How to fix an Apple iPhone XR that keeps losing signal, problem on signal drops

Intermittent signal or signal drops in smartphones may denote a problem on the software, if not due to damaged hardware including bad SIM card or defective network component like defective built-in antenna on the phone. Before rushing to a service center, it is but imperative to apply some workarounds to rule out software-related factors from the underlying cause.

Highlighted below are applicable solutions that are often used to fix a problem on signal drop or intermittent signal on the new iPhone XR. Feel free to refer to this walkthrough if you need some more inputs on how to deal with this problem on your iPhone. Keep reading for more information.

Before we move on to our tutorial, if you happen to find this post while looking for a solution to a different problem, then visit our iPhone XR Help Guides page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already published articles that could help you fix your problem. Find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions.

Why does your iPhone XR keep losing signal?

Weak or poor signal is one of the main reasons as to why your phone is experiencing signal drops or keeps losing signal. The signal strength of your phone varies from place to place. For example, if you’re in an area that’s a bit far or way too far from your network coverage, then you’d expect your device to have poor signal or network reception. The signal bars on the status bar of your iPhone screen is a direct indicator of how strong or weak your iPhone signal is.

First solution: Reboot your iPhone (soft reset).

The first things you need to rule out are minor system errors that caused occurrence of network glitches, particularly signal issues on your iPhone. And the simplest way to clear out these factors would be a soft reset or reboot on your iPhone. If you haven’t already, follow these steps to soft reset your iPhone XR:

1. Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
2. Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears and then drag the power off slider to the right.
3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until the iPhone reboots.

This process also helps dump caches from your phone’s internal memory including corrupt data that caused the signal or network system to become unstable.

Second solution: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off again.

Minor issues affecting the phone’s wireless functions are usually remedied by the Airplane Mode trick. It works by turning Airplane Mode on and off. Here’s how it’s done:

1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
2. Select Airplane Mode and then tap the switch to turn the feature ON. Doing so disables the phone’s wireless radios and relevant functions including Wi-Fi.
3. While Airplane Mode is turned ON, restart or soft reset your iPhone XR to clear out random software glitches that caused minor connectivity issues.
4. After the phone restarts, go back to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu and then toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode OFF again.

Allow your device to re-establish wireless network connections and for the signal indicator to stabilize.

Third solution: Update carrier settings on your iPhone XR.

Another way to fix network-related issues is to update carrier settings on your device. Carrier settings usually embed fix patches to existing network issues. To check for new carrier update to download and install on your iPhone XR, simply follow these steps:

1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Select About.

Navigate to the carrier section, then wait for the information to populate. If a new carrier update is available, you will see an update notification. Just follow the onscreen instructions to update carrier settings on your iPhone XR.

Updating your iPhone XR to the latest version can also solve the problem if it’s attributed to system flaws.

• To check for new iOS update, just head over to your iPhone Settings-> General-> Software Update menu.

An update notification will show up if a new iOS version is available. If your iPhone has stable Wi-Fi internet access and has ample of memory space and battery life, then you can immediately update your device. Just refer to the onscreen instructions to download and install new update for your iPhone XR.

After installing updates, give your phone a reboot to apply the recent changes and to refresh the phone system and internal memory.

Fourth solution: Reset network settings on your iPhone XR.

Network-related problems that are attributed to incorrect or invalid network configuration are generally resolved by resetting the network settings. This reset deletes your current network configurations and server information. Network connections including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular data are likewise restored to default. Here’s how it’s done:

1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
4. Select the option to Reset network settings.
5. Enter your device passcode when asked to proceed.
6. Then select the option to confirm reset.

Wait for your iPhone to finish resetting its network settings and restarts itself when done. As soon as your phone boots up, set up your network connections then see if the problem is gone.

Fifth solution: Reinstall your SIM card.

If resetting the network settings didn’t solve the problem or your iPhone is still experiencing signal drops, try reinstalling the SIM card this time. Symptoms like this can also be attributed to a corrupt or misplaced SIM card on your device. To rule this out, remove the SIM card from your iPhone XR and then insert it again. Here’s how you do it:

1. Turn off your iPhone completely.
2. While your phone is turned off, insert the SIM eject tool into the tiny hole on the SIM card tray.
3. Gently push the ejector until the tray pops out.
4. Pull the tray out and then remove the SIM card from the slot.
5. Examine the SIM card and card slot for any traces of liquid damage or physical damage like scratches and dents. If there’s none, place the SIM card back into the card slot in the same orientation before you removed it.
6. Make sure that the SIM card is properly installed and then push the tray back into the phone. When the SIM tray is secured and locked in place, turn your iPhone on and wait for it to re-establish network connection and cellular signal.

If you suspect that the SIM card is damaged, contact your carrier for further assessments and if necessary, request for a new SIM card replacement.

Sixth solution: Master reset/factory reset your iPhone XR.

Among the last options you’ve got if none of the previous methods is able to fix the problem would be a master reset. This reset will erase everything from your iPhone and then restores its factory default settings. To avoid losing critical data and personal information, creating backups beforehand would be necessary. Once your backup is secured, you can proceed with a master reset through settings or via iTunes. If your iPhone has sufficient battery life and is connected to the Internet, you can do a factory reset through settings. Here’s how:

1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down to and tap on Reset.
4. Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
5. Enter your device passcode when asked to proceed.
6. Then select the option to confirm master reset.

Your iPhone will then start wiping all saved data and customized settings. Once the reset is finished, the device restarts automatically and then loads up the factory default settings. By then you can continue setting up your iPhone as new. Just use the setup wizard to configure your device and get it all set for use again.

Alternatively, you can use iTunes to manually back up and reset your iPhone XR to its factory defaults. To get this done, you will need to secure a Mac or Windows computer with the latest version of iTunes app installed. Then connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable or Lightning cable. Once your devices synced, follow the instructions and iTunes commands to reset your iPhone XR.

Still losing signal on your iPhone XR?

Contact your network service provider to report the issue and likewise to check the current status of network services in your place. One of the possible reasons as to why your iPhone is getting an unstable signal is network maintenance or temporary outage affecting network services in your place. If you think that the problem has something to do with a bad SIM card, then you may consider requesting a new SIM card replacement. Also try to ask if eSIM is already available and supported by your carrier. If it is, then you may consider subscribing to eSIM instead.

For more advanced iOS troubleshooting and possible solutions, you may contact Apple Support. Otherwise, take your iPhone to the nearest Apple-authorized service center and ask an iPhone technician to assess both the software and hardware aspects of your phone. Some problems need a technician’s touch in order to be resolved.

I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!