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How to fix PDP authentication failure on iPhones and iPads

iOS users can come across an issue related to the PDP authentication failure, and it's important to know how to solve this easily.

Julio Osuna

July 1, 2024

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Today, you will learn about an important topic that often arises regarding iPhones and iPads. Users sometimes have problems with their eSIMS or have difficulties connecting their cellular lines. This error appears on your phone as “PDP authentication failure.” As the name says, it is an error associated with cellular network authentication

If this is happening to you right now, or it could happen to you in the near future, the best you can do right now is to continue reading all the information and help that we provide here at Holafly so you can enjoy the service you are paying for without further issues.

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What is PDP authentication failure?

iPhone users often experience this when using their cellular data, and the message “PDP authentication failure” appears. The meaning of this is simple: configuring your cellular data to connect automatically was not done correctly. Therefore, it should be fixed as soon as possible.

You may also wonder how to solve this problem and what PDP means. And it’s really nothing out of the ordinary or some strange gizmo on your phone. PDP stands for Packet Data Protocol, the network cell phone used to connect to the Internet.

PDP authentication failure
PDP authentication failure. Source: Freepik.

As mentioned, PDP authentication fails when a cellular network is set up incorrectly. But don’t worry; this error is common, and the solution is usually quick and easy. This error occurs on iPads as well since it is not exclusive to cellphones.

Remember that this is a phone configuration error and not a factory error. Now, let’s see how to solve this error with a step-by-step process on how to fix cellular data on iPhones and iPads.

Don’t forget that if this happens to you while you are abroad using an international eSIM with a data plan, your mobile service provider can also help you to solve this error.

How to solve PDP authentication failure on iPhone

When these problems occur, we always want to fix them immediately and hope it doesn’t cost us a lot of time. The good thing about this situation is that you can fix everything quickly and easily without having to go to a place where your phone can be tampered with. 

Most PDP authentication failures can be solved by doing a reset of your existing network configurations and automatically generating new ones. Here is how to do it.

How to fix PDP authentication failure on iPhones
PDP authentication failure on iPhone. Source: Pexels.

Reset network settings on your iPhone

In most cases, the problem can be solved by resetting network settings on your phone. It is normal that our phone does not change protocols that no longer use our operator or SIM card, so with this reset, we force it to find a new one and solve our internet connectivity. 

With these steps you can do it easily by yourself.

  1. Put your iPhone in airplane mode.
  2. Leave it for about five to ten seconds, then turn off airplane mode.
  3. Restart your iPhone.
  4. Once your device reboots, go to cellular settings and reset your mobile network settings.
  5. Depending on the iPhone you have, the location of your network settings may appear in the following ways:
    • “General” > “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings”
    • “General” > “Transfer or Reset iPhone” > “Reset” > “Reset Network Settings”

When you complete these steps you should have your network correctly configured.

Other solutions

Another reason may be a problem with your iPhone’s eSIM. PDP authentication failure can be related to your settings or the eSIM not working with the data/validity. 

In this case, it is unnecessary to carry out such an extensive procedure since you will only have to go to the configuration settings of your eSIM located in the iPhone connections menu and verify that the eSIM is installed

If it is not, you can install it right there and proceed to restart the device. That way, the process will be completed. If these errors continue appearing on your iPhone, you may need to contact your network provider. You can also use guides on blogs or similar on how to set up iPhone eSIM.

Fix PDP authentication failure on iPad

The first thing you should know is that this problem on iPad has the same causes and solutions as on iPhone. So if you solved the problem on your phone, you can do the same on your tablet.

How to fix PDP authentication failure on iPad
PDP authentication failure on iPad. Source: Pexels.

Therefore, if you have the same issue with an iPad, you can solve it with the iPhone method. Try following the steps below to see how to fix your iPad PDP authentication failure:

  1. Put your device into airplane mode for a few seconds.
  2. Turn off the phone and reboot.
  3. To ensure the problem is fixed, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will reset the network setting on the iPad.

As this problem is completely linked to the configuration of your network to access the Internet, the idea is that if it continues to occur, you will surely need to find some extra support to finally solve the issue.

What causes the PDP authentication failure?

The PDP authentication failure prevents mobile devices from activating a connection to the cellular data network. For this reason, it is important to know the basics.

The first thing to know is that this is caused by an error in the device’s network configuration (iPhone or iPad). The PDP Failure can be related to your settings or an error caused by the eSIM. In some cases, it may be something totally simple, such as running out of cellular data on the eSIM. If you try to connect while there is no remaining data, you may encounter this error.

Other iPhone errors
Other iPhone errors. Source: Pexels.

Some of the reasons why this alert comes up on your cellular device may be an easy fix, or on the other hand, it may be something that you have to leave to an expert since you could damage your phone if you try it yourself. However, it is always important to know about the issue and find a quick solution so that you can continue enjoying your iPhone or iPad.

FAQ about PDP authentication failure on iPhone

What is PDP authentication on iPhone?

It is a security process behind the scenes when you try to connect to the internet using your cellular data. It stands for Packet Data Protocol, which is the language your mobile device uses to talk to the cell network about access data services. During PDP authentication, your iPhone and your cell network check IDs with each other.

What happens when PDP authentication fails?

The first annoyance caused by this failure is that you will not be able to use data connection or access point services as long as the error persists. In addition to the disconnection, you will usually see a notification with the error message “PDP authentication failure.” You can fix it by following the steps in this article.

Can I solve the PDP authentication problem from home?

In most cases, you can reset the network settings to fix this error message. If this does not solve the problem, then you should contact your service provider to verify if the problem is with the SIM card or in another system. You may have to bring your phone to a carrier location or rely on remote support from technical services.