Could Not Activate Cellular Data Network: You Are Not Subscribed to a Cellular Data Service

Sebastien, Aug 29, 2009

If you recently updated your iPhone firmware, or jailbroke/unlocked your iPhone to use it with a different carrier, you may have encountered the following error: Could Not Activate Cellular Data Network: You Are Not Subscribed to a Cellular Data Service

This error often appears after jailbreaking and/or unlocking and it is mostly characterized by the fact that your iPhone can’t connect to the internet using the cellular data network, and you can’t send text messages anymore.

The first thing to do in that case is to reset the network settings and reboot your iPhone. If it still doesn’t work, then there is a more radical fix that will put everything back on track.

First, get on wifi and visit this website http://www.unlockit.co.nz/#_Custom from your iPhone. You should see this page, which will allow you to create a custom APN.

Under “Carrier”, tap the drop down menu and choose your carrier. Note that there are many carriers listed there and that it might take you a bit of scrolling down to get you where you want. So choose the right carrier and tap “Done”. This should populate the custom APN info.

Once the custom APN fields are populated, tap “Create Profile” and wait a bit. It will exit Safari, and take you to the settings application. Finally, just tap “Install” and this will set up your custom APN on your iPhone. Reboot your iPhone and you should now have Edge and 3G connectivity.

 
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  • AC

    This is by far the easiest way to get service, however when the link was down I did find this way of enabeling data also. http://blancer.com/tutorials/i-phone/blackra1n/95296/how-to-manually-set-your-iphone-ipad-carrier-apn-using-the-iphone-configuration-utility/

  • angel kilroy

    OMG OMG!!! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH THIS REALLY WORKS!!!! THANK YOU :) !!!

  • http://Naplesrealtyman.com Chris

    I’m laughing at how easy you made this. This is amazingly simple…I love it! Thank you very much for your help.

  • bobby

    great it worked

  • http://iphonedownloadblog.com Jed

    i followed your directions – but it doesn’t seem to work…

    ‘when I tap the “Install” button, I get the message “Profile failed to Install. The UUID for the profile “APN Carrier Settings” is not unique”

    Am I doing something wrong?

  • http://iphonedownloadblog.com Jed

    Update! Tried it three times consecutively – and then it decided to work. GREAT FIX! Thank you!

  • Bob Lawbla

    I am getting a message saying “only one APN configuration can be installed at a time.

    • mbm

      same is the problem with me, have got the solution, ? if yes send to me
      thanks

    • Abel

      Please Add Claro for Puerto Rico because none work for me.Thanks in advance

  • Mazamezo

    Hey I’ve done it bit when I click on create profile it doesn’t work ANC don’t exit safari so what shall I do aim on iPhone 3GS 4.0.1

  • santosh

    I can’t go without saying you thank you :) It really works. Thank you so much.

  • Ben

    Thanks so much, worked perfectly!

  • Moy

    Thanks men!!! Finally I found a solution!!!

  • ron

    it woorks thanks mate? would my company take money of me for using the internet ? or is it freee
    ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  • Sam

    Plz can you add virgin mobile canada too in that, it works with other carrier fine
    and thanks for this solution

  • Matt

    It worked on the first try. Awesome. Thanks so much!

  • Mindblowerz

    This solution works for a while.. After sometime, it will stop working and goes back to the same problem again.. I’ve done this so many times and it’s no longer funny..

  • -Matt-

    Hey guys… Bob Lawblaw and MBM, I have a solution for you. You must have entered the information wrong the first time. The same thing happened to me at first, but just go and delete your custom apn settings and try it again with the directions above. If you don’t delete them and just try changing the settings over it, it won’t work.

    Good luck

  • ram

    help please! I am encountering a problem like metioned above–could not activate cellular data network. I tried resetting the network setting but it failed. so i tried to open the the given address to help me out but the safari cannot open page because the server cannot be found.
    Please, how can I make it work?

  • James

    So I did this….and now I can’t send texts, make calls or anything….pretty much the opposite of what I was hoping for….any suggestions?

  • george

    This is realy great, thanks so much for help, my iphone 3G works great , you guys rock.

  • chubibo28

    will this procedure erase all your application after?

  • Pavan

    OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!1It Really works Guys

  • pete

    Brilliant wish someone from Virgin would read this they said it can’t be done !!!!!! Thankyou

  • M

    yay! posting from Canada! Called Fido and they said that I have to upgrade to version 4.3 for my data plan to work but luckily i found this which saves me the trouble :)

    thanks!

  • Noble1993

    Hey I live in India so will it be usefull in india? And just wanted to know will this jailbreak my phone? Coz I really don’t want to do that.

  • Noble1993

    Hey I live in India so will it be usefull in india? And just wanted to know will this jailbreak my phone? Coz I really don’t want to do that.
    Thanks

  • Noble93

    Hey I live in India so will it be usefull in india? And just wanted to know will this jailbreak my phone? Because I really don’t want to do that.
    Thanks

  • Noble93

    Hey Guys will it work in india? And just wanted to know will this jailbreak my phone? Because I really don’t want to do that.
    Thanks

  • yvonne

    UUID is not unique, what should I do?

  • Qb

    How do I know what carrier is the right one? I am using Verizon iPhone 4.

  • Sim Virk

    Cannot install profile – Safari could not install a profile due to an unknown error

  • Anji

    This is realy awsome, thanks so much for help, my iphone 3GS works great after installing this , you guys rock

  • Mhooi

    Does not works…Why? help!!!1

  • Courteney

    Words cannot express how grateful I am that this worked. Thank you sooooooo much! 5 star rating :D

  • Nick

    I can’t get it to work. I have T – Mobile in the US. And there are 2 differnt selections for US- Tmobile. Tried them both, cant seem to connect. Any suggestions?

  • tye2375

    hey i tried this and after i hit create it backed out of everthing and said springboard is in safe mode u must restart help please

  • JILOP

    yo man …..this is great but i cannot use FACE TIME

  • malane10

    thanx..it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • george

    WORKS FOR ME !!! and my iPhone is locked on O2 and i use Gevey SIM to use it on VODAPHONE ireland
    GOOD bless you
    i was about wo swap my iPhone 4 23 Gb for another phone.cuz i could not use SIM data network..
    Thank you thank you thank you !!!!

  • http://nose luis

    thank you very much i love you.

  • nina

    what can i do if i cant get on wi-fi?

  • rajesh

    thanx a lot mate…. workd lik a charm…

  • Felix

    Thank I works perfect.07/06/2011

  • Casey

    I dont know what apn to use? how do i know what the right carrier is please someone help

  • senyorita si

    i did the above steps..and nothing changed :/ help??

  • elsie

    mine is not working.. why? pls help me…

  • Louise

    This is brilliant. Thank you.

  • Pony

    I’m new at iPhone and this is the easiest fix ive had to do so far, thx a million.

  • salty

    works great! it took only one try and now i have 3g and edge connection with my iphone

  • Conrad Howard

    Thanks so much for this – have had no 3G for a couple of weeks and the Reset has fixed it straightaway. Thanks so much.

  • Pavlo

    Didn’t work , still get the same message comming up, can anyone help ?

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