Few things are more frustrating than pulling out your phone to look something up and seeing that dreaded "LTE" symbol crossed out or your phone stuck on the 3G network. Verizon Wireless is known for having one of the most robust and reliable LTE networks, but that doesn‘t mean it‘s immune to the occasional hiccup.
If you‘re struggling to get your Verizon LTE data working properly, don‘t panic. In most cases, you can resolve the issue yourself with some simple troubleshooting steps. I‘ve put together this comprehensive guide on what to do when your Verizon LTE is not connecting so you can get back online ASAP.
Understanding Verizon‘s LTE Network
Before we dive into the fixes, let‘s start with a quick primer on what exactly LTE is and how it works. LTE stands for "Long-Term Evolution" and is a 4G wireless broadband standard. Verizon first rolled out its LTE network back in 2010.
Compared to Verizon‘s older 3G network, LTE offers significantly faster data speeds and lower latency (lag). According to Verizon, their 4G LTE network is now accessible to over 99% of the U.S. population and offers average download speeds of 5-12 Mbps (with peak speeds up to 50 Mbps in some areas).
While Verizon has started deploying an even faster 5G Ultra Wideband network in select cities, 4G LTE is still the backbone of their wireless data services. If you‘re on one of Verizon‘s unlimited plans, you‘ll typically get premium LTE data speeds until you hit the 22-75 GB monthly cap (varies by plan), after which you may experience throttling in busy areas.
Why Is My Verizon LTE Not Working?
There are a number of potential reasons your phone may be having trouble connecting to or staying on Verizon‘s LTE network:
Poor signal strength in your area: You need a certain minimum signal strength to maintain an LTE connection. If you‘re in a remote location, underground, or surrounded by interfering structures, your LTE signal may be weak or nonexistent.
LTE disabled in settings: For whatever reason, the LTE radio may have gotten turned off in your phone‘s mobile network settings. Your phone will revert to 3G when this happens.
Outdated carrier settings: Occasionally, Verizon will push out updates to carrier settings that contain tweaks to how your device connects to their network. It‘s important to regularly install these for optimal performance.
Old/broken SIM card: The SIM card is the tiny chip inside your phone that allows it to interface with Verizon‘s cellular network and authenticates your device. A damaged or incompatible SIM could prevent you from connecting to LTE.
Network outages/congestion: In rare cases, Verizon may be experiencing technical difficulties with the LTE network in your region. Congestion can also temporarily slow down speeds during peak usage times until more bandwidth is available.
Phone software issues: Newer phones may have firmware bugs that cause LTE issues until patched. Older/unsupported models may simply no longer be fully compatible with the network.
Now that we‘ve covered some of the common culprits, let‘s go through the steps to resolve them one by one.
How to Fix Verizon LTE Not Working
Try the following fixes in order until you find the one that gets your Verizon LTE working normally again. Be sure to test your data connection after each one to see if it resolved the problem before moving on to the next step.
1. Toggle Airplane Mode
Sometimes all it takes is a quick reboot of your phone‘s cellular radios to restore the LTE connection. The easiest way to do this is by turning Airplane Mode on and then back off. Here‘s how:
- Open the Settings app and go to the Connections menu
- Tap on Airplane Mode and toggle the switch to turn it ON
- Wait about 30 seconds and then toggle Airplane Mode back to OFF
- Check the status bar to see if the LTE symbol has reappeared
If toggling Airplane mode on and off doesn‘t help, try fully powering your phone off and then turning it back on before retesting the connection.
2. Manually Select Network Mode
Another quick fix to try is manually setting your preferred network type to "LTE/4G" in case it accidentally got changed.
- Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network mode
- Select "LTE/4G" from the list of options
- Your phone will take a moment to reconnect to the Verizon network
- Verify that LTE is working again
Note that the exact location of the network mode setting will vary between phone models and Android versions. On older devices, you may need to go to "More networks" or "Cellular networks" in Settings to find it. Some phones provide this setting directly on the mobile data menu.
3. Reseat the SIM Card
An often overlooked step when experiencing any kind of mobile network issues is to remove and reseat the SIM card in your phone. This forces your device to re-register itself on the network, which can clear up certain authentication problems.
Before proceeding, make sure your phone is fully powered down to avoid damaging the SIM reader. The location of the SIM tray depends on your device model but is typically on one of the sides. You‘ll need a SIM removal tool or a thin paperclip to open it.
Once you‘ve popped the tray out, remove the SIM card inside and inspect it for any obvious signs of damage or debris on the gold contact pads. Gently blow on the SIM to clear any dust and then reinsert it in the tray and slide it back into your phone.
Power your device back on and see if LTE starts working again. If you continue having problems or notice visible damage to your SIM card, contact Verizon to order a free replacement and have them re-activate LTE on your line.
4. Update the PRL and Data Profile
The Preferred Roaming List (PRL) is a database stored on your phone containing information like which cellular towers you should connect to. Verizon may push updates to the PRL that, if not downloaded, could lead to LTE issues.
Similarly, your device‘s data profile tells it how to connect to Verizon‘s LTE network. Inaccurate or outdated profiles can cause problems. Luckily, you can force your phone to refresh both:
- Go to Settings > System > About phone
- Scroll down and tap "Carrier Settings" or "Update Profile"
- If an update is available, confirm you want to install it
- Reboot your phone and recheck LTE afterward
Some Android skins don‘t provide a menu option to manually update PRL/data profiles. In that case, you can dial *228 and select option 2 to force a PRL update via an automated system.
