Many iPhone owners have reported that they see an error message that says, “An update is required to use cellular data on this iPhone.” The problem persists even when they perform an update. If you are one of those touched by this issue, we are here to help.
In the section below, we have gathered all the possible fixes for the issue. Before going any further, ensure you run the latest firmware update on your iPhone. A new update should sometimes fix some problems.
How to Fix An Update is Required to Use Cellular Data on This iPhone
Method 1: Force Restart your iPhone
Let’s start with the basic fix. A force restart should fix many software-related issues, from frozen apps to stuck Apple logo to update not working. In this case, let’s give it a try. The steps to restart your iPhone vary depending on the iPhone model you use.
For iPhone 8 or later:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button and release it when you see the Apple logo.
For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down and Power switch buttons until you see the Apple logo.
- Release all the buttons.
For iPhone 6s or earlier:
Press and quickly release the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons until the Apple logo appears.
Method 2: Check Your Carrier Settings
If a force restart does not help, the next solution is to check your carrier settings. Updating the carrier settings of your iPhone should do the trick. Here is how to do it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap General and select About.
- Update the carrier settings if there is any update available.
If you do not see the carrier’s settings page, try contacting your carrier and asking for support.
Method 3: Turn on and Turn Off Airplane Mode
Another solution worth trying is to turn on Airplane mode and then turn it off. Enabling the Airplane mode will disable all the iPhone wireless connections, including the cellular network. This also helps reset your wireless connections, thus getting it working correctly again. Here is how to do it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Turn on Airplane mode.
- Wait for a few seconds and turn it back off.
Method 4: Check Your Sim Card
Your Sim card sometimes does not work, thus preventing you from connecting to the cellular network. To ensure this is not the problem, remove the SIM card, clean it, and plug it back in. We recommend you power off your iPhone before proceeding.
Method 5: Reset Network Settings
The next solution is to reset your network settings. If you are on iOS 15 or iOS 16, the steps to reset network settings are slightly different. Here is how to do it.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Select General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm your action.
Method 6: Factory Reset
If nothing works, the last hope for success is to factory reset your device. Doing so will remove everything on your device, meaning you can set it up from scratch.
- Open Settings > General.
- Tap Reset> Erase All Content & Settings
- Enter your iPhone passcode.
- Confirm your action.
