Mobile coverage checker
Fortunately, there are various things you can do to address this issue. So, if you’ve found yourself experiencing poor mobile coverage – and particularly if this is a frequent experience – it’s worth giving this guide a read, in case you can find a solution.
Below then, you’ll find steps you can take to address poor coverage, whether the issue is your phone or your network.
The UK’s four major networks (Three, EE, Vodafone, and O2) each have different coverage, and the other networks (known as MVNOs or mobile virtual network operators) all share coverage with one of the big four.
So, if you’re experiencing poor mobile coverage than one potential solution could be to change to a different network, but the first step is to check which – if any – has coverage where you need it.
That’s easy to check though – just enter your postcode on our coverage checker tool, and you’ll see the level of 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage – as well as voice performance – that each network reports having in that area. So from there, simply see if any networks claim to have stronger coverage than yours.
Note though that even where coverage as advertised as being strong, signals can struggle to penetrate some buildings. So if you’re having signal issues inside specifically then you won’t be able to tell for sure whether a new network will improve matters until you try.
Still, this could be worth a try. Of course, that can be easier said than done if you’re within the minimum term of a contract on your network, but if you’re in the first 14 days of one (and you signed up online) then you’re free to cancel without penalty. And if you’ve finished the minimum term (or are within the final 30 days) then you’re also free to cancel.
Outside of that, your options are more limited, though you could check whether your provider offers an 'acceptable coverage guarantee’ that they’re failing to meet through poor signal.
You’re also free to leave if your network raises prices in a way that wasn’t clearly laid out in your contract – in this case, you can cancel during the 30-day notice period of price rises that the network gives you.
Otherwise, you can try negotiating with the network, but it’s likely you’ll have to pay a fee to cancel early. In this instance, we’d recommend trying a free or cheap SIM card from another network before cancelling, just to make absolutely sure that you’ll get better coverage by changing network.
It’s possible – particularly if you’re experiencing poor coverage in an area where it’s usually good – that your network is experiencing some temporary issues.
To check for this, Google your mobile network’s ‘network status checker’ or head to its Downdetector page. The former will tell you whether the network is aware of issues in your area – and will likely give some indication of when they’ll be resolved. The latter will tell you if other users are experiencing issues – it won’t provide the same level of detail, but sometimes issues get picked up there before they appear on the network’s own site.
If there are issues, then you might just need to hold out until they’re resolved (though switching to Wi-Fi – more on which below – could work as a temporary solution).
These days most phones that are sold support 5G, but some still don’t, and certainly if you have an older handset, you might be limited to 4G technology.
5G isn’t just faster, it means you can access greater mobile coverage, as there will be places with 5G but no 4G – and with most networks having now switched 3G off, it’s all the more important to have access to 5G.
So, if your phone doesn’t support 5G then it’s worth considering an upgrade – though use our coverage checker tool first to see if there’s actually 5G coverage in your area.
In the very unlikely event that your phone doesn’t even support 4G then you should absolutely upgrade, as otherwise you either now or soon won’t be able to access mobile data at all other than incredibly slow 2G.
If you’re not sure what technologies your phone supports, then Google the name of your phone and the word ‘specs’ at the end to find details, or check the documentation that came with your handset.
It’s possible that your phone is the cause of signal issues, even if it does support 5G, and there are a few things you can try.
First off, turn airplane mode on and off again, and if there’s no change, turn your phone off and on again. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
You should also check if there are any software updates available for your phone and install them if so, and charge the battery if it’s low.
And while a 5G phone is likely to perform better than a 4G one, it could also be worth temporarily turning 5G off, in case 5G coverage where you are is weaker than the 4G coverage – that way, your phone will choose the stronger 4G signal over the weaker 5G one.
Most smartphones and mobile networks now support Wi-Fi Calling, which means you can call and text over Wi-Fi the same way as on your mobile network.
And even if your phone or network doesn’t support this, being on Wi-Fi means you can stay in touch in other ways, such as with WhatsApp and other apps.
So, if you’re having signal issues but have access to a Wi-Fi network then it’s worth switching Wi-Fi on (and enabling Wi-Fi Calling if you haven’t – you should find a toggle for this in your phone’s settings).
Since this is all reliant on Wi-Fi being available it’s not a perfect solution, but it’s better than nothing, and could certainly work as a temporary solution while you wait for network issues to clear up, or while you wait to change network.
If you have bad signal at home or in your office, then you could look into a mobile signal booster or repeater.
These are devices that you can plug in, and then they will boost the signal inside your building. However, they need to be able to pick up a mobile signal to work in the first place, so if you have no signal at all anywhere in the building then they might not work.
Typically for this reason they’d be installed by a window or in an upstairs room, where it’s more likely that a signal will be picked up.
If there’s no signal at all then a repeater could still be an option, but it would typically need to be paired with an outdoor antenna – and may then require a specialist to install it.
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