You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random

Hi,

I've been using an iPhone 4 on a Vodafone contract for the past 16 month and just bought an iPhone 4S direct from Apple. It arrived on Friday morning and I got it set up correctly as far as I can tell.

When I first turn it on, it works lovely and exactly as I would expect, able to make calls, send texts and access the internet via the cellular network. However, at what appears to be random, the network will disappear (no bars of signal) stopping me making calls and texts, but still allowing me to access the internet. Sometimes, the Internet goes, but I can still make calls and texts. Other times, everything is gone and I get "No Signal" where it normally says Vodafone UK.

So when trying to fix this problem after it's noticed, I try putting it into Airplane mode and back out. The phone scans for a network and goes back to the same state as before I tried this fix. I have tried resetting network settings, but this doesn't change anything. The only thing that actually fixes it temporarily is turning the phone right off and back on again.

At this stage I assume this is a bug with the software, but I wondered if anyone else is experiencing anything like this? If no one is, I will take it up with Apple, but I don't really want to do that as I love the new phone so much!!

Cheers, Stuart

iMac (late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.3), 27" i7 Quad-Core, 4GB RAM, 1TB HDD

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 2:53 AM

1,022 replies

Nov 13, 2011 7:24 AM in response to ahmedelghoneimy

selam Üstad ... bende iphone 4s var .. turkcell 64k sim Kartı var .. şebeke hatasından dolayı 2 gundur kaput durumdayım .. 128k sim kart takarsak duzeliyormu gercekten .. acil bilgi verirsen sevinirim.

IRock_

Level 1

8 points

Nov 13, 2011 7:36 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Purchased iPhone 4S Unlock and just upgraded to 5.0.1 and now my phone constantly "searching for signal.."

I can't use my phone!! I have clients will be calling!! I need my premium priced phone to be working!! This is unprofessional! I never once in my life return a phone! Not even a $25 Nokia. I am extremely upset. What am I gonna do now? I'm oversea working and can't return the phone! I need to check my email and send documents and other several job only a smart phone can do! Again, I'm really disappointed!! Fix this!!

Not happy iPhone4S user.

Location: Cambodia

Provider: Mobitel

Nov 13, 2011 7:45 AM in response to serkankekec

Bugun taktim şak diye düzeldi.

Sorunsuz calisiyor artik

Nov 13, 2011 7:49 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

128k SIM SOLVES THIS PROBLEM!!!

vZ10

Level 1

7 points

Nov 13, 2011 7:51 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

My operator doesn't have 128K sim...is that means, that I my iPhone will be iPod forever?

Nov 13, 2011 7:59 AM in response to istanbulappple

... ve nasıl yaptın bunu? Sadece mağazaya gidip yeni bir sim kart için sorabilir miyim?Bir 64k veya 128k kartlar olmalıdır?

Nov 13, 2011 7:58 AM in response to vZ10

Dont worry, I dont think sim 64k is problem. But maybe we must wait for apple fix this bug.

Now I have 2 ipod touchs!

Nov 13, 2011 7:59 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

I have the exact same issue but on my iPhone 4. The phone drops signal constantly and spins from no service to searching and flat bars. My phone is on 5.0.1 and baseband 4.11.08.

I do get signal but same as many aircraft trick don't work and removing I'm works but only or a little while.

falk1984

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 8:28 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

i tried playing with various settings, but nothing worked :S

(turning automatic carrier search OFF, turning cellular data OFF, turning WiFI OFF, > what remains is a basic phone - but the signal constantly drops and i'm not able to make calls / send sms :S)

Nov 13, 2011 8:41 AM in response to bushmills

Abi magazaya gidip yeni mikro sim isteyeceksin.

128k olacak. Yine 64 alirsan bişeye yaramaz!

Nov 13, 2011 8:42 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

also have the same problem here! fed up of all this problem! cant make a call! cant send a text!! Apple we want a fix:@

Nov 13, 2011 8:44 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Some my friends also fix this problem with changing SIM 128k.

Don't need to wait apple.

Nov 13, 2011 8:50 AM in response to istanbulappple

I changed my sim to 128 K micro sim now it works perfect 🙂 Turkcell-Turkey

falk1984

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2011 9:02 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

Also noticed a strange behaviour...

if SIM is locked, iOS5.0.1 is unable to unlock the sim (even with correct entry of pin, error was "Could not unlock SIM. 3 attempts remaining")

if SIM is unlocked, iOS5.0.1 is unable to lock the sim (again, correct entry of pin took place, but error was "Could not lock SIM. 3 attempts remaining")..

-- as a control i placed the sim in another phone and SIM lock was working (locking / unlocking)

Is it possible that the SIM reader in our phones is broken - could someone help verify my observations above?

Thanks,

Nov 13, 2011 9:07 AM in response to Stuart Mchattie

i hope it is a software issue and not a hardware issue! i cant fly back to Uk and get my phone changed:/

iPhone 4S dropping network and data at random