unlocked S24 ultra NOT picking up my 5G coverage only 4G

[lbloveslife64]

I received my S24 Ultra from Samsung just as I did with my S21 plus 3 years ago, and it's not picking up my 5G coverage, only 4GLTE. My S21 plus was getting 5G just fine and with all of the help from #Verizon , they weren't able to figure out why. They even put me on ESim and on their end they see that I am getting 5G but my phone isn't. They escalated my issue however this makes no sense since until I switched my sim card over, I was having 5G coverage without issue. Verizon blamed Samsung and Samsung is saying it's Verizon. This needs to be fixed ASAP, I've already invested in the $69#Zagg glass and the camera protective covers so to return the phone to #Samsung will leave me out the money I've spent and if I switch to using Verizon's version of this phone, I also lose all of the perks I got with samsung, from their free ear buds worth $229 and all of the 6 month extras they gave as well as my wallet case and their screen protector they provided, also Verizon's package actually turns out to cost more even with getting their phone instead with their discount and I don't get the deal I got from Samsung, including the 1 TB which Verizon doesn't have, they only have maximum 512gb phones. What is going on Verizo

[SynthpopAddict]

Since your phone is OEM factory unlocked, is it possible to view the network settings and manually switch band selection?  If it's not on automatic band selection maybe it's stuck in 4G LTE only.

Another possibility is the one many of us have noticed lately with our 5G being shut off for whatever reason.  Verizon won't tell us publicly, but I think they're doing something with their network to upgrade things.  My 5G light used to be on constantly, then it shut off in November 2023 and now it comes on only when I open an app needing internet and sometimes not even then.  But there are towers which have gotten much better data speeds in just the past few weeks.

[lbloveslife64]

• I have gone to that setting and the option 5 g is not there, it just says Verizon network. Nothing I do makes the 5G come back, just the 4G which is so odd. I am also having moments where I have no service unless I am on my wifi which doesn't always work in every area. I didn't have this problem with my. S21 plus 5G, in fact until I switched all over, I still had 5G in my house, this whole area gets 5G. I have spoken to verizon more than once and nobody can figure it out, The last representative offered to send me an extender on them which I appreciate. I'm not sure that's going to work, but I'll give it a try. And then there is this absurd suggestion that I need to go to Samsung and have them look at it and it's possible they may have to return my phone and send me a new one. However, the problem is. I've already spent a $100 between the zagg glass. And the camera protectors, so even if I send it back, 1. I'd have no phone AND I'd lose that money I've invested on this now 3 day old phone. If switching the phone is their solution, then they should supply me with a new zag glass as well as the cover for the camera and prior to doing that. They should also make sure I get the 5 g on the new phone. Verizon offers me to return this phone and go through them, but I would lose the 1 TB that I received from Samsung. That verizon does not provide including the free earbuds of  a two hundred and twenty nine dollar value, the freebies they also gave and the lower payments PLUS all ive laid out as I previously stated. This issue needs to definitely get addressed before they try and send me a refurbished phone which would be inappropriate considering its brand new. I never had this issue with buying my S21 plus unlocked from Samsung, avoiding Verizon's insane charges to switch phones  and the bloatware they put on them as well. 

[SynthpopAddict]

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@lbloveslife64 wrote:

• I have gone to that setting and the option 5 g is not there, it just says Verizon network. Nothing I do makes the 5G come back, just the 4G which is so odd. I am also having moments where I have no service unless I am on my wifi which doesn't always work in every area.

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Ugh. Samsung and Verizon removed the ability to manually select the band last year with a software update, but I was hoping an OEM factory unlocked phone wouldn't have this issue.  It may or may not just be Samsung phones made to work in the US, as I've got a good friend in Romania who has an S21 and he told me he can still band select just fine.

If your service cuts out sometimes at home, having an extender could help, but the extenders run on 4G LTE only, so you won't get 5G with one.  I am wondering if Verizon shut off Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) on the tower(s) in your neighborhood to relieve network congestion and/or to do something with their network which they can't tell us about here.  Someone else discovered that's what happened in their area and they weren't getting 5G consistently afterwards.  But if that's what's going on, then things will get better after some time because as I'd stated in my earlier post, my 5G light shut off for a few months, but now I'm seeing way better data speeds on some towers when I do get 5G.  Guess they can't make things better without turning off older technology first.

