After setting up my new iPhone 18 Pro, I was excited to try out the new features. However, I ran into an unexpected issue—my cellular data kept cutting out. Apps that required cellular data, like Maps, Safari and Spotify, wouldn’t stay connected to cellular data, but they worked perfectly fine on Wi-Fi. I went through the settings and confirmed that cellular data was turned on for all apps (Settings > Cellular), but when I tried to open some of them, it took me back to the settings screen, and the cellular data option was greyed out. It also seemed like all the apps listed under Settings > Cellular > Show All were stuck in whatever state they were set to before the upgrade. Even though I could move the toggle buttons, the new settings wouldn’t take effect. Interestingly, the apps listed outside of Show All in the main Settings > Cellular menu could still be toggled on and off as expected. It was frustrating, especially since I rely on these apps when I’m out and about. For instance, I use the Tapo app for my security cameras, and I couldn’t check on my cameras while on cellular data due to this problem. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, you’re not alone. Luckily, I found some solutions that worked for me, and I’m here to share them so you can get your cellular data back up and running quickly.
Fix 1: Turn on Airplane Mode
One of the simplest fixes I found for my cellular data issue was toggling Airplane Mode on and off. This can help reset your network connections. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings.
- Toggle on Airplane Mode (you’ll see a small airplane icon).
- Wait at least 15 seconds.
- Toggle Airplane Mode off.
After doing this, check if your cellular data is functioning again. This quick step worked for me when I was experiencing connection issues.
Fix 2: Disable and remove VPN
Another potential culprit could be a VPN. Sometimes, a VPN can interfere with your network connection and prevent cellular data from working properly. To see if your VPN is causing the issue, try disabling it:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down to VPN & Device Management.
- If a VPN is connected, toggle it off or disconnect from the VPN.
If disabling the VPN doesn’t make a difference, you might need to go a step further and completely remove the VPN profile from your iPhone 18 Pro:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select VPN & Device Management.
- Select the configuration profile, then tap Remove Profile. This also removes other settings and accounts provided by the profile.
Once the profile is removed, restart your iPhone and test your cellular data again.
- Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears.
- Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.
- To turn your device back on, press and hold the side button (on the right side of your iPhone) until you see the Apple logo.
In some cases, a VPN can leave behind settings that interfere with your connection, so removing it entirely might be necessary. This worked for a friend of mine who had a similar issue, and it could solve your problem too.
Fix 3: Update Cellular Carrier Settings
If disabling your VPN didn’t resolve the issue, the next step is to check for updates to your cellular carrier settings. These updates can improve network connectivity and performance. Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or has access to cellular data.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select About.
If there’s an update available for your carrier settings, you’ll see an option to update. Follow the prompts to complete the update. If your carrier releases a mandatory update, you’ll see an OK button instead of an Update button to let you know that the system downloaded and installed the update. Afterward, restart your iPhone and see if your cellular data is working again.
In my experience, updating carrier settings has helped fix connection issues, especially after a major iOS update.
Fix 4: Turn Off RCS
If you’re using Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging, you can try turning it off. To turn off RCS, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps near the bottom of the menu.
- Tap Messages.
- Tap RCS Messaging.
- Tap the toggle off next to RCS Messaging.
If the RCS Messaging setting does not appear, RCS messaging might not be available.
After turning off RCS, restart your iPhone and check if your cellular data is working again. I found that after disabling RCS in my messaging app, my connectivity issues improved significantly. It’s a quick fix that might just resolve your problem.
Fix 5: Reset Network Settings
If you’re still having trouble with your cellular data, a more comprehensive fix is to reset your network settings. This can help resolve deeper connectivity issues by returning your network settings to their factory defaults. However, be aware that doing this will erase network-related data, such as saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings, so you’ll need to re-enter them afterward.
To reset your network settings, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings and confirm your choice.
After your iPhone 18 Pro resets, it will restart, and you can reconnect to your Wi-Fi and check if your cellular data is working again. This step worked for me when all other options failed, so it’s worth trying if you’re still having issues.
