AT&T 5G Not Working? – (10 Easy Ways to Fix)

Kevin Wood Updated on
at&t 5g not working

Are you frustrated with your AT&T 5G not working?

AT&T’s 5G network gives you blazing-fast speeds, and the likely cause it’s not working is an issue with your device or settings.

You’ll see a different icon on your status bar instead of 5G.

To get your AT&T 5G to work, ensure you’re inside their 5G coverage area and have a good signal. You also want to set your phone to force it to use 5G so it doesn’t switch to other network types.

Let’s dive in! 

AT&T 5G Not Working – 10 Easy Ways to Fix This Error

my at&t 5g is not working

If you’re experiencing any of these issues with your AT&T 5G service, don’t worry. Several simple and effective solutions will help you fix them.

1. Make Sure Your Phone is Compatible with 5G

If you’re using a different phone and it’s not connecting to 5G, ensure it’s compatible.

making sure your phone compatibility

Not all phones support 5G, especially older models, so you want to double-check if it’s 5G-capable or not.

To know if your phone can handle AT&T’s 5G network, follow these steps:

  1. Open your phone’s specifications from the manufacturer’s website.
  2. Look under the Network section.
  3. Check to see if 5G is listed there.
  4. You’ll also be able to check your phone’s settings.
Note: If you find out that your phone is not compatible with 5G, you will need to upgrade to a new one that supports it.

2. Reinsert and Clean Your SIM Card

reinserting your sim card

Your SIM plays a vital role in connecting you to the network.

If dirty, loose, or damaged, it will affect the signal quality and prevent you from getting 5G service. To resolve the issue, reinsert and clean your SIM card. 

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your phone.
  2. Use a paper clip or ejector tool to remove the SIM tray.
  3. Take out your SIM card.
  4. Wipe it gently with a soft cloth or tissue paper.
  5. Ensure the SIM card and tray have no dust, dirt, or debris.
  6. Put the SIM card back into the tray, aligning it correctly.
  7. Insert the tray back into your phone and turn it on.
Pro Tip: Back up your important data before any SIM card-related actions to avoid data loss. 

3. Verify Your AT&T Plan If It Includes 5G Access

verifying your at&t plan if it includes 5g access

Why is my 5G not working AT&T? To access AT&T’s 5G network, your plan must support 5G technology.

Only plans such as Unlimited Elite, Unlimited Extra, and Unlimited Starter offer 5G service. 

To check if your plan includes 5G access, follow these steps:

  1. Open the My AT&T app on your phone or visit the AT&T website on your browser.
  2. Log in to your account with your username and password. 
  3. Tap or click on My Wireless. 
  4. Select View Plan Details.
  5. See if your plan includes 5G or Unlimited.
  6. If it doesn’t support 5G access, change it to a compatible one.
  7. Tap or click on Change My Plan and follow the instructions.  
Note: You need a specific 5G-capable SIM card to access the 5G network. AT&T will provide it to you if necessary.  

4. Ensure You’re in AT&T’s 5G Coverage Area

ensuring you’re in at&t’s 5g coverage area

You must be within their coverage area to get the most out of AT&T’s 5G network.

The 5G network is still expanding and may not be accessible in certain areas, so it’s worth checking if you’re in an area with 5G coverage to ensure you enjoy faster speeds and lower latency. 

Here are the steps to do this:

  1. Visit AT&T’s coverage map on your browser.
  2. Enter your address or ZIP code in the search box.
  3. Hit Enter.
  4. Zoom in or out to see your area’s coverage details. 
  5. Look for the 5G icon on the map. 

If you don’t see the 5G icon, you’re not in a 5G coverage area, or the map hasn’t been updated yet.

Wait for AT&T to expand its network to your location or move to a different spot with better signal strength. 

5. Turn On Airplane Mode to Refresh Your Phone’s Connections

turning on airplane mode

Toggling the Airplane mode refreshes your phone’s connections and resolves any network issues.

It turns off all wireless features of your phone, including cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

When you turn it off, your phone will reconnect to AT&T and receive a better signal. 

Follow these steps to toggle Airplane mode:

  1. Open your phone’s Control Center or Quick Settings.
  2. Tap on the Airplane icon to activate Airplane mode. 
  3. Wait for a few seconds.
  4. Tap on the Airplane icon again to turn off Airplane mode.
  5. Wait for your phone to reconnect to the network. 
  6. Check if your 5G service is working properly.  
Note: When Airplane Mode is on, be prepared for a brief period of isolation from your WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular network. 

