We’ve all been there: you’re halfway through a phone call, the sound becomes crackly and then… silence. If your signal tends to drop out, there’s no reason to put up with this, as there are ways to improve it. Here, SIM-only mobile provider spusu, explains seven things to try if your mobile reception needs a boost.
According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring 2025 report, 5G coverage has remained steady, but availability still varies widely around the UK. If we look at the locations where 5G is available with high confidence across all MNOs, there’s coverage in 32 per cent of sites in urban areas, and two per cent of sites in rural areas.
However, in the Scottish borders, there’s coverage of just 0.01 per cent. So, if you’re struggling to connect within the region, you won’t be alone.
Christian Banhans, managing director of spusu UK, said: “If you’re struggling with weak phone signal, I recommend using a coverage checker to see how reliable 4G and 5G are in your area. This allows you to see a general overview of the connectivity for your location.
“If the issue is due to location, you might need to replace your current SIM to change to a provider with better coverage in your area. Or, alternatively, you could get a secondary eSIM to use in the areas that your current SIM struggles with.
“Do plenty of research before taking out a new plan. Keep in mind that you can often get a 30-day rolling contract to test a new SIM before committing to a long-term contract.
“But if, for whatever reason, you’re just not able to get phone signal and need to make a quick call, see if you can connect to WiFi to make a call over the internet. If so, this would be a great back-up option.”
Steps to take when your mobile signal is weak
1) Switch from 5G to 4G if connection is poor
When 5G is available, it’s usually the fastest and most reliable option for phone signal. However, there’s a risk that if 5G signal is weak, your phone will still prioritise it over 4G, leading to a patchier connection.
You should have the option to change your preferred network type from 5G to 4G in your phone’s settings. So, if you have a weak 5G connection, see if you can get stronger reception by switching to 4G.
2) Refresh your phone signal
You might occasionally find that, shortly after changing locations, your phone signal starts to play up. This can happen when your phone tries to maintain a connection to the cell tower from the area you had previously been in.
A quick way to fix this is by turning on Aeroplane Mode for around ten seconds. Then, when you turn it off again, your phone should hopefully establish a new connection with a tower that’s closer by.
If that doesn’t work, try restarting your device to see if that prompts it to refresh the signal and find stronger reception.
3) Check if your SIM card is damaged
Phone signal can come and go, especially as you move around, so if you’re struggling to connect at all, this could suggest a problem with the SIM hardware.
Have a look to see if the SIM is damaged, or if it needs to be cleaned. If it just needs a clean, a soft dry cloth, such as one for glasses, should help. But, if it’s physically damaged, you’ll need to get in touch with your provider. They’ll be able to advise you on the next steps, such as arranging a replacement SIM.
4) Get a new SIM or eSIM
If your usual provider struggles to connect in a location that you visit a lot, such as your home or office, it could help to get a new SIM with a different network.
Use coverage checkers to see how other providers compare to your current one. It might be that you can get a new SIM that covers all the key locations, meaning you no longer need to keep your old one.
However, if you do need two SIMs for comprehensive coverage, many phones allow you to have them both installed at once. You can then switch between each one as and when needed. Your phone doesn’t necessarily need to have two SIM card slots for this to work. It’s possible to get the second one as an eSIM, which can be downloaded straight to your device.
And, as SIMs and eSIMs are often available on a short-term basis, there’s the option to see what the phone signal is like for a month before committing to a lengthy plan.
5) Make hands-free calls
Remember that even if you’re in a location that usually has good coverage, factors like extreme weather and tree cover can impact your phone reception. At times like these, a quick way to improve the call quality is by using earphones instead of holding the phone to your ear.
In particular, look for ones with noise-cancellation features and a good microphone. They might not improve the signal, but they can make the sound clearer for both you and the person on the other end of the line.
6) Check if your phone relies on outdated technology
For old phones, there’s a risk the hardware won’t be able to handle 5G connections. Devices started to include 5G chipsets and modems in around 2019. If you bought yours before then, it likely won’t have the capabilities to connect.
Unfortunately, the most effective way to address this issue is by upgrading to a newer device. But, if that’s not an option for you currently, the next tip can work well as a short-term solution.
7) Use WiFi to make calls
If you’re struggling to connect to 4G or 5G but you have access to WiFi, this will likely be your best option for making calls.
In addition, apps like WhatsApp just require a solid internet connection and, as long as the other person also has the app, you can make fast and reliable calls for free.
So, even if your mobile has weak signal, there are plenty of ways to work around this and improve the quality of calls.
To see what the signal quality is like in your location, check out spusu’s coverage checker.
