Solving Opera Mini and UC Browser Connection Problems

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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”

  3. I am using gravity 2 SGH-T469 and I have done all the gprs settings but when I open operemini it tells me I have not connected to the internet, I don’t even know to do again. Please I need your help

  4. i have gt c 3303i samsung champ i have to downloaded the opera mini as wel as uc browser these r not connectng

  5. i have samsung c3222 then i download any apps his showing jar are invalid how i remove it plzz help.

  6. My Nokia X2-01 inbuilt browser opera mini 4.2 doesnot download anything it shows loading and after sometimes it shows service not available plz plz plz help me.

    • Try running the connection test in Opera Mini’s advanced settings menu. If that doesn’t fix it, follow the instructions on this page above to find and configure your GPRS settings.

  7. suddenly i am getting a problem in loading the every website as content blocked by the operator what should i do please help me

    • Generally this error occurs when your operator or government has asked Opera to block access to some or all sites. Contact your operator, perhaps your mobile package doesn’t include packet data or general browsing. You could also try a different browser, UC Browser or the phone’s built-in browser.

  8. My hauwei G7010 phone suddenly stop browsing and connecting to the net, so i need the possible solutions please

  9. Im using my nokia c2-00 phone , im not able to browse internet with uc browser ane same other browsers ,even settings are installed in my phone , please help me

  10. i have samsung chat gt c3222, i m tring to download java apps bt after download sows ”jar eror or jar file invalid” help me to solve my problem..

    • The app you are trying to download isn’t compatible with your phone for some reason, most likely because it’s too large. Try a different app.

  11. First go to main menu>application>open>then on the file doesn’t work properly>choose option>from option click application setting>select network>make all file in it enable allow. Then the apps that doesn’t work truly start to work 85% realy true.

  12. hey, i am using nokia 2700 classic with reliance sim.i can’t connect to internet by uc browser please give me a soulution for this

  13. Hello, am using a nokia 7230 but my opera has of recent failed to connect to the internet. I have tried to delete it but i cant because its a system file. What should i do?. Thank you

  14. im using LG T375, and i instaled opera mini. and sucessfully work with wifi internet provider. But the problem is it can’t run when i selet to globe iternet provider. what should i do? can u help me?

    • That can happen if Opera Mini becomes corrupted due to crashes or you exit it by killing it with the End Call key instead of using the Opera Mini Exit menu option. There’s no way to get your saved pages back but you should re-install Opera Mini as the corrupted install will goes more problems going forward.

  16. I,need to operamini4.4 and i used before and i used firefox,chrome mini by opera browser.but i think my country(iran)filltering them.i can,t use pc,tablet…and i use only mobile samsung gt-s5233t for all of work in internet .pls help mee till i can use of internet.you chek my mobile for helping.tanks.

  17. My default browser for my Nokia 2220 is Opera Mini. When I attempt to go on the internet it says, ” Failed to connect to the Internet.” What should I do?

    • If it’s a Symbian phone or a Java media player that you installed the wrong access point or no access point at all might be assigned to media player.

      Or it could be an unsupported media type or bad URL.

  23. plz can you help me out my uc browser not working in my samsung e250,it not loading well the pages are not showing,how can i make it work? and what is the proxy address dat works on all application?

  25. sir , my opera mini and uc browsers are working properly but my BINU is nt working can u suggest any method of solving this problem?

  26. sir i am using samsung champ gtc3303 i am having a problem in installing any java software it always shows me failed to connect internet but when i go in permission coloumn then in connectivity firstly when i use this there has been option ask once then use is now is visible for me intially it automaticaly got selected and i am able to use it but now i cant select it and when i select ask every time i am able to use it but it always ask me alow to use network.

  27. sir, i have a samsung corby pop. it supports opera mini 4.4 and works well. but when i downloaded uc browser 8.7 ….it could not connect to the internet…after some attempts, when opened the app
    it displayed java error…any solution???

  28. My built in browser of mobile is working as well as opera mini. I recently installed ucbrowser but it not working. Only problem is that it doesn’t connect to the server. Any solution?

    • If you don’t have the option to delete access point, update to the latest firmware and you will have that option.

      Or just do a factory reset to delete everything.

  30. iam using nokia c2-00 mobile.When i receive internet setting n try to save them i got error every time that only 70 sets are allowed setting discarded what should i do?

    • I don’t understand why you need more than 70 different APNs. You should only need one for each mobile operator that you use. Delete the ones you don’t need to solve the problem.

  31. sir, my phone is china smart phone mdl: smart s-16. my phone is java supported it also support opera mini 4.2 & many others opera but it does not support any uc browser. what can i do??? pls help me.

  33. Nokia 2700 classic. Bsnl. Default opera mini working bt opera 7.1 not working when using bsnl. Both are working when using Airtel from the same phone.

