Solving Opera Mini and UC Browser Connection Problems

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Connection Error Message

Configuring GSM phones so that data aware Java applications like gMail, UC Browser and Opera Mini can connect to the Internet is a total disaster. Opera Mini is an amazing mobile browser that gives almost any phone iPhone like Internet capabilities. But many people have trouble getting it to work. They download it from mini.opera.com, it installs without error but when they try to run it they get the error “Failed to connect to the internet“. The same thing often happens with the UC browser, gMail, Picomail, Google Maps, eBuddy Nimbuzz and other mobile Java applications. Because the user can surf the web with the phone’s built in browser, they clearly have a connection to the web. So why doesn’t the app work? Although it’s natural to blame the app, in almost all cases, it’s a setup issue caused by brain dead GPRS data configuration model.

Many mobile operators who are more than happy to sell you an “unlimited” data plan deliberately put roadblocks in the way of using 3rd party data aware applications to reduce data traffic on their networks. Even setting up unbranded, unlocked phones is a hassle. Phone manufacturers do a terrible job of documenting how to configure handsets so that Java applications can connect to the network. The terminology and menu options vary from one phone to the next even from the same manufacturer.

This post is an attempt to demystify the process by explaining the concepts and providing links to sources of operator and phone specific setup information.  You won’t find instructions on how to set up your phone here but I’ll try to point out the best resources for finding the right settings for your phone and operator.

First of all you need a phone that can run Java, meaning that it has a Java runtime (JVM) installed in firmware. Most recent GSM phones have Java, but many CDMA carriers including Verizon, MetroPCS, Cricket and US Cellular in the US use Qualcomm’s BREW application platform rather than Java. There’s nothing technically wrong with BREW but its security model is completely hopeless when it comes to installing 3rd party applications. The only way to get BREW applications is to buy them from your carrier, there are no free BREW applications. My advice, if you want to be able to run free, state of the mobile applications like gMail and Opera Mini, is to avoid the BREW carriers. GSM phones from most operators, CDMA phones from Sprint and iDEN phones from Sprint/Nextel and Boost Mobile all support Java.

Unlike GSM phones Sprint and Boost Mobile CDMA and iDEN handsets don’t require or allow any sort of user data configuration. Java applications usually just work on these phones. When Opera Mini or another Java app installs but won’t connect on a CDMA or iDEN phone, it means that packet data is not provisioned on the carrier side. There’s nothing the user can do except call and try to convince customer support to escalate the issue to a data specialist who can actually fix the problem.

GSM phones, in addition to requiring provisioning by the carrier to turn on data, have many data configuration settings that all have to be correct for data aware applications to work. Having a working browser is not an indication that data is set up correctly. Many built in mobile browsers connect to a WAP/GPRS access point or gateway that doesn’t provide the direct socket or http connectivity that applications need.

Just about all GSM phones support multiple data profiles, each of which is a collection of settings which can be assigned to the built in browser, MMS or applications. Different phone manufacturers call these profiles by different names. Common ones are:
Nokia: Access Points
Samsung: Browser Profiles
Motorola: Data Sessions
LG and Sony Ericsson: Internet Profiles
Blackberry: TCP Settings

A data profile contains dozens of settings, most of them optional. The ones we need to be concerned with are:
Profile Name: A user selected unique name for the access point.
APN or Access Point Name: the hostname or IP address of a switch or server within the carrier’s network which routes data between the mobile network and the Internet.
Bearer: The type of connection like CSD or GPRS.
Username: often but not always blank.
Password: blank if the username is blank.

WAP Gateway IP address and port: Required with some low end and older phones.

Some carriers also require data traffic to pass though a proxy server which has an address and a port.
Proxy Address: The IP address of a proxy server.
Proxy Port: The HTTP port used by the proxy server.

There must be a data profile assigned to your applications. How this is configured varies from phone to phone. There might be a menu option within the data profile setup called Packet Data Access Point or Default Access Point or the profile might need to be set in an Application Manager’s context menu or in an Options menu at the individual application level. Motorola’s are unusual, Java applications will look for and use a data session named Java Session.

Your carrier or phone manufacturer may be able to push all the required settings to your phone. This is the easiest and usually the best way to configure your phone, if it’s available. I recommend trying the carrier first as they should always have the most up to data settings. Check the support section of the carrier’s web site, looking for “send settings to your phone” or something similar.  The carrier may offer a choice of several different types of settings like WAP, MMS, Internet or GPRS Data. For applications you generally want Internet or GPRS Data if they are available and WAP as a last resort. When in doubt have all the settings sent.

