It happens sometimes: You’re nowhere near a charger and your BlackBerry is getting low on juice. The low battery indicator, including the annoying flashing light, have been on for a while. Eventually, you’ll get a message that your battery is too low for radio use. No, this doesn’t mean Slacker Internet radio. It means the radio that connects your phone to the cellular network. One thing I’ve noticed, at least on my BlackBerry, is that when I charge up the phone, the radio doesn’t automatically turn back on once the battery has enough juice. Here’s how to turn it back on manually. 
Head to your applications menu and scroll around until you see the icon for Manage Connections. The icon will obviously depend on your theme, but it usually involves an antenna. When you click on it a menu will pop up. You’ll see an unchecked box next to Mobile Network. Check it. It might take a minute, but your mobile network connection will be restored. Pretty simple, eh? I haven’t seen much about it on forums, but I was wondering: Has anyone experienced their radio turning back on automatically when there is enough battery life to sustain it? If so, leave the device model and OS version.
59 comments… read them below or add one
i experienced my radio turning off automatically on low power. it restored itself when iu recharged. i have a 9530 vzw storm, 4.7.0.75
Oh…crap…I thought it was April 1st there for a second :/
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this was soooooooooo helpful thanks so much!!
:)
my phone has been really making me mad because the radio will turn off on full battery and once i do the thing to turn it back on manually it will only stay connected for about 30 seconds and shut back off. so i would like to know how to keep it on for good. oh and ive tried just about everything to get it to work. and it just will not cooperate with me. please help !!
@trinda humphreys What model of BlackBerry do you have? If it is a Pearl it is probably leaking memory.
I have a pearl and mine’s been doing the same thing- on full battery the radio will automatically turn off. I turn it back on but it will only stay on for a small amount of time before turning off again.. Cooper, what is “leaking memory” and how do I fix the problem? Thanks!
The pearl is notorious for leaking memory. This means that when you leave applications running, they slowly eat away at the available memory you have in your device. Once the memory reaches a critical level, the Pearl starts to delete call logs and messages etc in an attempt to free up some memory so it can function properly.
There are a number of things that you can do to free up some memory and stop the Pearl from deleting and shutting off. I have written an article outlining 8 ways you can free up some space. Read it here: http://www.bbgeeks.com/blackberry-guides/8-ways-to-trim-the-fat-from-your-blackberry-88493/
You people at the blackberry are doing a wonderful job, meeting all the expectations and winning all the challenges. BRAVO 2 all of you.
mine pearls radio turns off but its full battery and when i turn it back on it turns off in like 6 sec please help!!
the radio to my pearl wont stay on. i manually connect it but it turns itself off in a few seconds. i dont know what to do ive tried just about everything.please help
Hey guys my radio will power off a few seconds after i manually restore the connection.
I tried wiping, restoring and interchanging settings with no luck. This is the 3rd phone that this problem has occurred. All three phones were sent in for service. This time they are NOT replacing the phone without a fee.
I believe it is a software problem because if i REMAIN in the manage my connections window then the radio will not turn off! (it changes from YELLOW to GREEN back and forth — never red!) If i place the phone in the BB holster or exit this window, the radio WILL power off.
Any ideas. Im stummped!!!!
Did exactly what what you said. WORKED! Thanks!
@sunny Excellent – glad you are back up and running
I have that box checked already, but every time i go to the browser is just gets stuck on the loading screen ;-/
Thanks so much, i was able to fix the radio thanks to you!!!!!!!!!!:)
my radio/connections on my BB device (8320) urn on automatically when re-charged… but my 8830 does NOT.
alright so heres my problem, its the peal, and i was on the phone its fully charged, it cut out and the raido turned off, it wont turn back on, i took the batrey out, put it back, still wont turn the raido on, so i updated my software, that didnt work, bell told me to wipe it all out so i did, lost everything, and it still wont turn the raido back on :(
@natasha Try the steps in this post to recover your BlackBerry after it has been nuked:
http://www.blackberryos.com/forums/blackberry-how-guides/6175-how-recover-nuked-blackberry-pictures.html
I too have this problem that when the battery run low it turns off the radio (you dont notice this), you then charge it but it doesn’t the radio back on. So there you are thinking your phone should be working ok – but you aren’t recieving those urgent calls. Then you realise the thing isn’t working- Arghh! Is there a way to auto turn Radio on after it has been re-charged (8100)? Many thanks.
