How to fix iOS 13 Cellular Update Failed error on iPhone

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Many iPhone users will be updating or will soon update to the iOS 13. As always, you may encounter some issues after installing the new OS. Many beta users had reported the “Cellular Update Failed” error notification after updating to the iOS 13. So, there are chances that the same issue may show up with the final public version as well. Hence, you should be prepared to deal with such issues in order to enjoy the new features that come with the iOS 13. In this article, we will tell you how to fix the iOS 13 Cellular Update Failed error.

How to fix iOS 13 Cellular Update Failed error?

Users who encountered this issue say that the cellular data stops working after updating to the new iOS. The issue affects calling and texting. Before we detail how to fix the iOS 13 Cellular Update Failed error, you should check and ensure that the required settings are in place. You should also check with your service provider for any temporary network outage.

If there are no issues with the service provider and the settings are okay as well, then you can try the below steps to troubleshoot the issue:

Restart iPhone – if it is the first time that you are getting the Cellular Update Failed error, then you can likely fix it by just restarting the iPhone. Restarting the phone helps you to get rid of the junk files, caches and temporary data on the device. If this doesn’t solve the issue, then try the next trick.

Reinstalling SIM card – it may be a bit inconvenient to remove and reinstall the SIM, but this has proven to be the best trick to address the cellular issue. Here’s what you need to do:

Switch off the phone, and then insert the SIM ejector tool into the tiny hole on the SIM tray on the side of the iPhone. Now, push the ejector tool until the SIM card tray protrudes. Take the tray out and then remove the SIM card. Check the SIM card for any signs of damage, such as scratches or liquid traces. If the card is okay, then put it back into the tray and push the tray back into the phone.

Now, switch on the phone and check if the issue is resolved or not.

Turn Cellular Data and Airplane mode on or off – sometimes just toggling the cellular data switch on and off may fix the issue. Similarly, you can try the same trick with the Airplane mode switch as well. It has been seen that toggling these features helps to fix other errors as well that affect the phone’s network functions.

To toggle the cellular data, go to the Settings and select Cellular. Next, turn off the Cellular Data switch, and after waiting for a few seconds, turn it on again. Doing this refreshes the cellular data services. Hopefully, this will fix the issue; if not, then do the same with the Airplane mode.

To toggle the Airplane Mode, go to Settings and then Airplane mode menu. Toggling the Airplane mode on and off refreshes the wireless radios. Reboot the iPhone with Airplane mode turned ON. Once the phone is back up, toggle the Airplane mode off. Now check if you are still getting the Cellular Update Failed error or not. If the error is still there, try the next trick.

Update carrier settings – carrier settings updates include software to boost the phone’s network functions and fix for existing issues if any. To check if any carrier settings update is available, go to Settings-> General-> About. If any update is available, it will show here. If there is any update, then install it quickly. Once the update is installed, reboot the iPhone.

Reset network settings – this trick helps to troubleshoot network-related errors, including those affecting cellular services. Resetting network settings wipes the phone with the existing network settings, including for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, APNs and more. Thus, it addresses any bug due to incorrect or invalid network configurations.

To reset network settings, go to Settings > General and then scroll down and click Reset. Next, select the Reset Network Settings. You may be asked to enter the passcode. After this, press confirm. Once the reset is complete, the phone will automatically reboot.

Restore iPhone to factory defaults – this must be your last option, and try this only if the above tricks don’t solve the Cellular Update Failed error. Before you try this trick, do remember to take a back up of all your data because the factory reset will delete everything from the phone including contacts.

To restore the iPhone to factory defaults, go to Settings > General, and then scroll down and tap Reset. Now, select the option to Erase all content and settings. You may be asked to enter the device passcode. Next, confirm the option for a full system reset.

If none of the above tricks help you to fix the iOS 13 Cellular Update Failed error, then your only option is to contact Apple Support or your network service provider.

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