6. Force Your Phone to Use 5G Only

forcing your phone to use 5g only

If you’re frustrated with AT&T 5G not working iPhone, ensure your phone is set to use 5G only.

Typically, your device automatically switches between 4G, LTE, or 3G, depending on signal strength and availability.

Unfortunately, this causes problems with your 5G service. 

To force your phone to use 5G only, follow these steps:

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on General.
  3. Select Cellular Data Options.
  4. Tap Voice & Data.
  5. Tap on 5G On.
  6. Select 5G Only.

Android

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Network & Internet.
  3. Select Mobile Network.
  4. Tap Preferred Network Type.
  5. Tap on 5G Only or NR/LTE.
Note: Forcing your phone to use 5G only will drain your battery faster and limit your call and text capabilities in non-5G areas. Choose Automatic or LTE/3G/2G to revert to the default setting. 

7. Manually Select AT&T as Your Phone’s Carrier

manually selecting at&t as your phone’s carrier

Typically, your phone selects the best carrier based on signal strength and availability, but this approach results in 5G service problems.

To address the issue, manually choose AT&T as your phone’s carrier. To do this, follow these steps:

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Cellular.
  3. Choose Network Selection.
  4. Turn off the Automatic switch.
  5. Wait for the list of available carriers to appear.
  6. Tap on AT&T and wait for your phone to register on the network. 

Android

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Network & Internet.
  3. Select Mobile Network.
  4. Tap Network Operators.
  5. Tap on Search networks.
  6. Wait for the list of available carriers to appear.
  7. Choose AT&T and wait for your phone to register on the network.

Return to the home screen after manually selecting AT&T as your phone’s carrier. Then, check if your 5G service is working properly. 

8. Check for New Carrier Updates

checking for new carrier updates

Another way to resolve the issue is to check for carrier updates. These updates enhance your phone’s performance and network capability and provide new features like 5G access. 

To check for carrier updates, follow these steps:

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on General.
  3. Select About.
  4. Tap on Update when you see a prompt to download and install an update.
  5. Restart your phone and see if 5G is working properly.

Android

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on System.
  3. Select Software Update.
  4. Tap on Download and Install when an update is available.
  5. Wait for the update to download and install on your phone.
  6. Restart your phone and see if 5G is working properly.

Pro Tip: Use a WiFi connection for updates to save data and ensure a stable download.

9. Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

resetting your phone’s network settings

Resetting your phone’s network settings helps fix any AT&T 5G service issues.

However, it will erase all your saved network settings, such as WiFi passwords, Bluetooth connections, and VPN configurations. 

Info: Back up any important network-related data before proceeding. 

To do this, follow these steps:

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on General.
  3. Select Reset.
  4. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  5. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  6. Tap on Reset Network Settings again to confirm.
  7. Wait for your phone to restart and reconnect to the network.

Android

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on System.
  3. Select Advanced.
  4. Choose Reset Options.
  5. Tap on Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth.
  6. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password if prompted.
  7. Tap Reset Settings to confirm.
  8. Wait for your phone to restart and reconnect to the network.

10. Update Your APN Settings

updating your apn settings

Finally, update your APN settings. The Access Point Name is vital information that guides your phone to connect to the network.

Having outdated or incorrect APN settings impedes your 5G services. Here are the steps to do this:

iPhone

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Cellular.
  3. Select Cellular Data Options.
  4. Tap Cellular Data Network.
  5. Enter the following information under Cellular Data:
  • APN: broadband
  • Username: leave blank
  • Password: leave blank
  1. Tap on the back arrow in the upper left corner.
  2. Select Cellular.
  3. Turn off Cellular Data, then turn it back on.

Android

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap on Network & Internet.
  3. Select Mobile Network.
  4. Tap Advanced.
  5. Choose Access Point Names.
  6. Tap the + icon in the upper left corner to add a new APN.
  7. Enter the following information:
  • Name: AT&T 5G
  • APN: broadband
  • Proxy: leave blank
  • Port: leave blank
  • Username: leave blank
  • Password: leave blank
  • Server: leave blank
  • MMSC: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net
  • MMS proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net
  • MMS port: 80
  • MCC: 310
  • MNC: 410
  • APN type: default,mms,supl,hipri,fota
  1. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  2. Tap on Save.
  3. Select your newly created APN. 

Quick Recap

If you’re experiencing issues with AT&T 5G not working, it’s likely related to your device or settings.

Confirm you’re in a 5G coverage area with a strong signal, and configure your phone to prioritize 5G to avoid switching to other network types. 

Discover more information about AT&T 5G from our blog!