Seeking Solutions: How I Accidentally Disabled My Mom’s Phone and What I Learned

As technology evolves, so too do our interactions with it—often leading to unintentional mishaps. I recently found myself in a bit of a predicament when I inadvertently altered my mother’s smartphone settings. Here’s what happened and how I sought help to resolve the issue.

While experimenting with my mum’s phone, I made the mistake of inputting the code ##4636## in the dialer. What I intended to do was merely check some phone settings, but I mistakenly changed the network option from a combined 2G/3G/4G mode to 4G (LTE only). Unfortunately, this adjustment rendered the phone unable to make calls—a detail I overlooked.

Upon realizing my mistake, I quickly switched the setting back to 4G/3G (LTE/GSM), hoping to restore the calling function. However, my attempts were thwarted. Each time the phone restarted—often due to hanging issues marked by a stubbornly black screen—I noticed it reverted back to the unwanted 4G (LTE only) setting. This cycle of frustration made it clear that I needed to find a more permanent solution.

Feeling a wave of panic that any child might experience, I turned to the vast community of Reddit for advice. The helpful suggestions from fellow users provided a wealth of information on how to tackle the situation. Ultimately, I was lucky enough to find a method that worked, restoring my mom’s ability to call once again.

This experience not only taught me a valuable lesson about the intricacies of smartphone settings but also highlighted the importance of community support. I have realized that we often have more resources at our fingertips than we might initially think.

As for my quest for a permanent solution to keep the settings intact while enabling 4G calling—if I discover the answer, I’ll be sure to share it.

In closing, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to my plea for help. Who would have thought my first milestone on Reddit would be sharing this amusing yet humbling experience?

Stay curious, stay informed, and always double-check before you change settings!