apple’s support team for help.

Conclusion

Don’t get stranded without cellular data ever again. If you’re having trouble connecting to a cellular network, you can try a few things.

First, ensure that your iPhone is in an area with good cellular coverage. If it is, try resetting your iPhone’s network settings.

If that doesn’t work, contact your phone company and switch to a different cellular plan. If you’re still having trouble, don’t hesitate to contact out team and we will gladly support you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions people ask when figuring out “why is my cellular data not working on my iPhone?”

Why is my cellular plan not showing up on my iPhone?

If you’re having trouble seeing your cellular plan on your iPhone, it could be because your carrier hasn’t made the switch to eSIM yet. If that’s the case, you might be able to use a physical SIM card instead.

If your iPhone is unlocked, you can also try using a SIM card from a different carrier. Just ensure the carrier’s network is compatible with your iPhone. You can check this by going to Settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data Options -> Voice & Data and ensure that both LTE and VoLTE are turned on.

If you’re still having trouble, you can reach out to your carrier for help.

How do you fix an iPhone that can’t activate cellular data?

First, ensure your phone is in an area with good cellular reception. If it is, try restarting your phone. If that doesn’t work, try resetting your phone’s network settings. Go to Settings -> General -> Reset and select “Reset Network Settings.”

You can try contacting your carrier for help if that doesn’t work. They can troubleshoot the issue or activate your cellular data plan for you.

Why is my phone not connecting to the cellular network?

Your phone may not connect to the cellular network if it’s in an area with poor reception. If you’re in a building or underground, try moving to an open space.

If your phone still has trouble connecting, you can try restarting it. If that doesn’t work, reset your phone’s network settings.

Why is my phone not connecting to cellular data?

If your phone doesn’t connect to cellular data, it could be because your carrier hasn’t made the switch to eSIM yet. If that’s the case, you might be able to use a physical SIM card instead.

If your iPhone is unlocked, you can also try using a SIM card from a different carrier. Just ensure the carrier’s network is compatible with your iPhone.

How do I activate cellular data on my iPhone?

You can activate cellular data by going to Settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data and turning on the “Cellular Data” switch. If you’re unsure whether your carrier supports cellular data, you can check this by going to Settings -> Cellular -> Cellular Data Options -> Voice & Data and ensure that both LTE and VoLTE are turned on.

If you’re still having trouble, you can reach out to your carrier for help.

Cellular plan isn’t currently active on this iPhone: Solutions here!