[lbloveslife64]

Thank you, I did find out today we can't have the sim card in and the Esim at the same time. The verizon rep in store helped as my existing card was no good and even their 2 that they had was no good. He said  they were older and in 2 days if I'm still having this bouncing from 4G to 5G and back again, he'll change the Esim to a new Sim card. I have the extender which they sent to me. And I still don't know why because I already figured out it only gets 4G... And I can use my WI. Fi. At home so I don't really understand the point at least it was free? lol

I know when I spoke to the rep 2 days ago on the phone. She said that there was some work going on in my area. And it's possible it's affecting my ability to get 5G in my house.

When I was at Verizon in the store. Of course, the 5G lit up...and then as soon as I made a call, it dropped down. A hot mess apparently.  Wish Verizon would fix this mess, seems so many are having similar issues, and when paying for 5G, we should have consistent 5G, even though VZ guy at store said it's not a big deal, but understood technically we should have what we're paying form 

[SynthpopAddict]

Thanks for sharing the tidbit about a physical SIM card interfering with an eSIM.  There was a different thread just within the past few days where someone was asking about a similar situation.

Verizon continues to use their LTE part of the network for phone calls, so it's not alarming if your phone goes into LTE mode while you're on a call.  Back when you could toggle VoLTE on or off on Samsung phones, I thought it would be better to shut that option off and found out the hard way that my phone wouldn't work for phone calls until I turned it back on!

Hopefully it's just whatever work is going on in your neighborhood which is affecting your 5G service and it'll come back soon.  Verizon's 5G network is still considerably smaller than the other 2 companies, but they must surely be aware and trying to catch up, as the last update to the FCC Broadband map does show they have more 5G coverage than a year or 2 ago.

[vzw_customer_support]

Having a reliable device is crucial and we'd like to review your options a little closer. I'll be sending a Private Message, please reply to it, so we can take a closer look.

~Maria

[DK36]

My S20 FE (unlocked)  is doing the same thing.  I have a trouble opened with  Vz, the rep said someone would call me back today with a resolution.    I'm waiting for a resolution.

[DK36]

Raj, from customer service called, the problem still exists ---he said engineers are working on it, possibly a system-wide issue, and he will update me.

[lbloveslife64]

Hi Maria,

I have responded but I'm not sure if you received it  please let me know.

Thank you Lisa

[Hoodcanalguy3023]

I just ordered my upgrade Samsung Galaxy S24 ultra from Verizon the reason I’m replying to this message is when I process the upgrade it kept giving me a message that my current plan which is one step down from the ultimate unlimited will no longer be eligible for 5G service. I am hoping this is just an error as I darn well know that phone is fully capable of 5G service. I sure will not keep this phone if I cannot get 5G service 

definitely will look at other service providers if that’s the case

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, being on top of your account is crucial, especially if you are managing your plan and service options. Verizon is here to help.

Check out our Unlimited Plans through this link: https://www.verizon.com/plans/unlimited/.

We sent you a Private Message. Please review at your earliest convenience.

~Gilbert

[Malvokian]

I am having similar issues. I bought an S24 Ultra, a Galaxy Tab 9 FE, and a Watch 6, all from Verizon. I cannot get 5g on any of them.

I called my nearest Verizon store twice and they would only send me to Verizon support, who I've called three times about this issue. I've spent hours bouncing between various operators and technical support specialists, none of whom could figure out why it was happening. In the end, I was told that I would be contacted by a Verizoln engineer but that never happened.

To add insult to injury, I received an email from one of the technical support persons that said they were glad they could fix my issues.

I still cannot get 5g, though I live right in the middle of my city, which is right in the middle of a huge region of supposed 5g and 5guw coverage. I am sick and tired of calling about this. I probably wouldn't be so bothered by it if I didn't spend so much money on what appears to be a

noun

INFORMAL

1. a dishonest scheme; a fraud.

[SynthpopAddict]

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@Malvokian wrote:

I am having similar issues. I bought an S24 Ultra, a Galaxy Tab 9 FE, and a Watch 6, all from Verizon. I cannot get 5g on any of them.

