How to fix a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus that keeps losing signal, intermittent service / signal drops (easy steps)
Having trouble acquiring a stable signal on your new Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus? If that is so then this post is for you. Read on and find out how to deal with intermittent service or signal drops on your Galaxy S9 Plus.
Your device may keep losing signal or have no signal at all if you are way farther than or out of your network range. But some people have the same trouble getting a stable signal even if they’re within their network coverage area. This likely happens with on-going network outages. Other factors to consider are software errors and hardware damage on the phone. The latter however is very unlikely given the fact that what you’ve got is a new powerful device. Nonetheless, it is not impossible with accidental drops or liquid exposure on the phone.
Should this happen to you with the new Samsung S9 Plus handset, it could denote a possible damage to any of the network components, if not due to a software issue affecting network system on your phone. Signal drops that are attributed to software errors are usually get fixed on your end by performing applicable workarounds. If ever you need some more inputs, consider these subsequent solutions.
Before going further, if you found this post because you were trying to find a solution to your problem, then try to visit our Galaxy S9 troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed most of the commonly reported issues with the phone. We’ve already provided solutions to some of the problems reported by our readers so try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you and if you need further assistance, fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit.
First solution: Enable/disable Airplane mode.
Turning Airplane mode on for a few seconds and then back on has already done wonders to many people who have dealt with relevant issues on their Android devices. It turned out that this trick helps restart and refresh network functions on the phone so it won’t hurt if you’d give it a shot. Here’s how it’s done:
- Swipe up on an empty spot from the Home screen to open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings.
- Then tap Connections.
- Tap Airplane Mode.
- Tap the Airplane Mode switch to turn the feature on for about 30 seconds.
- After the elapsed time, tap the Airplane mode switch again to turn the feature off.
Restart your phone then see if that fixes the problem. If not, then move on to the next applicable solutions.
Second solution: Remove any third party cases and accessories.
Some third party cases and accessories can interfere with the signal hence results to intermittent service on the phone. If you are using any cases, take them off from the phone then see if that brings a positive outcome with your phone’s signal strength.
Third solution: Verify and ensure that the SIM card is properly installed.
Signal issues can also be attributed to a damaged or dislodged SIM card on your phone. To make sure this isn’t the root cause of the problem, try to remove and reseat the SIM card on your S9 Plus. Here’s how it’s properly done:
- Turn your phone off completely.
- Insert the ejector tool into the hole on the SIM/microSD card tray and then gently push until the tray pops out.
- Take the SIM/microSD card tray out from the phone.
- Remove the SIM card from the tray then check for any visible signs of damage like scratches.
- If the SIM card looks fine, place it back into the SIM card tray with the gold contacts facing down.
- Insert the SIM/microSD tray back into the slot.
Once everything is secured in place, reboot your phone to refresh apps and system functions. See if that fixes the problem.
Fourth solution: Boot your phone into safe mode.
All third-party apps are disabled temporary in safe mode, thus making it easier for you to determine if the problem is due to a third-party app or not. Try to boot your phone into safe mode and see if the problem is gone or continues. If the problem does not occur or you’re getting a stable signal while in safe mode, then it means that a third-party app is inflicting such trouble. Having said that, you need to remove that buggy app so as to get a stable signal on your device.
Follow these steps to enable and use safe mode on your Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus:
- Turn your phone off.
- Press and hold the Power button after the model name screen shows up on the screen.
- Release the Power button when the Samsung logo appears.
- Immediately press and hold the Volume Down button after releasing the Power button.
- Keep holding the Volume Down button until the phone restarts.
- When you see the Safe Mode badge in the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume Down button.
Uninstall bad apps if necessary.
Fifth solution: Update your phone software to the latest version.
Software updates also contain bug fixes to address existing issues on the device caused by software bugs including signal drops. If you haven’t gone for an upgrade yet, then check for software to download and install on your device.
- To check for and install software update on your Samsung S9 Plus, go to Apps-> Settings-> About phone-> Download updates manually. Wait for your phone to check for updates. Tap OK.
- Then tap Start. If prompted with the restart message, tap OK to proceed.
You can also update your Samsung S9+ from a computer through Smart Switch. You will need to connect your phone to your computer using the supplied USB cable in order to get started with this method. When your phone is recognized by Smart Switch on your computer, follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the latest software version available for your phone.
Last option: Perform a factory data reset on your Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
A factory data reset will remove all data from your device along with any corrupt data, software bugs and malware that might have inflicted signal issues to occur on your phone. This should serve as your last option if all else failed to fix the problem. Just don’t forget to back up all your important data beforehand so you can have them restored after the reset if necessary.
- Back up your phone data by going to Apps-> Settings-> Cloud and accounts-> Backup and restore. Then select the option to Back up my data or Automatic restore.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap General management.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Factory data reset.
- Tap Reset to continue.
- Then tap Delete All to confirm.
- If prompted, enter your credentials or verify your Samsung account and password to proceed and complete the reset.
After the reset, your device will reboot and you will need to go through the initial setup. If this doesn’t help, then don’t hesitate to contact your network service provider or carrier for further assistance.
If you have recently switch carriers but kept using the same phone, then you need to contact your previous carrier for a SIM unlock. Otherwise, contact your current carrier for further assistance in reprogramming your phone for their service.
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