Why Is My Data So Slow? 5 Easy Solutions

Slow data got you down? This is an altogether common—and frustrating—issue when it comes to smartphones. Doubly so if you get reliably fast data speeds most of the time.

Fortunately, slow data tends to be a short-term issue. The 5 most common culprits include:

1. Coverage issues
2. Network congestion
3. Data throttling or data caps
4. Background apps using data
5. VPN disruption

While some of these may sound serious, rest assured that they are all temporary—and solvable. In this article, we’ll describe each of these reasons for slow data in detail, so you can identify which one you’re the victim of. What’s more, we’ll provide some quick solutions so you can have your data back up and running at full speed in no time. 

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Coverage Issues

The most common culprit for slow phone data is also the most obvious: coverage.

If you find yourself in a rural area, inside a large building, or underground (like in a subway), the chances are high that a lack of cell signal strength is behind your slow data speed. If you find yourself in this coverage predicament, here are some things you can do:

• Try moving to an open area or closer to a window.
• Turn Airplane Mode on and off to refresh your connection.
• If it happens often in the same location, consider switching carriers or using Wi-Fi if available.

Network Congestion

Sometimes the reason for your slow data speeds has to do with the number of people on your cellular network at that given time. 

This can happen when you find yourself in densely populated areas—think concerts, sporting events, or crowded cities—where many people are using data simultaneously. Similarly, it can occur during particular times of the day when lots of people are using their phones, like in the early evening. 

This issue is especially common when you’re signed up with an MVNO, or small carrier. That’s because major carriers tend to prioritize their own customers’ data speeds ahead of those aboard these smaller sub-brands that occupy their networks (i.e. companies like Mint Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and Visible). 

Here’s what you can do if you’re looking experiencing slow data speeds as a result of network congestion:

• Try using your data during off-peak hours.
• Some carriers offer premium plans that prioritize your data during congestion—worth considering if this is a recurring issue.

Data Throttling or Data Caps

If you’re suffering through particularly slow data speeds, it may have to do with your cell phone plan itself.

If you’re on a limited data plan or have exceeded your high-speed data allotment, your carrier may slow down your speeds. This is called throttling and is common with budget or prepaid plans. Here’s what to do:

• Check your carrier’s app or website to verify your current data usage.
• Upgrade to a plan with a higher data cap or truly unlimited high-speed data if needed.

Background Apps Using Data

One of the less obvious reasons for your slow data speeds may be the way your background apps are functioning on your phone. 

Apps running in the background can use up bandwidth without you realizing it, especially apps that auto-refresh or sync data (like cloud backups, social media, or messaging apps). Here’s what you can do to fix the issue: 

• Check your data usage in settings to see which apps are consuming the most data.
• Turn off background data for non-essential apps.
• Enable data saver mode to limit background activity. 

VPN Disruption

Using a VPN on your phone can slow data speeds on your phone, because it adds extra steps and overhead to every connection. 

Specifically, when you use a VPN, your traffic is encrypted on the device, routed through a remote VPN server (which may be far away or congested), then decrypted and forwarded to its final destination—and the return path follows the same detour. That encryption and extra routing can increase latency and reduce throughput, especially for high-bandwidth activities like streaming or video calls. 

Without getting into deep technical details, we recommend disengaging your VPN, rebooting your phone, and trying to use it again. You may find that turning off your VPN has magically fixed your data speed issues. 

Side note: to check if you in fact have a VPN installed on your iPhone, go to Settings>General>VPN & Device Management. I recently discovered I had one installed without even realizing it, and getting rid of it magically fixed my data speeds. 

Quick Tips to Speed Up Your Mobile Data

In addition to looking into the common culprits described above, we recommend doing the following periodically to ensure you’re maximizing your data speeds: 

• Restart your phone regularly.
• Clear your browser cache and app cache.
• Use lightweight versions of apps (e.g., Facebook Lite, YouTube Go).
• Turn off auto-play for videos in social media apps.
• Use Wi-Fi when available, especially for large downloads or streaming.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, slow data doesn’t have to derail your smartphone experience. Whether the issue comes down to coverage, congestion, plan limitations, background apps, or a VPN, the good news is that most causes are easy to identify—and even easier to fix. By running through the common culprits and trying the quick solutions outlined above, you can usually get your connection back up to speed without too much hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fix slow mobile data?

To fix slow mobile data, try restarting your phone, turning airplane mode on and off, or resetting network settings. You can also check for any data usage limits from your carrier or switch to a different network type (e.g., 4G/5G) in your settings if the current one is congested or weak.

Why is my 5G data so slow?

If you're on a 5G network that uses high frequency bands, it may be that your 5G signal can't penetrate the walls around you. The 5G networks of this variety have difficulty penetrating certain solid materials. You can try either connecting to WiFi or switching to LTE to see if that solves the problem.

Is LTE better than 5G?

No, LTE is not better than 5G. LTE networks tend to be both slower and less reliable than 5G networks.