5G is an iffy beast with the limited distances it travels and how it's more easily blocked by obstructions.  Considering you're not able to pick up 5G on any of your devices, it's probably one of the following: your service plan, a network issue, or your location isn't quite right to pick up the 5G signal.  If your data speeds are overly slow where it's a constant problem for you to use any apps, may be time to try another carrier.  Verizon still doesn't have all that big a 5G network, but I will say their service overall is better at getting past obstructions than the current king of 5G is.

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, Malvokian. Help is here as you definitely deserve some answers regarding your coverage. Please tell me more. What is your zip code?

-Natasha

[Malvokian]

I doubt a forum cs agent could help me any more than the phone reps or the tech specialists I spent all that time talking to on the phone. 

[Malvokian]

I have the most expensive 5g Unlimited plan, I live in the center on what Verizon claims to be a huge area of 5guw coverage. I've only ever seen 5guw twice since I bought all these devices and the download speed as tested by multiple internet speed tests was, at best, 3.7Mbps. I otherwise only get 4g service, even when out and about all over my county.

I really feel I was hoodwinked into buying all these 5g devices and paying for this unlimited 5g plan when I almost never see any benefit at all. Is there a 4g plan I can switch to? 

[DK36]

I had the same issues as you. On a rare occasion I saw the 5G-UW indicator turn on, and that was a brief hit....probably near a device or hub transmitting an "ultra-wideband" signal near a metropolitan metropolitan area.   I see a 5G indication in the area I live in about 75% of the time , but it is hit-or-miss, depending on where I'm located at that point in time. 

My problem was "resolved" near the end of March of this year when I started noticing the 5G indicator, but I'm only on 5G NSA (non-standalone) core network. 5G is still in a "rollout"phase.

"I am not a Verizon employee,  I'm just another customer trying to help you."

[SynthpopAddict]

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@DK36 wrote:

I see a 5G indication in the area I live in about 75% of the time , but it is hit-or-miss, depending on where I'm located at that point in time. 

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This started happening with my phone 2 or maybe 3 months ago too, where it stopped showing 4G LTE and a 5G icon popped up.  Stays there at least 95% of the time, but all that glitters is not gold...

If the 5G icon is not "lighted", I'm actually only in LTE mode and speed testing reflects this too.  I'm starting to think dynamic spectrum sharing has been enabled on 5G cells instead of older LTE cells, because a 5G cell can carry 10x the traffic a LTE cell can, but the 5G cell isn't necessarily running 5G to everyone.

This is the "unlighted" version of the 5G icon on my phone (OpenSignal isn't fooled, obviously, but the Ookla speedtest app does get fooled in my experience):

If I'm actually in 5G mode, the icon has either a white or black background to it, depending on what app I'm using:

And speed tests come back with much better results. 🙂

[SynthpopAddict]

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@Malvokian wrote:

I really feel I was hoodwinked into buying all these 5g devices and paying for this unlimited 5g plan when I almost never see any benefit at all. Is there a 4g plan I can switch to? 

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If the devices were all tied into some kind of promotion for signing up, you're unfortunately stuck for 36 months on Unlimited Ultimate unless you want to pay whatever penalty fees are in the small print for leaving early.  I'm guessing you spoke with tech support at some point and they tried re-provisioning your account to make sure you can access 5G UW, so not sure what's going on there.  If none of your devices are able to pick up 5G UW, highly doubt it's your SIM cards.

If you aren't tied into some kind of "device contract" and want all the 4G service you can possibly get, it's called "prepaid". 😉

Read elsewhere in this thread that Unlimited Plus may no longer be eligible for 5G UW, so only people on Unlimited Ultimate even have a chance at it?  That's sad!

[Volpot]

So...something interesting I discovered.

When I am connected to a wifi network (and showing the wify indicator at top of screen), my 5G indicator disappears and only the generic LTE signal strength bars icon is shown. Which is why when I am out and about, not connected to a wifi network I often show the 5G at the top of the screen (and no wifi indicator).

I discovered this while at home and losing power to my wifi router and suddently noticing that my phone was showing the 5G indicator. When power was restored and wifi restored, the screen showed the wifi icon but no longer the 5G icon. I seriously doubt that wifi is actually blocking 5G capability. So my assumption is that its merely a screen bug (at least on my phone).

My suggestion: In a "known" 5G signal area, turn off wifi and see if you too suddenly see the 5G icon at the top of your screen.