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Tesco Mobile Internet Not Working Fix Guide

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The O2 list runs fast to thorough; the first two steps resolve most reported faults.

As an MVNO, Tesco Mobile doesn't operate its own masts — it buys wholesale access to O2's infrastructure. That means an O2 network outage will affect Tesco Mobile too, and the fastest way to confirm a wider problem is to check O2's live status page rather than assuming it's a fault with your phone.

📋 On this page

  1. Check for Outage
  2. Quick Fixes
  3. APN Settings Check
  4. Advanced Fixes
  5. Common Causes
  6. FAQs

Step 1: Check for Tesco Mobile Network Outage

Before changing any settings, check whether Tesco Mobile is experiencing a network outage in your area. An outage is the most common reason for sudden mobile data loss across an area.

Check Tesco Mobile status: https://www.tescomobile.com/network-status

If there is a confirmed outage in your area, no settings changes will help — wait for Tesco Mobile to restore the network and check the status page for estimated recovery time. You can also check Downdetector for user-reported issues.

Step 2 — Quick Tesco Mobile Fixes to Try First

Run through this shortlist first, before adjusting any settings — it clears the majority of Tesco Mobile data issues on its own.

  1. Check your data balance in My Tesco Mobile first — an exhausted allowance is the single most common cause of "data not working" reports, and it's the quickest thing to rule out.
  2. Turn Aeroplane Mode on for half a minute, then off, for a clean reconnect.
  3. Make sure Mobile Data is switched on: Settings › Mobile Data (iPhone) or Settings › Connections › Mobile Data (Android).
  4. A genuine restart reloads network settings in a way a screen lock/unlock can't match.
  5. A poor SIM contact causes unpredictable drops — power off, then remove and reinsert it.

Step 3: Verify Tesco Mobile APN Settings

An incorrect APN is a very common reason for data to stop working, particularly after a factory reset, OS update, SIM swap, or switching networks. Worth checking and re-entering if it looks off.

Correct Tesco Mobile APN: prepaydata.mobilebroadband

How to check APN settings on Android

  1. Head to Settings › Connections › Mobile Networks › Access Point Names (Samsung) or Settings › Network & internet › Mobile network › Access point names (Pixel).
  2. Look for the Tesco Mobile APN, tap in, and check it reads exactly prepaydata.mobilebroadband — no extra spaces or typos.
  3. Make sure APN Type includes at minimum default and supl.
  4. Missing or wrong values? See the full Tesco Mobile APN settings guide for the complete set.
  5. Save it, activate via the radio button, then restart.

How to check on iPhone

  1. Go to Settings › Mobile Data › Mobile Data Network, if that option's visible.
  2. Check the APN field shows prepaydata.mobilebroadband.
  3. If it's greyed out, that's the carrier bundle in control — check Settings › General › About for an update.

Step 4 — More Advanced Tesco Mobile Fixes

  1. Reset network settings next: on Android, open APN settings and tap ⋮ › Reset to Default; on iPhone, go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings. Note: your saved Wi-Fi passwords will be cleared too.
  2. First on iPhone, check for a carrier settings update via Settings › General › About — quick and occasionally decisive.
  3. Settings › System › Software Update shows any pending OS update worth installing.
  4. Testing the SIM in a different phone shows whether the fault is SIM- or handset-related.
  5. Put a different SIM into your own phone as the reverse test — if that works, the issue is your Tesco Mobile SIM or account rather than the device.
  6. Physical SIM wear is uncommon but genuine — a free replacement is worth requesting if the fault persists.
  7. Call Tesco Mobile on 4455 (free from Tesco Mobile) or 0345 301 4455 for an account- or mast-level check if nothing above resolves it.

Common Causes of Tesco Mobile Data Not Working

SymptomLikely CauseFix
After iOS/Android updateOS update overwrote network settingsReset network settings and re-enter APN
Sudden data loss, was working beforeNetwork outage or SIM registration issueCheck status page; toggle Aeroplane Mode
Works on Wi-Fi but not mobile dataMobile data toggle off or APN wrongEnable mobile data in Settings; verify APN
After factory reset / phone changeAPN settings not transferredRe-enter APN settings: prepaydata.mobilebroadband
Data works then stops randomlyPoor signal, congestion, or SIM contact issueReseat SIM; check coverage map
Very slow speeds (not outright broken)Data throttling, network congestionCheck if data cap hit; try different time of day
Signal bars showing but no internetIncorrect APN or data plan expiredVerify APN; check data balance in My Tesco Mobile

Frequently Asked Questions — Tesco Mobile Internet Not Working

How do I fix Tesco Mobile mobile data not working?
Turn Aeroplane Mode on for 30 seconds, then off — this alone fixes a surprising number of cases by forcing re-registration. If that doesn't help, navigate to Settings › Mobile Networks › Access Point Names and check the APN matches prepaydata.mobilebroadband exactly. Rule out an outage at https://www.tescomobile.com/network-status before troubleshooting further. If none of that works, restart the phone fully and re-enter the APN.
What is the Tesco Mobile APN for mobile data?
prepaydata.mobilebroadband is correct. For the complete set of fields (not just the APN name), see the Tesco Mobile APN settings guide, which also covers MMS setup.
Is Tesco Mobile down right now?
Visit https://www.tescomobile.com/network-status for Tesco Mobile's own real-time status. If that shows nothing but you're still convinced it's wider than just your phone, Downdetector's user reports can confirm or rule that out.
Why does Tesco Mobile show signal but no internet?
Having signal confirms registration but nothing more, not a working data session — those are two separate things. Check each item below: Mobile Data enabled in Settings, the APN reading exactly prepaydata.mobilebroadband, your plan still having data left, and no outage currently affecting your area.
How do I reset Tesco Mobile APN settings?
On Android, navigate to APN settings and use the ⋮ menu to Reset to Default. On iPhone, it's Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset Network Settings (note: Wi-Fi passwords get cleared too). Re-enter prepaydata.mobilebroadband once the reset is done.
Tesco Mobile data stopped working after a phone update — what do I do?
This is fairly common after major updates. Head to Settings › Mobile Networks › Access Point Names and re-enter prepaydata.mobilebroadband. iPhone users should also check for a carrier settings update at Settings › General › About, then restart the phone.

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