A few phone manufacturers including Sony Ericsson and Motorola can also send settings for many different carriers.

Recent Nokia phones have a built in Settings Wizard containing settings for most operators. Instructions on using the settings wizard are at here.

Many times having the settings sent to your phone is all you need to get Opera Mini working. If it doesn’t work with your carrier’s settings try the manufacturer settings and vice versa. If Opera still can’t connect don’t give up. It’s possible to enter the settings manually. here’s how:

1) First you will need to find the right settings for your carrier and data plan. Usually they can be found on the carrier web site or by calling customer support. Many third party application vendors sites provide lists of settings for operators around the world.  Some good ones include:  Opera, eBuddy and Nav4All. It doesn’t matter whether you are using the vendor’s app or not, the settings are the same for any Java or native application. If you can’t find your operator’s settings anywhere else, try doing a Google search for “<Operator Country> GPRS Settings“, i.e. MTN South Africa GPRS Settings.

For US users here are the current settings for the national GSM operators AT&T and T-Mobile:

AT&T:

APN or Access Point Name: wap.cingular
Bearer: GPRS.
Username: <leave blank>
Password: <leave blank>

WAP Gateway IP address: 66.209.11.61

Proxy Address: <not required>
Proxy Port: <not required>

T-Mobile USA:

APN or Access Point Name: wap.voicestream.com or epc.tmobile.com
Bearer: GPRS.
Username: <leave blank>
Password: <leave blank>

WAP Gateway IP address: 216.155.165.050

Proxy Address: <not required>
Proxy Port: <not required>

2) Once you have the settings, enter them on your phone manually.  The process varies from phone model to phone model.  The phone manual should have this information, but often it doesn’t.  eBuddy has step by step guides for setting up popular phone models.

Some mobile operator’s sites including, AT&T, O2 and Sun Cellular also have good instructions for setting up many phones. These operator guides are helpful for figuring out the often arcane setup menus. Of course, if you are using instructions from an operator other than your own you need to substitute the actual setting values specific to your operator that you found in step 1 for the ones provided.

If you can’t find setup instructions for your specific model try looking through the instructions for similar models from the same manufacturer to find one that has the same menu structure. For example all Nokia s40 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th edition phones have the same setup menus and are set up the same way. For obscure phone models you might have to resort to a Google search for “<phone make phone model> GPRS setup”.

Note: If you have a Nokia S40 phone and your operator’s settings specify a proxy IP and/or proxy port, manual set up may not work because Nokia stupidly does not provide any way to enter the proxy settings.  If this applies to you try doing the setup without the proxy settings, as in some cases including AT&T and T-Mobile USA, the proxy isn’t actually necessary.

If  the proxy really is required, you must use the Nokia setup wizard, if it exists on your phone. or have the settings sent to the phone by your operator or phone manufacturer.

It is also possible to send the proxy settings to your phone yourself using Bluetooth.  It’s a somewhat complicated process and requires that your phone support Bluetooth and that you have a  Bluetooth equipped computer or computer plus a second Bluetooth phone.  The procedure is documented on the web at:  Howard Forums, NXG and Mobilomania. I’ve never actually had to do this myself so you are on your own if you try this.

If you have tried everything and you still can’t get it to work I recommend asking for  help on one of the many mobile users forums like The Opera Mini Forum, Howard Forums, Mobiledia, Esato or country specific forums like Nairaland for Nigeria or Talk.ph in the Philippines.  When using forums it’s important to follow forum etiquette to avoid being “flamed”. Before posting a help request, use the forum’s search function to be sure your question hasn’t already been answered. If you do post asking for help on a forum be sure to give as much information as possible including, make and model of phone, carrier, country, the name and price of your data plan and the exact text of any error messages.

You can also leave a comments on this post if you get stuck.  I try to answer as many questions as possible. I’m not able to answer questions about settings for specific operators or phones as I do not have them. Comments asking for operator or phone settings will be ignored. You need to do your own research using the resources in this post.

Please don’t ask me for “cheat” codes or other ways to enable free browsing. Comments asking how to browse for free will be deleted.

Last Updated: 15-Mar-2012 – fixed some link rot.

1,271 thoughts on “Solving Opera Mini and UC Browser Connection Problems”

  1. Hello;
    I installed opera Mini 5 on my black berry sprint and configured the APN (e.g. APN: qcellnet; Username: left blank; password: left blank)
    but when i go to mini opera it says to be installing but no progress.
    ANY HELP.

