7 Ways to Fix Apps Only Work on Wi-Fi and Not Mobile Data

Quick Tips

• Ensure the app can access cellular data on your device.
• Disable any data saver settings on your device.
• Ensure you enable unrestricted data usage for the app, and remove the data limit on your Android device.

Basic Fixes

• Restart device: Restart your device to fix any temporary bugs and glitches.
• Check network plan: Ensure your network plan has enough remaining cellular data bandwidth.
• Check signal strength: Check if there’s a low network strength in your surroundings. If yes, move to a new one and check if the apps work.
• Update device: Update your device to the latest available software version for a bug-free experience.

Fix 1: Enable Cellular Data Access for App

You may have prevented the app from accessing cellular data on your device.

On iPhone

Go to Settings, scroll down, select the app from the list, and enable Mobile Data.

On Android

Step 1: Tap and hold an app icon, and select App Info.

Step 2: Select Data usage and ensure you haven’t enabled Disable mobile data.

Fix 2: Disable Data Saver Mode Inside App

The data saver settings present inside an app may affect loading speeds when you are using cellular data. For example, here’s how you can turn it off on Instagram.

Step 1: Open the Profile tab, and tap on the menu button at the top right corner.

Step 2: Select Media quality and turn off Use less mobile data.

Fix 3: Disable Data Saver Mode on Device

Data saver settings on your device may affect apps and restrict them from loading content using mobile data.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings > tap on Cellular Data/Mobile data.

Step 2: Tap on Mobile Data Options (or Cellular Data Options).

Step 3: Tap on Data Mode. Ensure you haven’t selected Low Data Mode. Select Allow More Data on 5G or Standard.

On Android

Open the Settings app > go to Network & Internet > ensure you have not enabled the toggle for Use Data Saver.

Fix 4: Enable Data Roaming

If you are in a different state or country than your own, it’s necessary that the data roaming setting should be enabled. If it’s off, mobile data won’t work.

On iPhone

Open Settings > Cellular/Mobile Data > Cellular Data Options and turn on Data Roaming.

On Android

Step 1: Open Settings > Mobile Network.

Step 3: Tap on the SIM card you want to enable data roaming and turn it on.

Also Read: How to turn on data roaming on Android and iPhone.

Fix 5: Disable Data Limit (Android)

Android phones come with a feature where the mobile data is switched off once it reaches a set limit automatically. It helps in controlling data usage. You should check if the particular setting is enabled on your phone.

Step 1: Open Settings > Mobile Network > Data Usage.

Step 2: Tap on the Data usage limit. Turn off any sort of data usage limitations.

Fix 6: Clear Cache

Clearing cache and junk files may resolve the issue with apps not being able to work on mobile data.

On Android

Step 1: Long-press the app icon on the home screen and tap on App info. Tap on Clear Data.

Step 2: Tap on Clear cache and select OK to confirm.

On iPhone

Offloading an application on your iPhone removes temporary data, including cache and junk files.

Step 1: Open the Settings app. Go to General -> iPhone Storage.

Step 2: Scroll down and select the app from the list. Select Offload App. Wait for the offloading to complete, then tap on the Reinstall App option.

Fix 7: Enable Unrestricted Data Usage (Android)

Enabling unrestricted data usage and turning on background data helps apps complete tasks even after you close the app.

Tap and hold the app icon, select App Info, and go to Mobile Data Usage. Turn on the toggle for Background Data and Unrestricted mobile data usage.

If none of the above methods work, consider resetting all the network settings on your device.