How to Manually Select a Network on Samsung
How to Manually Select a Network on Samsung
Last updated: April 2026
By default, your Samsung phone automatically connects to the strongest available network signal. Most of the time, this works perfectly. But there are situations where you need to manually choose which network your phone connects to — poor signal in a specific area, roaming abroad, or testing coverage before switching providers.
Here is how to do it on any Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI.
Steps to Manually Select a Network
Step 1: Open the Settings app. You can find it in your app drawer or by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.
Step 2: Tap Connections. This is usually near the top of the Settings menu.
Step 3: Tap Mobile networks.
Step 4: Tap Network operators. On some Samsung models running newer versions of One UI, this may be labelled Network selection instead.
Step 5: Turn off the Select automatically toggle. Your phone will immediately start scanning for available networks. This can take 15-30 seconds.
Step 6: A list of available networks will appear. You will see network names like Vodafone UK, Three, EE, and O2. Tap the network you want to connect to.
Step 7: Your phone will attempt to register on the selected network. If successful, you will see the network name in your status bar. If registration fails (because you do not have a roaming agreement or the network does not accept your SIM), you will see an error message.
When to Use Manual Network Selection
Poor signal in a specific location
If your phone is struggling with weak signal, manually selecting a different network can sometimes help — but only if your SIM supports roaming on that network. In the UK, most consumer SIMs will only successfully register on their home network. However, some business SIMs and MVNOs have roaming agreements that allow connection to alternative UK networks.
Roaming abroad
When travelling internationally, your phone automatically picks a roaming partner network. This is not always the best one. Manually selecting a network lets you choose a partner with better coverage or lower roaming rates in that country. Check with your provider which roaming partners they recommend for your destination.
Testing coverage before switching provider
If you are considering switching business mobile provider, you can use manual network selection to see which networks have signal at your office, warehouse, or other key locations. Insert any active SIM, scan for networks, and note which operators appear in the list and their signal strength.
After the Vodafone-Three merger
If your business is on Vodafone or Three, manual network selection is generally unnecessary — the MOCN network sharing means your phone automatically connects to the strongest signal from either network. But if you suspect an issue with network sharing, manually selecting each network individually can help diagnose the problem.
How to Switch Back to Automatic
To return to automatic network selection:
- Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators
- Turn the Select automatically toggle back on
Your phone will revert to choosing the strongest available signal automatically. We recommend keeping automatic selection on for everyday use — manual selection should only be used temporarily for testing or troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting
No networks appear in the list: Make sure your SIM card is inserted correctly and that you have mobile signal (even weak signal). Try restarting your phone and scanning again. If no networks appear at all, your SIM may be deactivated — contact your provider.
Registration fails on your home network: This can happen after a SIM swap or account change. Try removing and reinserting the SIM card, then scanning again. If the problem persists, contact your network provider.
Phone is stuck on a manually selected network: If you selected a network manually and are now getting no service, go back to Network operators and switch to automatic selection. Your phone will reconnect to the correct network.
Need Better Business Mobile Coverage?
If you are regularly struggling with signal at your business premises, the issue might be your network rather than your phone settings. We compare every major UK network to find the best coverage and deal for your location.