How to Boost a Mobile Phone Signal in the UK

Dropped calls, delayed messages, and patchy voice quality aren’t just frustrating; they can cost businesses potential sales, miscommunication, missed opportunities, and lost revenue. Companies, big or small, need strong, stable connections to communicate with clients, manage operations, support remote work, and ensure productivity. This is where signal boosters come as one of the most efficient ways of boosting mobile phone signal and ensuring reliable coverage. 

At UCtel, we know how to solve connectivity challenges across the UK, delivering Ofcom-compliant mobile signal solutions — tailored, high-performance systems that meet the specific needs of each site, from office buildings and warehouses to hospitals and schools. 

But first, let us show you all the methods to improve phone signal quality and transform your mobile experience. 

11 Ways to Improve Your Mobile Phone Signal

Does moving around your premises actually help to improve your mobile phone signal? Or should you just recharge the device to get a stable connection? Let’s explore the top tips on how to get a better phone signal. 

Replace Your SIM

After using your SIM card for a few years, it might get outdated and unable to connect to the latest network systems. Contact your mobile network provider and ask for a SIM card replacement. They will likely send you a new one without any problems and additional costs.

Best for: Users with older SIM cards or those switching mobile plans. 

Upgrade Your Mobile Phone

Modern smartphones have better antennas and support more frequency bands, which can noticeably improve mobile phone signal reception. If your phone is more than 5 years old, upgrading could resolve many connectivity issues, especially if you often travel across the country or work in different environments.

Best for: Individuals or staff using outdated devices and facing signal issues in areas where others have no problem.

Update Your Phone Software 

If your phone is not updated automatically, there is a chance that you missed out on important updates. Some unfixed bugs may be causing a weak connection on your phone, and it’s more common than you may think. Updates are often designed to fix bad signal issues and improve the quality of calls, so you should check them in your phone's settings.

Best for: Anyone experiencing bugs or using outdated operating systems.

Change the Network Mode

Some modern phones automatically select the 5G network mode because it is the latest and most advanced one. However, it sometimes does the opposite of what it intends to do and weakens the signal. For example, if the 5G tower is much further away from you than a 4G one, by trying to connect to the former, the phone actually worsens the reception. Try to toggle between different network modes to compare the quality of your calls. 

Best for: People in areas with developing or unreliable 5G infrastructure. 

Fully Reset Your Network Settings

If simply changing your network mode doesn’t work, you may try a more extreme solution, which is resetting all your network-related settings. The process can be viewed as a factory reset for your network. You should keep in mind that your mobile connection is not the only thing that will be refreshed — your Wi-Fi networks will be deleted, and the same goes for connected Bluetooth devices. For this reason, you should only use this method if easier solutions don’t work. 

Best for: Individuals experiencing unexpected signal issues or after switching carriers.

Try Femtocells

Another efficient method of how to get a better signal is femtocells. These are low-power case stations that convert your internet connection into phone signals. Mostly in offices or at home, femtocells connect to your service provider’s network via DSL or cable and allow users to get a better signal indoors. Especially if network accessibility is poor in your location, femtocells are a great option to improve a phone signal.

Best for: Users loyal to one network who can obtain the device directly from their provider.

Check a Coverage Map 

When you know where a mobile tower is, you can move closer to it or choose those spaces in a building that face it. The fewer walls there are between you and a tower, the better. In this way, you are more likely to get a better signal. Also, checking where cell towers are and which ones are located may help you select a better carrier if you consistently have a poor signal. There are apps and websites designed to view the location of towers, and you can see this information by simply entering your postcode. 

Best for: Individuals choosing a new plan, company owners installing a business communication system, remote workers, or those relocating to new premises.

Switch to Wi-Fi Calling

Most UK mobile networks now support Wi-Fi calling, which allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi connection instead of relying on a mobile signal. It’s a quick fix for those in areas with strong internet but patchy mobile coverage.

Best for: Remote workers, flat-dwellers, or home-based businesses with strong broadband.

