Is your SafeLink mobile data not working? This can be an incredibly frustrating error to get. Luckily, we have the solutions.
Not everyone uses SafeLink, but with around 21 million subscribers, a significant number is getting this error.
We have proven solutions that will help you resolve this issue in under 15 minutes.
When you find out your Starlink mobile data is not working, don’t worry. We got you!
To fix your Starlink Mobile Data, restart your phone. If you own an Android device, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Next, tap restart to restart your phone. Another trick to turn off your mobile data is turning on Airplane Mode. After that, check if your mobile data is working again.
With several fixes available, it can be difficult to determine which will actually work. Thus, it’s best to figure out the main culprit first.
Reasons Why SafeLink Data Not Working
Mobile data is crucial for your phone to function properly. Without it, you won’t be able to use your social media or search engine.
However, like most networks, there are downtimes too. When SafeLink mobile data stops working, everything can be terribly inconvenient.
1. SafeLink Service Outage
If you can’t browse the Internet or check your social media accounts, SafeLink Wireless may be having real-time problems and outages.
You’ll know the network is down when all users in your area have the same issue.
2. Using the Wrong APN Settings
Sometimes, a system update or software update introduces bugs and issues that can cause your phone to malfunction. The problem commonly occurs in the IP address and gateway settings.
3. Network Connection Issues
You may not be using the correct connectivity. The network settings may not be ideal for your phone’s capabilities.
4. Network and Phone Compatibility
Different phone models have different requirements for optimal Internet connection. Your phone may not support 4G or 5G, or it operates limitedly in that network realm.
These are the possible reasons your SafeLink mobile data isn’t working. Now, let’s proceed to our surefire solutions.
How to Fix SafeLink Mobile Data Not Working
When you encounter a SafeLink mobile data not working issue, don’t panic. There are quick fixes to this problem.
Fixing this error is not complicated. In fact, a simple restart will do the trick.
However, if it doesn’t you can be sure that there’s an underlying issue that needs to be resolved.
There are several causes that you need to look out for, and here are some of the troubleshooting steps that you need to look at closely.
Solution #1: Temporarily Disconnect Your Mobile Data
One of the first things you need to do when you continue to experience inconsistent SafeLink mobile data is to disconnect it.
Several reasons can cause this, such as software and hardware issues.
The good news is that a quick reset of your phone’s mobile data module or receiver should resolve it.
Here are the steps to disconnect your mobile data properly:
- Swipe down from the top of your screen.
- Look for the Mobile Data icon on your device’s Control Center or Quick Settings.
- Tap on the Mobile Data icon.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds.
- Tap on the icon again to restart it.
Tip: Rebooting your phone after restarting your Mobile Data feature will also help to get it working again.
Solution #2: Refresh Your Connection by Activating Airplane Mode
Your Mobile Data receiver is just one part of your phone’s communications components.
If you want to refresh your phone’s connection to SafeLink’s signal towers, activating Airplane Mode should do a more thorough job.
Whenever you turn on Airplane Mode, it deactivates all of your phone’s networking hardware.
The fix to the issue comes when you disable Airplane Mode and allow your phone to reconnect to your network.
Here’s how to refresh your phone’s connection to SafeLink:
- Open your phone’s Settings.
- Navigate to the Airplane Mode menu.
- Toggle the switch to the On position to activate Airplane Mode.
- Wait for 2 minutes.
- Toggle the switch to the Off position to reconnect your phone.
Note: You can also swipe down from the top of the screen and activate Airplane Mode from the Control Center or Quick Settings.
Solution #3: Manually Select LTE as the Network Type
Your phone’s mobile data comes in different shapes and sizes. Some connection types are faster than others.
One, in particular, is LTE, which is the modern standard for wireless internet connections. The good news is that SafeLink supports LTE with excellent coverage.
The issue here can occur whenever your phone connects to SafeLink’s network, and it’s not choosing to connect to LTE.
You will surely experience slow to no internet connection with your phone’s Mobile Data. To resolve this issue, you’re going to need to set your phone to connect to LTE at all times.
Here’s how to choose LTE as your phone’s default network connection:
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Choose the Cellular option.
- Select Cellular Data Options.
- Tap on Voice and Data.
- Change from Auto to LTE.
Note: You’ll also need to confirm if SafeLink supports LTE in your area to get the best wireless internet experience.
Solution #4: Wipe Your Phone’s Cache Partition
One possible cause of your SafeLink mobile data not working is corrupted files on your phone. These should not pose much of a problem most of the time.
However, there are instances when these can interfere with the operation of some of your phone’s features.
You can remove these files by clearing your phone’s cache. If you’re familiar with clearing your app’s cache and data, this is the equivalent of system files on your phone.
Here’s how to wipe your device’s cache partition:
- Turn your phone off.
- Press the Power and Volume Down buttons to get your phone into Recovery Mode.
- Use the Volume buttons to scroll to the Wipe Cache Partition item.
- Press the Power button to choose it.
- Wait for the process to complete.
Tip: You’ll need to choose the Reboot option after wiping your phone’s cache partition.
Solution #5: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings
Whenever you’re having issues with your phone’s connections, resetting its network settings is something that you should consider.
It’s most effective whenever your phone’s mobile data is not working properly.
Performing this step will clear your phone’s network settings, including those for mobile data.
This will force your phone to request the latest carrier settings so it can connect to SafeLink’s internet access point.
Here’s how to reset your phone’s network settings:
- Go to your phone’s Settings app.
- Select General.
- Choose the Reset option.
- Tap on Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings from the different options.
Note: After resetting your phone’s network settings, you want to check for a carrier settings update the next time you turn it on.
Solution #6: Change SafeLink’s APN Settings on Your Phone
If there’s a set of configurations that are extremely important with your phone’s mobile data, it’s the APN settings.
It’s a set of information that your phone needs to connect successfully to your carrier’s data service.
Type one of these wrong, and you won’t be able to connect to the internet on your phone.
Each carrier is different, and SafeLink has its own set of configurations.
Now, your phone should automatically get the APN settings for SafeLink the first time you insert your SIM.
However, circumstances can change it, which can cause you to lose your mobile data connection.
Here are SafeLink’s APN settings you need to use:
- SafeLink under Name
- Tfdata under APN
- Proxy.mobile.att.net under Proxy
- 80 under Port
Note: You’ll need to go into your phone’s Settings, go to Cellular, then APN, and check or enter the following details.
If none of these steps work, you’ll want to update your phone’s software to the latest version or reset it to factory settings.
You can also contact SafeLink customer support to ask for assistance when settings up your phone’s network settings.
Read Next: How to Transfer My SafeLink Service to Another Phone?
Bottom Line
Now that you know the causes and fixes to SafeLink mobile data not working, it should not take long for you to restore your connection.
These are incredibly easy steps that don’t need any technical expertise as long as you follow these solutions.
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.