    • Tray downloading another operamini from http://sharemobile.ro. Clik on “search uploads”. >scroll down to enter ur search >type opera mini5 or just operamini>many resuls on opera mini will be desplayed up to about 400 or there about with about 29 pages cos they are in diffirent pages since it can not be on a page >select which ever u want depending on your phone type. Cos they are uploaded in diffirent formart: .jar, .sis, .zip etc i advice u search 4 the one that have multi servers or customs it will be indicated on some of the fike names “multi…. Or opera… Multi” as the case may be. Having forther problems let me know or mail me on [email protected]

  2. Im using Nokia 3110c and I use Opera Mini 5.0.18635 and it says unable to connect to the internet. please check your settings. what will i do?

  3. I still have an error that sai’s “FAILED TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET : java error 15 HTTP”

  4. I have downloaded ucweb browser on my mobile but when i open it it says that internet connection failed. I cannot use my ucweb browser plz help me.

    • I have downloaded ucweb browser on my nokia 2700, when i open it it says that connection failed,i use bsnl, plz tell me what to do!!

  5. thanks for the response Mr. Dennis Bournique..I’ve got the settings now for my phone through research etc..,and Opera mini is now working on my phone…thanks a lot to this site!!..it’s really a big help to a newbie like me…lol ^^

    • If the built in browser works and none of the third party ones do then it means that your for java apps settings are wrong.

      Go through the steps in the post to find the settings for your operator and apply them to your phone. If you are using an S40 phone and your operator requires a proxy you need to use a prov file to set up the proxy.

  7. Hello again! my opera mini works in network testing. but i really dont understand upon opening a site, an error occur it says “THERE MAY BE PROBLEM WITH YOUR NETWORK SETUP”, can u pls help me w/ this?? thank you so much :)

  8. Hi I have nokia 2600c. I m nt able to view full version of orkut on opera mini 4 since yesterday. It only show its mobile version. Plz. Help.

  9. Hi! im having problem w/ my opera mini upon installing it on samsung s5233w, it always show up “FAILED TO CONNECT INTERNET” whereas in regular browsing it works well im using globe sim. can anyone help me out? iv been searching to a solution for 3days now, yet doesnt get an answer. thnk u!

  10. Hello there my name is karlo and my phone is nokia 7210 supernova..i can’t install opera mini version 4.2 or 5…can anyone please help with this?!..im always getting this error “Failed to connect to the Internet” while attempting to install opera mini….this is my e-mail address (removed)..please e-mail me if anyone can solve this problem…ill would definitely appreciate your help…thanks a lot

    • Please read the post, it explains how to find and apply the settings for YOUR network operator. Every operator is different, you need to do your own research.

      If it still can’t get it to work after following the instuctions, leave another comment with the following information:
      – Network operator
      – Country
      – Name of the data package you are using
      – Make and model of phone
      And someone with some experience with that configuration might be able to help you.

      Incidentally, posting your email on the web is unwise unless you like to get lots of spam.

  11. i have samsung z150 and downloaded the om 4.2 i always cant connect to the internet though i have balance.. pls help me. if ever there were settings needed, pls tell me.

  12. i have downloaded operamini 4.2 on my samsung e1410. i want to use it free of cost but it results in charges.plz tell me a way to surf net free of cost through om 4.2.

  14. I got Opera Mini 4.2 to work but it works when it wants to. And I got Opera Mini 5 to work install but when I click the address bar it freezes and if I close it and open it again it stays on the loading page. Do you know what might be wrong?

  15. i am using 5130 music exp and i am using docomo connection for using internet but while opening youtube vedio its giving me check service connection and not showing anything……………….please tell what to do

  16. hi!
    my phone is sony ericsson xperia x1. i can’t properly install opera mini on it. it always says failed to connect to internet. i have already checked my internet settings and followed the correct one but still i can’t connect to internet. do you have any idea why is it like this before i go to out network provider? is ther any special setting for opera mini for me to browse the internet for free?..im from the philippines by the way in case you need that info for answering my query.
    hope for your response asap.
    thanks so much in advance…more power!!

  17. I already input the right settings but I still get the can’t connect to the Internet message for opera mini 5 and 4.2 but not for opera mini 3.1 (opera mini 3.1 is good but some pages don’t open or don’t open right)

    • If you are sure you are using the same settings with Opera Mini 4.2 and 5 that you are with 3.1 there isn’t really anything else you can do.

      Opera Mini 3.1 connects to its server using a numeric address, 4.2 and 5 use a URL. If your operator’s DNS is broken, it won’t resolve the URL but 3.1 will still work.