@Pete There is no way to automate that process that I know of.
I check the box but it doesn’t stay checked! My radio will not turn on no matter what!!! :( I have a curve helllpppp
@abby if your radio will not stay on I do believe it is time for a complete OS replacement – if that does not fix it then you will need a new phone.
very very usefull, thank you a lot, didn’t find this information anywhere else!
I do what you say, check the box next to mobile network, but it wont let me click it bc the radio is turned off. It says from there to turn on the radio, but I dont know how. Is there a way aside from the manage connections icon to turn the radio back on?
@ COOPER~~ i did the step to to memory leak thing, and my radio still turns off after 30 seconds of turning it on, what do i try next? im freaking cuz i dont ave a house phone, and if an emercency were to happen, id be screwed, i have 5 children here right now, so idk what to do!!!!
@alicia The only other suggestions I have are to
1. Check and clean the battery connections on both the device and the battery.
2. Backup your data and wipe the device. Once wiped, update the OS to the most recent for your carrier.
If you need help with these steps let me know and I will provide links. Be sure to indicate your model number and carrier and current OS – thanks
okay i wiped the device clean, lost all my contacts, pictures,videos,ringtones,whatever, i dont care. at this point, i just want my phone to work. so how would i go about to update the os???
i have a pearl 8130 and i have Verizon
ps: how do i check and clean the battery connections? i’m not to smart when it comes to phones i guess ur prolly laughing at my questions, but i’d really appreciate some help, thank you so0o0oooo…. much!!!!!
hey i updated the os and it still doesnt work, it was like an hour long, i wited, but this is ridiculous!!!!! i dont really have the money to go buy a $100 phone, idk what to do
@Alicia If an OS update did not fix that issue then you likely have some kind of hardware damage. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news =(
To check your battery connections just pop out the battery and look for the small metal prongs. Give them a good wipe – perhaps use a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a qtip.
Also try folding up a piece of paper and wedging it behind the battery. That should ensure a tight connection.
Hi people. I had the same issue with my Pearl tonight…searched on forums and once I saw a comment about possible memory issue I CLEARED MY LOGS (shift L 5 L 5) , then deleted mms outgoing and incoming msg , and deleted a ton of emails.
Connection stays on now. Hope this helps!
Good Luck
Hey, is there any way to make your radio stay on even when your battery is dying? Any way at all- hacking, or programs that will do it? Ive searched but I cant find anything about anyone cracking it and making it to where it wont cut off when the battery is low.
@Justin Not that I am aware of. When there is not enough power to run the radio it will shut off. No way around that.
hey, how are you all,
my problem is that i got nen bb torch 9800 i want to log in to msn but it seems that no data services, i checked and get that data services turned on and while roaming also turned on, bb wrote no wirless coverage although i can browse wll websites and im so near for wirless router
another problem i have my radio turned on but when i connect the device to bb device manager or go to th website to download applications the site wrote me to turn radio on, which radio, ?? thanks in advance
@hussein It sounds like you do not have a BlackBerry Data plan on your device. Unfortunately this is not the same as a regular data package from your provider.
Once you get a BlackBerry data plan you will have access to many apps that will not work without one.
My blackberry pearl keeps turning its radio signal off and my battery is completely full i turn it back on but it stays on for maybe 2 minutes. Do you know how to fix it?
@Randi How much free memory do you have? If you have little to none left (under 12mb) your device could start to malfunction.
I had the same issue and noticed that the radio automatically turned-off after listening to Stitcher Radio for several hours (in spite of my having an unlimited data plan). I am with Verizon.
The battery was almost completely charged, but I was not even given the option of turning-on the radio/internet or my Enterprise Connection. I also could not run a Status Test and had already done several battery pulls, none of which were successful.
I finally attempted to run a Wireless Upgrade and when I did so the system informed me that the radio was turned-off (DUH) and asked if I wanted to turn-it on. I responsed “Yes,” and the radio kicked-on, good-as-new.
