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How to manually select a network

A guide to help manually connect to a network for Smart SIM

Will avatar
Written by Will
Updated over a week ago

🔔 This guide is for Smart SIMs only

You're abroad and the signal’s being tricky, or you want to test out the UK networks?
Here’s how to manually pick a network with your Smart SIM.

📲 Step by step: Changing your network

Manual network selection can be particularly helpful in resolving connectivity challenges when traveling or in areas with poor automatic network selection.

iOS

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Mobile Data, then select Network Selection.

  3. Turn off Automatic Selection.

  4. Allow a few minutes for the list of available networks to populate.

  5. Tap on your desired network to connect.

Android

  1. On the home screen, tap 'Apps'

  2. Choose 'Settings'

  3. Tap 'Mobile Networks' (you may need to click 'More Networks' first)

  4. Choose 'Network Operators'

  5. Turn off 'Automatic Selection'

  6. Wait for the phone to load a list of available networks, which may take up to 2–3 minutes.

  7. Select the network you want to connect to, avoiding networks marked as "forbidden."

❓What happens next?

Once you've set a new network to connect to, you'll be connected to that network, so handy when you want to test another network local to you. Find out which local networks are available in the supported countries

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