      Also some countries block Opera Mini from connecting as it lets you use sites that are censored by the government. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are reportedly blocking Opera Mini currently. Sometimes the block applies to one version but not the other.

  18. I tried changing the name on the manifest file to Opera Mini 5 in order to install it on my Fly Ying F006 and it worked but I found out that it was the .JAD file the one that it was making the phone say Java Game Cannot be updated. I installed the .JAR file but I’m still getting the cannot connect to the internet message. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    • Dear sir
      I have prob that as i start opera a page of written connection fail please review your setting. So
      What is solution of its.

  19. hello! good day! i would like to ask if opera mini requires me to have load for me to be able to access the web? if yes, how much? THANK YOU and GOD BLESS! :D

  20. I have my n2600c and i downloaded opera mini 4.2. It’s so amazing but when i run it sometime it says application error: out of memory. Plz. Help me! Thanks

    • S40 phones like the Nokia 2600c don’t have a very large Java heap, which is the area of memory that you are running out of. Things that help to reduce memory use in Mini are:
      Clearing history often
      Setting images to low quality or no images
      Using Mobile View

  21. Hey i have lg gm200 and aircel operator but opera mini 4.2 is failing to conect internet.. What to do?? Plz help this poor boy..:-(

  22. I recently bought iPhone 3gs and installed opera it was working fine when all of a sudden a week back it stopped working with the error check network settings. I tried to change the network settings from packet to socket and viceversa nothing happened so I uninstalled it and on reinstalling I get the same error only now no access to the settings page. What can be done?

  23. I am using Nokia 2730classic with BSNL[India] 3g sim.the phone`s internal browser alongwith Opera Mini (which i found pre-installed on the phone)Connects internet,But when I try to use Java applications to access internet(allowing network access) it doesn`t connect.
    PLEASE HELP!!!

  24. hi i have recently downloaded opera mini 5 and was working fine for a week now i have changed my sim to o2 to get unlimited internet for a month for £10 and now it wont work but i can still get on the internet so nothing wrong with settings it just aint working no more anyone no why? Thanks.

    • The fact that the built in browser works doesn’t mean that third party apps like Opera will. You have to assign the O2 connection to Opera, it’s still trying to connect to the your old operator. Please read the post for tips on how to find and apply the correct settings.

  26. Hi.i have some problems,plz tell me how i solve them :
    1. when i use opera mini 5 beta 2 on my nokia n70 i pay about 700 rials for each 95 kb and when i use it on my sony ericsson k750 i pay only 8 rials for each 95 kb.how i safe money while using my nokia n70 ?
    2.my internet speed on n70 is very good but not on k750.how i fix internet speed on my k750?
    reply soon.thanxx

    • It sounds like you either have a differently priced data package on the N70 than on the K750 or else you are using different access points, perhaps a proxied WAP gateway on the K750 and a direct Internet one on the N70. Try swapping the SIMs to see if it’s a data plan difference.

  27. Hey brothers and sisters, I have got a way to Load and Install Opera Mini on my Nokia N70. Before this I was also thinking that I won’t be able to install but finally I did. all you need to do is Just Format your mobile phone and instal Opera Mini app on your Phone Memory instead of Memory Card.. It works 100%.

  28. the only option i have for no. 15 is smart internet. . which is my operator. .

  30. I have a BB Curve 8310 and I’m from the philippines. My browser cannot connect to the internet. please help me..

    I even use Opera Mini but it says “failed to connect to tinternet. please check your setting. What will I do?..

  31. hi. there is no link below this msg “Failed to connect to the internet”. how can i access my opera mini? my mobile phone is nokia 5000., thanks.

    • It makes no difference whether there is a is no link below the failed to connect message. It’s failing to connect because either the settings are wrong or your operator has not enabled data access on your line.

      Read the article to learn how to find and configure data settings.

  32. TO those who use Tzones with the PRoxy hack..

    the thing is that SKYFIRE browser works fine on Tzones…hack..
    but then why not !! OPERA MINI ??? thy suggested using our own proxy server but I dont know where that will be implemented and HOW !!

    does anyone of u have any idea ??

  33. i’am using n6111 and i download opera mini 4.2 when i used it failed to connect to the internet ???? can you help me !!!

  34. @Ashim thanks for reply
    i follow your instructions but still error “no connection found” can you help me plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  35. i have a problem in opera mini he says :”failed to conected to the internet ” please help me

    • Read the article, it tells you how find the settings you need to solve connection problems. I do not have this information which is specific to your phone and operator, you have to do your own research.

