Vodafone 5G not working, and you’re wondering why you’re not receiving the fast network?
Well, if you have a 5G-enabled smartphone and a Vodafone plan that supports 5G, theoretically, you should be receiving the 5G network speeds.
However, if you only see 4G, 3G, E or LTE, you are not receiving good cellular reception, so the guide will unwrap the possibilities and help you.
When Vodafone 5G is not working, you must first verify that your mobile is compatible with 5G and that the 5G feature is enabled. If the issue is persistent, you must re-embed the SIM card into the tray, adjust the Vodafone APN settings and reset the network setup!
Let’s continue to unwrap!
Why is 5G Not Working Vodafone?
There are numerous reasons that can impact the Vodafone 5G functionality and leave you with the slower 4G or entirely without network reception.
So, the first step is identifying all causes:
The guide below will address all possibilities, so without any hassle, keep reading!
How to Fix When Vodafone 5G Not Working Easily?
Tip: Follow the steps chronologically!
1. Verify the Phone’s Compatibility
The first step is verifying that your mobile device is 5G-enabled, meaning the phone can establish a 5G connection.
If your phone is not compatible, even if your Vodafone plan does support 5G, you won’t be able to connect, so let’s take a look at the supported 5G phones…
| 5G-Enabled Phones | |
| Android | iOS |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 5G Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S20 5G | iPhone 12 iPhone 12 Mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Max |
| HUAWEI Mate 20 X 5G HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+ OnePlus Nord OnePlus 8 Pro | iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max |
| Google Pixel 5 Google Pixel 6 LG Wing LG v60 ThinQ 5G | iPhone SE (2022) |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Xiaomi Mi 10 5G Xiaomi Mi 10i Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G | iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max |
| Sony Xperia 1 II Asus ROG Phone 3 Vivo V20 Pro 5G Vivo IQOO 3 5G | |
Note: If you don’t see your mobile phone here, check the machine’s specifications online to see whether the 5G feature is supported.
2. Enable Your Phone’s 5G Feature!
If your phone is compatible with a 5G network, but you only see 4G or 3G, then probably your phone is not configured to connect to the faster network.
On both Android and iOS, there is an option to enable/disable the 5G feature based on whether you want to use the network or not.
How to Enable 5G on Android?
- First, navigate to the Android home screen.
- From there, enter the Settings application.
- Find and tap the “Network & Internet” tab.
- Next, press on the “SIM” option in the menu.
- Locate the “Prefered Network Type” section.
- Then, select “5G” under the section to enable.
How to Enable 5G on Apple iOS?
- First, go to your Apple iOS’s home screen.
- From there, enter the Settings application.
- Next, enter the “Cellular” tab early in the list.
- Then, go to the “Cellular Data Options” tile.
- From there, tap on “Voice and Data Settings”
- Tap on Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options.
- Again, tap on Voice and Data and select “5G”.
Tip: When the 5G feature on your mobile is enabled, reboot the device and test whether the Vodafone 5G network will not work.
3. Re-Embed Your Vodafone SIM
If you’re not getting any cellular reception, then indeed, your Vodafone 5G won’t be working, so the first thing to inspect is whether the SIM card is recognised.
Sometimes, when the SIM card is not embedded correctly into the SIM tray, the mobile won’t be able to connect to the network.
The easiest way to solve this is by re-inserting the Vodafone SIM card:
- First, you must acquire the SIM ejector tool.
- Alternatively, you can use something sharp.
- Reach inside the SIM tray pinhole and push.
- The mobile’s SIM tray should pop right out.
- Then, gently eject the SIM card from within.
- Use a soft cloth to wipe the dust on the SIM.
- Also, clean any dust accumulation on the tray.
- Use the cut corner to insert the SIM correctly.
- Tightly push the SIM tray back into the phone.
When you insert the SIM card, you must wait for a few moments until the machine scans and connects with the network.
Shortly after, you’ll be prompted to insert the Vodafone SIM card PIN code, which is “1234” by default.
Reminder: Double-check if the 5G feature on your mobile is enabled!
4. Power Cycle the Vodafone Phone
The next step is something as simple as power cycling your phone.
Sometimes, the reason why the 5G is not working is due to a system bug, so rebooting the operating software of your mobile must help resolve the Vodafone 5G problem.
To power cycle your phone, press and hold the power button!
Then, a power menu will appear on the screen, and to shut down your phone, you must select the “Shutdown” or “Power off” option.
We recommend entirely powering off your device and then holding the power button to turn on the unit instead of restarting it, which is ineffective.
Note: If you have a very weak reception, you might not be able to connect with the 5G network!
5. Check for a Vodafone Service Outage!
Sometimes, the 5G from your mobile might not work due to an outage from Vodafone’s end, and there is nothing to do at home to solve the issue.
You can check for Vodafone outages instantly by going to the Vodafone “Check My Service” page.
From there, you must select the “Mobile Network” box and enter your postcode number to see all ongoing Vodafone outages in your area.
This would suggest whether you need to progress troubleshooting further or wait until the outage is addressed and resolved.
Note: Mobile network outages typically last a few hours!
6. Adjust the Vodafone APN Settings
The APN or “Access Point Name” are the essential settings required for your mobile to connect with the Vodafone network.
These settings are typically automatically acquired from the inserted SIM card, but in some cases, bugs develop, preventing the correct configuration from settling in.
How to Set Vodafone APN for Android?
Go to Settings, enter Wireless & Networks, find Mobile Network, enter Access Point Names and press the button to add a New APN.
Then configure the following settings:
- Name: Vodafone internet
- APN (pay as you go): pp.vodafone.co.uk
- APN (pay monthly): wap.vodafone.co.uk
- Username: wap
- Password: wap
- MMS Proxy: 212.183.137.12
- MMSC: http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms
- MMS Port: 8899
- Authentication: None
- APN Type: default,mms,supl
How to Set Vodafone APN for Apple?
Go to Settings, then enter Mobile Data and select Mobile Data Network.
Then configure the following settings:
- Name: Vodafone internet
- APN (pay as you go): pp.vodafone.co.uk
- APN (pay monthly): wap.vodafone.co.uk
- Username: wap
- Password: wap
- Authentication: None
- APN Type: default,mms,supl
- MMSC: http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms
Note: When you’re ready with the adjustment, Save the changes and reboot your mobile to see if the 5G will work.
7. Reset Your Phone’s Network Setup!
One of the most potent techniques to resolve network issues not only with Vodafone but with any operator is resetting your device’s network settings.
This is a last-resort method since, after the steps, all your Cellular (APN), Bluetooth, and WiFi settings will be permanently erased.
How to Reset Network on Android?
- On your Android, open the Settings app.
- Then, navigate and enter the System tab.
- From the options, select “Reset Options.”
- Choose “Reset WiFi, mobile & Blethoot.”
- Finally, tap on the “Reset Settings” button.
How to Reset Network on Apple?
- From the iOS home screen, go to Settings.
- Then, select the General tab from the top.
- Next, select “Transfer or Reset [ Device]“.
- Tap “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings”.
Note: When the network settings on your mobile have been reset, the phone will reboot, and you will have to set up any networking configurations from scratch.
Quick Recap:
Hence, when Vodafone 5G not working, verify that your device is 5G-enabled and ensure to enable the 5G feature.
If that doesn’t help, check for Vodafone outages, re-configure the APN settings, power cycle the mobile, and reset the network settings as a last resort.
Follow us for more Vodafone guides and troubleshooting!
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.