How Strong Is Your iPhone Signal? Find Out Now!

Have you ever wondered how strong your iPhone signal really is? Sure you can count the number of bars on your screen, but it’s not really specific. With this new tip, we’ll show you how you can convert the signal bars into an actual number. The digits are measured in decibels and the closer to zero, the stronger the signal.

This would come in handy, as an example, if you find yourself in a dead zone. It would be easier to track which area will allow you to make that important call. We’ve all been there, holding ours phones up like the Statue of Liberty trying to achieve a single bar.

I went ahead and dove into the steps on my iPhone 4. It does access a hidden area of your phone so proceed with caution. What we do in the name of technology! Your iPhone does not need to be jailbroken and the process is simple.

I’m not sure if it works for all iPhone models or in all countries for that matter, but if you would like to see the results for yourself, here are the steps:

Step 1: Dial *3001#12345#* on your iPhone then press Call.

Step 2: You’ll now enter Field Test mode. You’ll notice a signal strength indicator on the upper left hand corner of your screen. You can toggle between signal strength bars and a number by simply taping on it. At this point, press the home button to exit the app or if you would like the feature to be permanent, continue on. Don’t worry, the process is completely reversible.

Step 3: Hold down on the Power button until you see the ‘slide to power off’ bar.  Do not power off the device.

Step 4: Press down on the Home button until the app closes and you return to your home screen.

That’s it. Even when restarting the iPhone, the signal strength can be toggled between bars and numbers. The closer your number is to zero, the stronger your signal is.

To return to the default bars permanently, follow these steps:

Step 1: Dial *3001#12345#* on your iPhone then press Call.

Step 2: Press on your Home Button once.

The second step essentially closes the Field Test mode. You won’t see it on your iPhone again unless you repeat the process. Special thanks to Redmond Pie reader Eric Yun for the tip via email!

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