  34. sir, when i want to open facebook by using operamini (or operamini next) it shows connection error and error code 1
    But all the other sites are opening without any problem.
    I have reinstall both the browser with update version. But problem not solved.
    I have changed access point , and do virus scan but problem not solved.
    But Facebook by using uc browser are working.
    What can i do ??
    Thank you.

  35. Hello Sir ,My opera mini 4.3 internet browsing is not working in Nokia C200.
    Firstly i have taken backup of all my contacts,phone and setting.
    Secondly i have done restore to factory settings.
    Finally I have restore the backup and saved the internet setting.
    After that when i start opera data is not receiving but nokia inbuilt brower is working well.Give me solution urgently.

  36. Dennis…1st lemme say i find this blog 2b one of most informative & well explained, especially re opera mini. I linked here while searching for info & answers, (just the same few for quite a while) but almost never get any ans from mini forum, forum search, or net search, so i hope you send any reply (if any) to my email (i checked box & entered addy).

    Maybe im wrong but your above explanations seem to confirm what i suspected 4 a long time…that my setup is unusual. My phone is cdma but also uses brew (os) & j2me. Everything ive read, incl your above, make that sound like a contradiction?

    Carrier is virgin mobile. Phone is vm510 (rumour touch), s/w ver 7. VM installs or allows ota of omini, but otherwise blocks 3rd party apps…that is until a long time ago, the simple trick around that block was discovered & instituted by many, i.e., “the APPS folder trick, which enable phone to accept many 3rd party apps, which of course made an otherwise mostly useless phone become a very useful one. But it is ONLY (i believe) some sort of strange conflict between om6 & my stuff, that is my main question & problem for a long time & no answers or even a reference to, have i so far (since early sept) been able to find anywhere! (except the symptom, of load hang, was someone else’s question to you, re a different mini version, which led me here, to find your great blog that must be hugely helpful to many, but it appears to me that my “hang issue” is due to something different than anything u explained/described above).

    I have posted quite a few times (in mini forum), this issue, but never has there been any answers or even responses. Also many forum & internet searches have never returned any pertinent hits or replies. Its really weird that…and weird the issue itself as well..

    Simply put, i had been using om6 for approx 1 1/2 yrs, since it inception i believe. It was installed ota. I must have actively upgraded to it, cuz i got this phone approx aug. 2010 & i dont think 6 was even close to being avail yet. Im pretty sure phone came w/mini already installed or maybe i had to install, i dont remember anymore, but im guessing it wouldve then been some version of 5? Then, when 6 became avail., i was made aware & installed ota. It was great in my opinion! The cats meow! In fact i was so happy with it that later when i began getting upgrade msgs, i wasnt interested, i was happy w/6 & afraid of losing such a great working browser (and soon thereafter became even more important to me since my pc died for good & i couldnt replace for a long time, so phones’ internet & browsing abilities became my “main squeeze”. Since replaced pc but have no internet for it).

    So i loved 6 & had no real problems w/it. I didnt even know about forum during the whole yr & a half. Then, in the 1st few days of sept., all of a sudden one day, out of the blue, for no apparent reason & w/no forewarning that im aware of, from anywhere…., i went to open my beloved mini6 & it would not load. It stopped at 80% (like your orig questioner stated) & refused to go past that point. It was the 1st time i had ever seen that sort of indication. I thought, of course, that it was network, et al, but before long i came to realize it was a permanent situation & nothing tried would correct it.

    Let me also add, that when “next” was released, and when i learned it could be installed side by side, i tried it, but i guess at the time i just didnt “get it”, so in the interest of dealing w/this phones’ very limited memory, i deleted it & went back to 6. Then, when this issue started & i could find no fix, i decided in desperation, to reinstall “next” but it was no longer openly listed, so i had a hard time finding it but eventually i did & reinsstalled & have been using ever since. I also tried installing 4.4 & some modded version of 6 i found. They both installed & work, w/no problem.

    The problem is this: i find “next” to be great, but not as stable & significant “connection problems”, in comparison to what i remember w/6. And so i wanted to fix 6 so as to at least be able to choose or go back to, if “next” was too problematic for me. I then discovered the forum & signed up. I tried ever since, but can get no answers about this. NOTHING! Before this happened to me, i discovered bookmarks & saved pgs, so i had accumulated a sizable set of.. So i was very concerned about giving up on 6 & just sticking w/”next” or upping to latest 7, as i knew if i upped, it would wipe out my installed but nonworking 6 & likely wipe away any possib chance of ever recovering those bkmrks (i hadnt yet discovered “link”, but now activated) & saved pgs. So i have kept the 6 installed, in case i find a way to get it to open again (and recover old bkmrks & saved pgs).

    Ive since got “link” going & new bkmrks & new saved pgs & i maybe wud be better off staying w/next or upping to latest 7, but i 1)would like to know why this happened (the 6 issue), 2) if fixable? & if so, 3) have opportunity to maybe retrieve those bkmrks & saved pgs.