5. Reset Your APN Settings
Access Point Names (APNs) are the configurations your phone needs to get online using Verizon‘s LTE data network. Incorrect APN settings are a common cause of data failure on Android devices. Fortunately, you can reset them:
- Open Settings and go to Connections > Mobile networks > Access Point Names
- Tap the three-dot menu icon and select "Reset to default"
- This will wipe the custom APN settings, if any
- Reboot your device and verify that the LTE problems are resolved
The default Verizon APN settings should be automatically re-configured after the reset. But if you continue to have LTE issues, you can contact Verizon and ask them for the correct APN settings to enter manually for your account type.
6. Check for Carrier/System Updates
In addition to PRL/data profile updates, Verizon also occasionally releases full system updates for Android that contain patches and improvements for their network interface layer. You might see a persistent notification when one of these updates is pending installation.
To check for any available carrier updates, follow these steps:
- Open your phone‘s Settings app and go to the "About phone" section
- Tap on "Carrier Setting Version" or "System Update"
- If an update is ready to install, an "Update" button will appear
- Tap "Update" and follow the prompts to install it
- Your phone will reboot and then re-activate on Verizon‘s LTE network
Carrier updates are fairly small, but do require a solid LTE connection to download. If you‘re having trouble getting the update while on LTE, connect to a Wi-Fi network first and then try again.
7. Factory Reset Your Phone (Last Resort)
If all else fails, a full factory reset of your phone‘s software and settings may be necessary as a last-ditch effort to resolve stubborn LTE issues. Note that this will erase all your personal data, so be absolutely sure you have everything backed up before proceeding.
The exact process for a factory reset varies between devices, but here is the general method:
- Go to Settings > System > Reset options
- Tap "Erase all data (factory reset)"
- Enter your passcode/PIN when prompted to confirm
- The reset process will begin and can take several minutes
- Once it finishes, your device will reboot with factory default settings
- Go through the setup process and restore your data from backup
- Verify that LTE is working normally again with the freshly reset device
A factory reset is most likely to help in cases where some deep software issue or misconfiguration is preventing your device from connecting to Verizon‘s LTE network properly. If the problem persists even after a factory reset, it‘s probably not something you can fix yourself.
Contact Verizon Support If Needed
If you‘ve exhausted all the troubleshooting steps above and find your Verizon LTE still not working properly, it‘s time to contact Verizon for further assistance. There may be an account-specific issue, network outage, or device hardware failure that requires a technician‘s intervention to resolve.
Connect with Verizon customer service:
- Call 1-800-922-0204 or 611 from your Verizon mobile phone
- Use the chat support feature on the My Verizon app or website
- Visit a local Verizon corporate store for in-person support
Before calling, make sure you have relevant account and device info handy, such as your mobile number, account PIN, and the IMEI of your phone. You can dial *#06# to quickly see your IMEI on most devices.
Clearly explain to the support agent the troubleshooting you‘ve already tried so they can skip redundant steps. If possible, request that a ticket be opened with Verizon‘s network engineering team so they can run diagnostic tests and check for error logs generated by your device.
Verizon LTE Frequently Asked Questions
To wrap up, here are answers to some common questions I see asked about Verizon‘s LTE service:
How can I tell if I‘m connected to Verizon‘s LTE network?
The easiest way to confirm you‘re on LTE is by glancing at the status bar at the top of your phone‘s screen. You should see a 4G or LTE icon next to your signal strength bars. If you only see a 3G icon, or the LTE logo has an X over it, that means you are not currently connected to the LTE network.
What‘s the difference between Verizon LTE and 5G?
Verizon‘s 5G network is the latest generation of cellular technology that offers much faster speeds and lower latency than 4G LTE. However, 5G coverage is still quite limited and only available in select cities. Most Verizon customers will be on the LTE network the majority of the time, with 5G being a bonus in areas where it‘s been deployed.
Why does my Verizon LTE keep disconnecting?
There are a few reasons why your phone may frequently drop its LTE connection and fall back on 3G. Some of the most common include low signal strength, network congestion, modem firmware issues, or provisioning problems on Verizon‘s end. Following the troubleshooting steps outlined above should help isolate and resolve disconnection issues.
How do I activate LTE on my Verizon phone?
In most cases, LTE will automatically activate itself on your Verizon phone as long as you‘re using a compatible device and have an active LTE data plan. If LTE is not connecting, try manually selecting the LTE network mode in Settings as described earlier. Should the problem persist, contact Verizon and have them check that the LTE feature is fully provisioned on your line.
Will Verizon‘s LTE network be phased out like 3G?
Verizon has announced that they will begin sunsetting their 3G CDMA network at the end of 2022 in order to free up spectrum for newer 5G technology. However, their 4G LTE network will remain active for the foreseeable future, at least until 2029 or later by some estimates. If you upgrade to a modern 5G device, it will still have LTE capability and simply prefer the faster 5G network when available.
Wrapping It Up
Don‘t let issues with Verizon LTE not working disrupt your day. Follow the step-by-step troubleshooting guide above to resolve the problem and get back online. While network issues can be frustrating, the majority of the time they can be fixed on your end with a bit of patience and process of elimination.
If all else fails, Verizon‘s friendly support staff is always there to lend a hand. Just remember to explore the self-help methods first to save yourself time and hassle. Hopefully this guide has pointed you in the right direction and shed some light on the inner-workings of Verizon‘s massive LTE network. Thanks for reading!
Still have questions about fixing Verizon LTE problems? Drop a comment below and I‘ll do my best to help out! If you found this guide useful, please consider sharing it with others who might be struggling with the same issue.
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