Network band selection no longer available

[Sabir1]

UPDATE (04/07/2022): This is the response Samsung gave about band selection being disabled. It won't be coming back it seems.

Ever since I had the Note 10+ 5g, I had been able to use the band selection app to open the hidden menu which would allow me to select which bands to connect to and which bands to avoid. This was particularly important as Band 3 (1800Mhz) would give me the worst speed (~0.5 - 4 Mbps) and is at the same time the band/frequency the phone connects to constantly since it has the strongest signal strength. Band 3 also prevents my phone from connecting to 5g in my weakly coveraged area which enabled me to fix my several year long issue with terrible speeds giving me speeds up to ~200+Mbps. 

I just received the May 2022 update for my phone and I decided to update due to the camera stability improvements. After completing the update I notice that my phone is no longer connected to 5g. I check the band the phone is connected to and notice it to be Band 3. Thinking I may have forgot to turn off the Band 3, I try opening the band selection app to which it gives and error that it can't find the hidden menu.

I've come to know that this issue is widespread on the latest updates for most if not all the galaxy phones.

I don't know why the menu has suddenly disappeared or been disabled, but it is a very important feature for me and many others. I see no reason as to why this feature would be made inaccessible on Samsung devices since it isn't destructive but rather a really useful feature for many users.

Could someone with a better understanding, or better yet Samsung themselves please explain what's going on?

PETITION:

https://www.change.org/p/make-network-band-selection-menu-available-again/sfs/copy/311609309?recruit...

[AndrewL]

@Sabir1: Are you able to clarify if the band selection app you're referring to is one that you've downloaded, or is part of the developer options? In the meantime, please head to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Mode, and make sure that 5G/4G/3G/2G (auto connect) is enabled, as this will connect to the strongest available mobile data signal in your current location. 

[Sabir1]

It is a third party app downloaded from the Google Play store. It is called 'Samsung Band Selection'. The app itself doesn't do anything other than have a button which opens up the hidden menu in the OS which I'm guessing would originally be accessed via the dialler.

I can confirm too that the 5G/4G/3G/2G (auto connect) option is selected and yes it connects to the strongest signal. The problem is the strongest signal is Band 3 (1800MHz) which is most likely congested and always gives terrible data speeds. I would normally use the network band selector to deselect this band which would work wonders in improving my internet experience.

[Pugs1957]

You need to contact the developers for support. They need to update their app.

[Sabir1]

What's weird is another app called 'NetMonster' linked to the hidden menu too, but that option had disappeared after the update. Rather than the app itself, isn't it the firmware instead that has changed? I tried using the dialler code *#0011# and then 'Back' -> 'Input Key' -> 'Q0000'. This stopped working too when it used to work before.

[Pugs1957]

Yes, you are correct that the OS has changed which is why developers update their apps to adapt to firmware changes.

I used the Band Selection app for a while and got good results. I only stopped using it when I got 5G.

Hopefully the app gets updated soon although there is no harm in contacting the developer. You can find this on Google Play. It may be worthwhile leaving a review mentioning it has stopped working.

As a wild shot you may as well try clearing your system cache and when in recovery hit repair apps.

[Migo]

I have the same problem! After the June update of my S21. Even the network mode in the settings doesn't work. There no way to use all the bands.

[Sabir1]

I recommend you sending an error report using the Samsung Members app with an explanation of the issue. I've already sent one but I doubt they will fix anything with just my report. Unsurprisingly, this inaccessibility to the hidden menu isn't a first for me. I noticed it on older models too. I just never understood why it became like that after an update. What would Samsung even gain by doing so?

[Charanjit Singh]

Same issue on Samsung Note 20 after update 

[ArchyBoy92]

Same issue on Samsung Galaxy 22 Ultra... I use this app for work and it would be really nice to restore this functionality.