    Also at 1 point i came under the most likely false idea, that if i tried intall anothr instance of official same v6, maybe it wud retain the lost data & fix the whole “issue”, but then discoverd that 6, in any ver, had been “raptured”, as in removd from any opera listings or 4 that matter from ANYWHERE else either! 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 r there but no 6. Why? (even jad/jar sets are extremely scarce, plus very hard 4me2 deal w/anyway). Please help & thx.

    Jeff

    • Your original Opera Mini 6 installation is corrupted. This can happen especially if Mini crashes or if you kill it with the red end call key instead of exiting properly using the exit option in the menu.

      You *may* be able to fix it by re-installing the same version without without first deleting the corrupted one. You will be prompted if you want to replace the existing copy and if you want to keep the old version’s data. Say yes to both prompts.

      After reinstalling your old bookmarks and saved pages may still be there and usable. Or not. If they are gone there’s nothing you can do to get them back. Now that you are using Opera Link you should always be able to get your bookmarks back if Opera gets corrupted again.

      As for old versions of Opera Mini, they aren’t that hard to find look here:
      Updated: Download Old Opera Mini Java and BlackBerry Versions Here
      and here:
      BoostApps.com – Opera Mini Tag Archives

      BTW, if you expect help here or on any forum, try to keep your questions direct and to the point.

  37. i’m trying to access net using opera mini 4 provider airtel..
    bt its not working.
    plzz help me..

  39. Hi, I value your assistance. There are sites that most of our mobile service providers here in Uganda let us access for free e.g Facebook. My mobile settings work perfectly and I can access the site using my inbuilt browser for free but cannot access it using the Opera Mini browser for free. I’m always charged when I use Opera Mini but not charged when I use the inbuilt browser that has very few features. Is there any way I can configure my Opera Mini to work as my inbuilt browser?

    • I don’t think that’s possible by legal means. When you use Opera Mimi all traffic from and to your phone goes through Opera.com proxy servers. There’s no way for your operator to determine if you are going to a free site like Facebook or not.

  40. my mobile konka w612 last some days opera not open at this time how i can use opera. so please help me.

  41. I have an Xperia x10, i installed Opera Mini and it worked fine really, but then i went to my homeland Pakistan, it worked fine over there too but when i came back to where i live (Riyadh) Opera mini stopped working, i uninstalled it, i downloaded it again from the market and installed it. But when i open the app itself it says Installing for a while and then after a while it says ‘Failed to connect to the internet’. I think its because of the recent changes our internet provider did but im not sure.. Can you help me?

    • I’m sorry but I don’t have settings for specific mobile operators. Ask your operator or local users for the proper packet data settings to use.

  42. Iam habing problem while sending message it will show to me that the message has be sent to the receiver but when i ask the receiver,he said to me he didn’t see it and it happens not only 2 or 3 times but all the time i send message,thanks

    • Are you talking about text messages? What does that have to do with Opera Mini? If your texts are not being delvered contact your operator it’s likely network problem.

  43. I got my Huawei G7010 in about Febuary, but the thing is my Opera Mini won’t load!>.<
    It get's to about 80% and just completley stops!
    I've tried turning it on and off, and taking the battery out, but it doesn't do anything.
    If anyone can help? It would be amazing, i would love you forever!<3
    Thankss

    • If it just stops without an error, it’s likely that your phone isn’t compatible with the version of Opera Mini you are trying to install. If the problem occurs with Opera Mini 6.5 or Opera Mini Next, try Opera Mini 4.4. If 4.4 doesn’t work try Opera Mini 3.

  44. My problem is, i deleted the original java session that already installed on my phone, and when i create a new java session, it always not working even the settings are correct. I need to download a new original “websession” file which have undeleted java session. Im wondering if someone can send me that file.

  45. i recreated java session with correct settings, but still not working.
    The default java session that i deleted is already there when i first got the phone. Maybe recreating java session will not work. i wanna get help from you but you are limited to opera? I should go to motorola. but thanks.

    • The Java session is used by all Java apps. not just Opera Mini. It should work if you set it up right. GPRS APN, Wap IP and port must be right.

      Also try setting the Java Session as the default. Meny > Settings > Web Access > Web Sessions > select Java Session > Menu > Set As Default

  46. Am able to download apllications like facebook chat ,nimbuzz,opera mini,google map,gmail and uc browser but i cant open them,am using a lg ku990i. it often tells me connection failed,time out or no gprs setting found. am from Ghana,i also need a java settings

  47. i deleted java session from my v360’s web session, now i cant connect my java apps to the internet what will i do?

  48. i can use net via my samsung gt-c3510 corby pop but it dosent gets connected to other java apps like ebuddy, etc
    but opera mini works
    but not other java apps shows “connection failed” check internet settings.
    so please help and guide to solve my problem.
    Thank You for the support.

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