Troubleshooting Network Issues on Your Parent’s Phone: A Personal Account

We’ve all been there—an innocent moment of curiosity leading to a minor disaster. Recently, I found myself in a bit of a predicament with my mother’s smartphone that left me seeking urgent assistance online. Let me share my experience in hopes that it might help someone else avoid a similar situation.

The Phone Fiasco

While experimenting with my mum’s phone, I inadvertently altered the network settings. Specifically, I switched it from the standard 2G/3G/4G (LTE/GSM/CDMA auto with PRL) mode to a restricted setting of 4G (LTE only) by entering the code ##4636## in the dialer. Unbeknownst to me, this adjustment rendered the calling function inoperable—something my mum relies on for daily communication.

Writing this, I’m sure you can imagine the sinking feeling I had when I realized what I had done. She’d understandably prefer a phone that can make calls over one that boasts a narrower data connection, and my initial attempt to restore the settings did not go as planned. I attempted to revert back to the original settings by selecting 4G/3G (LTE/GSM with PRL), but every time she restarted her device—often due to it hanging on a black screen at full brightness—the settings defaulted back to the LTE-only option, crippling her ability to make calls.

Seeking Solutions

In a moment of panic, I turned to online forums for support. I was eager to find a way to restore her service fully while also hoping to set the phone to a stable 4G network for ongoing use. There had to be a solution that would prevent the settings from reverting each time the phone was powered back on.

Update and Gratitude

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who offered guidance during this chaotic time. Many suggestions were helpful, and I eventually found a solution that worked beautifully! It’s interesting how a seemingly straightforward inquiry can lead to both a learning experience and unexpected engagement in online communities.

Reflecting back on this experience, I can’t help but chuckle now, thinking about how my first post on Reddit garnered silver for a bit of a fiasco. Lesson learned: Always double-check your network settings before making changes, especially on someone else’s device!

If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t hesitate to reach out for help