This is NOT the first time that I have had this issue to happen and I can only wonder if Verizon is somehow “pulling the plug” on my conncection after several hours of Internet use (in spite of having an unlimited data plan).
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
i m very sure that the radio is on but when i go to the apps world to download apps
the system check thingy said my device radio is off
what can i do please help
i have a blackberrry torch 9800 and i have to get it unlocked. bad news is all 10 chances to do so have been used up. WHAT DO I DO. please reply fast
@Yasiru You need to find someone who can physically unlock the device using cables and software.
I have a brand new bb storm, I activated my BIS. But my radio is off and I can not phone or send a sms to someone, I know my sim works because if I place it in a other phone it works. The battery is fully charged. Please help what can I do.
@addy Does turning the radio on work?
http://www.bbgeeks.com/quick-tips/turning-your-blackberry-radio-back-on-881933/
No, it goes off again.
@addy I would first backup everything you have on your device then upgrade the OS to the most recent available. If your radio does not work after that I suggest having the device replaced by your carrier.
i did everything you told me to do but it still shows an “x” on the right hand side. But if i press the wifi one and the bluetooth one it shows a check ark except the mobile network. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO?!?! HELP!!!!
my battery is even full so i don’t know anymore is there another way to turn your radio back on?
@Julia Nope that is the only way to do it. At this point I would be looking at trying a new SIM card or having your device replaced by your carrier. (hopefully it is still under warranty)
heyy plzz help me , my radio is getting off , i mean i hav charged my phone full and evry time i call smeone its say to restore radio connections but then it gets off after 2 min wat to plzzzz help me
hey guys, been reading all the post and tried the suggestions. I have the same problem how can I turn on the radio? I’m a newbie on bb and I don’t have idea on how this phone works. I want to maximize it’s use or at least the wifi connections but it seems that it was not working. Can somebody help me please? Does it have something to do with my location? I’m here in the Philippines. I have a blackberry curve 9300. Thanks a lot.
Hi Cooper,
I am having a Network problem with my Blackberry Torch. I have used it for some 3 weeks now and all has been well until I had a low battery and the radio turned off. After charging it fully, and manually checking the mobile network box, even beside a network mast!!! it still doesnt connect to any network. I have powered if off and on several times and did several battery pulls! My sim works on other phones and other Sims dont work on my phone. Pls whats my diagnosis and what can I do!!! Plus I can I upgrade the OS, incase thats the way out? Pls HELP!!!! Thanks.
Someone help me please. When I Go to ‘ Manage connections’ all three (Mobile Network, Wi-fi, Bluetooth) have a tick next to them and say ‘On’. So i Think That means My radio is on? But when i go to download an app from the internet onto the blackberry by cable, on Step 2 it asks me to connect. Then it says your radio device is turned off. You need to tunr it on. So if my mobile network has a tick next to it, shoudn’t it work?
i forgot to say that my charge was also full up
Hi my tour 9630 ( which I bought only a few days ago) keeps losing the connection after only two minutes. I have restored the connection manually on several occasions but the same occurs. I contacted my service provider but the problem persists. Any suggestions?
my radio on my storm is on and green, but that install thing is lying about it not being on, what could that be ?
Hey evry1 I have a mojor problem..I have my bis activated.. I use bbm and email and stuff.. But everytime I try to download a video or mp3 from the internet it will start downlaoading and it will be on 3g and that double sided arrow will be just above the 3g sign but when that double arrow starts to break up amd dissapear and reappear its says ‘download failed’
I am presently in a different province. I should recharge my blackberry but I didn’t do itr fast enough.I have tried for 2 days to text my husband and the device stated that my radio was not on. when I go to manage connections, my mobile network is checked off (in the box at the beginning (of mobile connection)and at the end in green (of mobile connection). On the top of the screen it says restore connections. please help how do I turn the radio backon ?
YAY!!! thank you so much. I am on vacation and trying to find my family and friends when this exact situation happened. I tried for nearly an hour to resolve the problem when I found this page. In 2 minutes I was back up. Thank you so much!
i did exactly what you advised me to do but it sill hasnt turned back on.
what should i do know