How to Get a Signal When Your Phone Has No Bars in Australia

Few things are as frustrating as looking at your phone and seeing no bars, especially when you need to make a call, send a message or check a map. Before you blame your phone or your plan, work through these steps in order. They are arranged from the quickest fixes to the more involved ones, and most signal problems in Australia are solved in the first three.

Step 1: Move somewhere with a clearer view of the sky

Mobile signal travels in straight lines from the nearest tower, and anything in the way weakens it. Thick walls, metal roofs, concrete car parks, basements and lifts all block signal, and so do hills and dense tree cover. If you are indoors, step outside or move near a window. In rural areas, try moving to higher ground or to the side of a building that faces the nearest town.

Step 2: Toggle airplane mode on and off

This is the quickest fix, and it solves a surprising number of signal problems. When your phone has been connected to one tower for a while, or when you have travelled between areas, it can stay stuck on a weak tower even when a better one is nearby. Toggling airplane mode forces it to search again.

On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Centre and tap the airplane icon, wait about ten seconds, then tap it again. On Android, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and tap the airplane icon, wait ten seconds, then tap it again. Give the phone up to a minute to reconnect.

Step 3: Restart your phone

If airplane mode did not help, restart the phone. A restart clears temporary glitches in the radio software and forces a fresh connection to the network. On iPhone, hold the side button and either volume button, then drag the slider to switch off, wait a few seconds, and hold the side button again to switch back on. On most Android phones, hold the power button and tap Restart.

Step 4: Check whether your carrier has an outage

Sometimes the problem is not your phone at all. Networks go down for maintenance, storm damage, or faults, and when that happens no amount of fiddling with settings will help. Check your carrier's network status page for outage reports. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all publish outage information online, and the Australian site Down Detector collects reports from other users in real time.

Ask someone nearby on a different network to check their signal. If theirs works and yours does not, the problem is with your phone or your account. If nobody on your network has a signal, it is almost certainly an outage, and the only fix is to wait or use Wi-Fi calling.

Step 5: Turn on Wi-Fi calling

Wi-Fi calling lets your phone make and receive calls and texts over a Wi-Fi connection when the mobile signal is weak or missing. It is free to set up, and in most recent versions of iOS and Android it takes less than a minute. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Phone, then Wi-Fi Calling, and switch it on. On Android, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, go to Settings, then Calls, then Wi-Fi Calling, and switch it on. The exact menu names vary slightly between brands.

Wi-Fi calling is especially useful at home if you live in an area with patchy coverage. Once it is on, your phone will use your home Wi-Fi for calls automatically whenever the mobile signal drops. Note that emergency calls may behave differently over Wi-Fi calling.

Step 6: Check your SIM card

A loose or damaged SIM card can cause signal problems that look like a network fault. Switch the phone off, take the SIM card out, and check it for dirt or damage. Wipe it gently with a dry cloth, put it back in firmly, and switch the phone on again. If you have an eSIM, try turning the mobile plan off and on again in your phone's settings instead. If a different SIM card works fine in your phone, ask your carrier for a replacement SIM.

Step 7: Update your carrier settings and software

Carriers release small updates called carrier settings that change how your phone connects to the network, and an old version can cause problems. On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then About, and if a carrier settings update is available you will see a prompt to install it. On Android, carrier settings usually arrive with system updates, so go to Settings, then Software Update, and install anything that is waiting. Updates often include fixes for radio and connectivity problems.

When to contact your carrier

If you have tried every step above and still have no signal, contact your carrier. There may be a problem with your account, a fault on the tower that serves your area, or a restriction on your service. If the problem only happens at your home, ask your carrier about a mobile signal booster, which is also called a repeater. These devices are legal in Australia when they are approved for use on your carrier's network, and they can bring a usable signal indoors where the outdoor signal is weak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my phone have no signal in one place but full signal a few streets away?

Mobile signal depends on distance from the nearest tower and on what is in the way. Hills, buildings, trees and even weather can block or weaken the signal, so coverage can change a lot over a short distance. Your carrier's online coverage map shows the expected signal strength in your area.

Does airplane mode really fix signal problems?

In many cases, yes. Toggling airplane mode forces your phone to disconnect and search for the strongest available tower, which fixes the common problem of a phone staying stuck on a weak tower. It is the quickest fix to try.

Can I make calls with no mobile signal at all?

Yes, if you have Wi-Fi. Turn on Wi-Fi calling in your phone settings, and your phone will make and receive calls and texts over a Wi-Fi connection. Satellite messaging on some newer phones can also send texts from places with no mobile coverage at all, though this depends on your phone model and carrier.