When choosing your Mobile Network for your phone, it’s crucial to pick one that has the right amount of coverage in your area to stay connected for when you aren’t connected to Wifi.

Three UK may not be the cheapest, but it does offer exceptional coverage, covering over 99% of the citizens in the UK and offering 5G to over 154 places in the UK.

Three mobile is the 4th largest internet provider in the UK, however, you can still experience your Three mobile data not working.

Unlike some network providers like BT, Plusnet, or Tesco Mobile who rely on another network’s signal, Three mobile is an independent provider with its very own infrastructure for its own mobile data.

We have created this simple guide for you to help you solve this problem as quickly as possible to get you back to scrolling through your very important social media apps.

Three Mobile VS EE Mobile

Comparison between Three and EE Mobile

Three Mobile VS EE Mobile

EE Mobile and Three Mobile are two of the largest mobile network providers in the UK, both offering the same but at different levels.

EE Mobile vs Three Mobile come very close when looking at their mobile range for calling and messaging, it’s their mobile data differences that we really want to know;

  • 4G coverage is better with EE mobile
  • EE offers more add ons to their data plans
  • Three mobile is more about value for money
  • EE Mobile has faster speeds

It looks like EE Mobile may be the better option compared to Three Mobile, however, there are other factors you can take into consideration.

Three mobile is the provider to go for if you are budget conscious, and it is good to know that Three Mobile has gotten the biggest scope for 5G across the UK.

Why is my Three mobile data not working?

Mobile Phone with connectivity lines

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Your Three mobile data not working could be a result of maintenance being done on the network, so you would have to be patient until it has been completed.

Other reasons affecting your mobile data from working could be;

  • Your phone settings need updating
  • APN details are inputted incorrectly
  • There are obstructions in the way
  • You’ve maxed out your data

How do I activate my Three mobile data?

On and off button

Three Mobile Data not Working

Activating your Three mobile data is effortless, you shouldn’t encounter any snags while following these steps;

Step 1. Put your Three mobile sim into your device

Step 2. You will receive a message confirming Three is in the process of getting you connected

Step 3. There will be a further message advising you to turn your mobile off and on

You can also use this link to activate your mobile data online.

Your mobile data should now be up and running.

Related Posts:

What are the APN settings for Three mobile?

Fixing tools

Fixing Three APN settings

Before you check anything else regarding your Three mobile data not working, make sure your APN settings are as per Three’s network.

  • Name: 3
  • APN: three.co.uk
  • User name: [leave this field blank]
  • Password: [leave this field blank]
  • MMSC: http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc
  • MMS proxy: mms.three.co.uk
  • MMS port: 8799
  • APN type: internet + mms

How do I set up my APN settings for Three mobile?

Inputting your APN settings on your device is straightforward and easy to follow

On Android

Step 1. Go to ‘Settings’

Step 2. Choose ‘More’

Step 3. Select ‘Mobile Networks’

Step 4. Click on ‘Access Point Names’

Step 5. Choose ‘Menu’

Step 6. Input the APN settings

Step 7. You can now save the information and restart your device

On iPhone

Step 1. Select ‘Settings’

Step 2. Choose ‘Mobile Data’ (this could sometimes be ‘Cellular data’)

Step 3. Choose ‘Mobile Data Network’

Step 4. Complete the APN settings for Three mobile

Step 5. Save the information you have inputted and restart your phone

APN settings are now fixed and you should be able to connect.

Three Mobile Data Roaming not Working

Worldwide connectivity

Three Mobile Data Roaming

Three mobile has a ‘Go Roam’ feature that allows Three mobile customers to use their current data plan in certain countries with no added costs;

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Guernsey
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Isle of Man
  • Italy
  • Jersey
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain†
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Romania
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

Unfortunately for us, this feature is being stopped in late May 2022, after which you will be charged per day to use your roaming.

Three mobile data roaming may be experiencing issues for a few reasons;

  • Your mobile phone is not compatible with the networks in your location
  • You need to purchase more data
  • You have not registered on the My3 account
  • Your roaming settings on your phone is switched off

Note, you can check if your mobile phone will support the network in your new destination by using this link

How to Activate my Three Roaming Data

Three roaming data will switch on automatically when you’ve entered the location, sending through an SMS confirming the change in the network.

If this does not happen for you, you can check via your My3 account;

Step 1. Log into your My3 account

Step 2. Choose ‘My3 Account’

Step 3. Click on ‘Phone Settings’

Step 4. Select ‘Using your Phone Abroad’ 

There are other key points to remember;

  • The roaming settings on your phone is not turned on
  • You do not have any mobile data
  • The software on your device needs to be updated

Mobile data roaming should now be complete.

Conclusion

With Three mobile being the 4th largest in the UK for providing a good, stable network to its citizens, you would assume there would be no outages, or network connectivity issues.

You can use Three mobile’s customer service via their online chat as well as calling them directly;

  • 500 – Calling from a Three mobile phone
  • 0333 338 1003 – A phone not with Three mobile
  • +44 7782 333 500 – Dialing abroad

You shouldn’t have an issue getting hold of someone in customer service, as their operating hours are not restricted;

  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm
  • Saturday – Sunday, 9am – 6pm

Live chat operating hours

  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 10pm
  • Saturday – Sunday, 9am – 8pm

As with anything technology-related, there are going to be times when things don’t seem to connect the way they should be, which is why we have customer service, and this easy guide created for you to follow.

We hope this guide has left you feeling more at ease, and in tune with what to do when your Three mobile data not working is occurring.