Try Signal Booster Apps

These apps are widely available for both Android and iOS devices. Yet, while the name might sound promising, they don’t actually amplify your mobile signal. These apps rather help you identify the strongest available signal in your area, force your phone to connect to a specific band, or clear the cache to optimise performance.

Best for: Tech-savvy individuals looking for minor improvements in signal management and diagnostics. 

Minimise Physical Obstructions

Materials like concrete, steel, metal-coated glass, and even thick insulation can significantly weaken or block mobile signals. Try to identify where the signal is strongest in your building and work from there. Keep windows clear, open doors, and avoid thick partitions between you and the nearest signal source.

Best for: Homeowners or small offices where the signal is consistent or varies by room.

Switch Mobile Network Carriers

This option to boost phone signal strength is the last DIY resort in case the above-mentioned tips do not pan out. Be cautious about changing your mobile network carrier before trying other methods, since it might only worsen your problems. Ask your roommates and neighbours whether they are happy with their carrier, and consider switching to their provider if they find it satisfactory. 

Best for: Users stuck with poor coverage despite trying hardware or software fixes.

Try a Signal Booster

If you wonder how to boost a mobile phone signal on premises with extremely poor connectivity, signal boosters amplify the signal and broadcast a significantly stronger reception. There are two types of signal boosters: a static one for your house and office and an in-vehicle one for your car. The former is installed inside your premises and allows you to talk anywhere in the building without worrying about dead zones. The in-vehicle booster is installed inside your car to boost mobile phone signal reception when driving. 

Best for: Large households and businesses needing reliable communication for teams, customer service, or operations.

Work With Telecom Engineers for a Custom Solution

If you wonder how to boost a phone signal in commercial buildings or offices, telecom engineers like those from UCtel can conduct a professional site survey to assess your coverage issues and recommend optimal solutions. This often includes a combination of repeaters, antennas, signal distribution systems, and cabling, all designed to distribute a reliable signal throughout the entire building or site for all networks.

Best for: Businesses, complex buildings, warehouses, medical centres, educational institutions, large commercial sites, or multi-network requirements.

UCtel Can Help to Improve Your Mobile Strength

When mobile signal issues are disrupting your business operations, you need more than a temporary fix; you need a reliable, future-proof solution from trusted experts. We are a UK-based communications solutions provider, specialising in improving indoor mobile connectivity for businesses of all sizes across every sector, from corporate offices and warehouses to hospitals, schools, retail spaces, and more.

Our services include:

• Professional mobile signal booster installations
• In-building mobile coverage systems designed for complex environments
• Comprehensive site surveys and signal assessments
• Custom-designed systems to suit unique building layouts and materials
• Ongoing maintenance and technical support

Using a personalised approach, we come up with solutions tailored to your space, usage needs, and the networks you rely on that are fully compliant with Ofcom regulations.   

Our Success Stories

UCtel has extensive experience with improving mobile signals for various companies and organisations. One of our case studies demonstrates the prominent network performance after we installed the signal booster. 

Northwick Park Hospital and Central Middlesex Hospital have faced the growing need for a stronger signal on their premises. During the pandemic, patients switched to using mobile phones to connect to their physicians to avoid going outside. To provide high-quality healthcare, the NHS decided it was vital to boost mobile signal coverage in the hospital and contacted our company so that we could determine how to improve the phone signal in their facilities in the best way. To ensure reliable signals across networks throughout the entire premises, we mapped the plan and installed CEL-FI QUATRA signal boosters that fully solved the problem of dead zones.

Backed by extensive expertise in the communication sector, we know how to pick the right signal booster for your particular needs. Regardless of whether you have a weak or no signal in a building, the issue can be fixed with our advanced solutions. Reach out to our team for a custom connectivity fix.

Final Thoughts

When running a business, managing a team, or simply trying to stay connected, poor mobile reception can make or break your opportunities. In this article, we focused on the most effective ways to deal with poor connection so you know how to boost a mobile data signal. From simple software updates to professional-grade signal boosters, there’s a solution for every setting. Our company can help you choose the right one, so feel free to contact our team and get a free consultation.