  36. I’m using nokia 2730
    can you please help me set up my net conection
    it always says “subsccribe to packet data first”

    thanks

    • Okey… Setting up POP/IMAP email clients is a little out of my area of expertise but here’s what I would do.

      For Gmail
      Log into your Gmail on a PC. Click “Settings” at the top right corner of thr page.
      On the Settings page Click the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab
      Enable POP or IMAP whichever you prefer using the radio buttons on that page
      Click the “Configuration instructions” link for the protocol (IMAP or POP) that you have chosen. Click the “Other” link.
      Write down or print out the settings.

      On the phone click Menu then “Messaging” and the e-mail setup wizard should start. If it doesn’t click “Add mailbox” to start the e-mail setup wizard. Follow the instructions on the display to input the settings when prompted.

      Yahoo doesn’t offer POP or IMAP access on free accounts so you will have to use the browser to visit your Yahoo inbox.

  38. hi can some one tell me gmail or yahoo mailbox for nokia 2700 please urgent i will thanks full to you thanks

  39. i am using opera mini and every time i use the network still charges me the same rate

  40. Hi,

    I have recently purchase new Samsung Dual Sim(CDMA+GSM) W259 handset. I have free reliance CDMA connection. But i can not dial to internet using this phone. It ask for APN Name. and user name and password as my phone number.

    Pls suggest.

  41. i dunoe how to set up opera mini on my phone. my phone is sony ericcson w705

  42. AM USING SAMASUNG GT S5230 BUT I HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED OPERA MINI 4.2 BUT IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING IT, IT SAYS FAILED TO CONNECT TO INTERNET,CHECK SETINGS.PLEASE HELP ME OUT BY SENDING THE CORRECT INTERNET SETTINGS TO MY E-MAIL ADD. [email removed]. i reside in nigeria and am using mtn nigeria network.thank you

    please try and review my complain and please am awiting response.thank you

    • I’m sorry Olugbenga, but I don’t have the settings for MTN Nigeria and I’m not familiar with the menus on the GT S5230.

      In the post above I have listed several internet resources where with a little bit of effort should be able to find the information yourself.

  44. after some time browsing opera said “out OF memory”,NEXT pressing the button it shows java.lang.outofmemory exception.PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM
    MY PHONE MODEL SAMSUNG 3010S AND USING AIRTEL

    • Your phone’s memory is limited. Clearing history often helps somewhat but the only real solution is to use a lighter browser like Opera Mini 3.1

  45. i am using nokia 6230i and i have oper mini using mtn nigeria but it deduct money from my phone what do i do

  46. Sir dennis, im fr0m d phil and im using lg kp500, im n0t stisfied wid my opera mini 4.2, it w0rks, but everytym i attempt to d0wnl0ad games and watch video, it always g0es t0 the web br0wser of my ph0ne, only ringt0ne and wallpaper i can d0wnl0ad. Is there anyway i can d0wnl0ad games and watch videos using my om 4.2? Tnx..

  47. hello. i need some help.
    I am a Smart user of LG KP500 Cookie.
    I already installed the Opera Mini 5 but when i open it, there’s a box showing up, it says “network access” and some choices below. I picked “allow until exit” after picking it just disappears. Then, the screen says its “installing…….” after how many minute words appear saying “unable to connect to the internet. please check your settings.”
    I don’t know what to do. Please help me.
    Reply ASAP!! Thanks.

    • That sounds like either a settings issue or else your tariff doesn’t permit packet data connections.

      I don’t have settings for specific operators and phones. First verify with Smart that your plan has packet data (internet for applications) enabled. Then follow the instructions in the article above which tell you how to find the right settings and apply them to your phone.

  49. but when i use the internet it says something like access point setting not available.

  50. please tell me how to install properly in my nokia 5130 xpress music.

    1. Go to Menu > Settings > Configuration
    2. Choose Personal configuration settings
    3. Press Options
    4. Select Add new and Access point
    5. Fill in any Account name
    6. Select Access point settings
    7. SET DATA BEARER TO GPRS
    8. Select Bearer settings
    9. Enter GPRS access point (APN): bplgprs.com
    10. Set Authentication type to Normal
    11. Enter User name as: bplmobile, leave password blank
    12. Press Back 3 times
    13. Choose Options and Activate
    14. Go Back
    15. Set Preferred access point to the access point you just made.
    16. Set Default configuration settings to Personal config.
    17. Select Activate default in all applications and Yes

    im having problem with no. 15, it dosen’t show any access point, even the one i made.

    please reply soon!!!

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