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. pls my phone is lg kc910 though is working before. but now is only opera mini that is working. facebook, uc browser wattsap, bbm are not working pls help

  4. my mobile is samsung galaxy fame GT-C6810
    but when i open operamini it says unable to connect to the internet please check your setting
    what should i do to open it and not saying this words to me ?

  5. Hai, i am using nokia x2-00. I am not able to download anything from my opera default browser. And even the latest version of opera doesn’t work. Please help.

  6. Hi…..My Opera mini connects fine on my brand new Xperia Acro S. But I am admin at a single/chat site and it will not page refresh itself in chat.

    Stock browser does refresh
    Naked browser Pro does……(these above 2 cannot properly layout the chat room) so they are useless
    Firefox Beta does refresh
    Opera Mini does not but layout is good

    So why would Opera Mini not allow the refresh.

    I am on a new world phone that came to me from overseas, so it is unlocked and I have no mobile carrier yet. But will be an ATT provider.

    thanks………Tim

  10. Hellow! I cant browse youtube videos to my phone n2690′.it say (subscribe packet data fist), pls help me to solve this. Thank u.

    • Either you plan doesn’t include data or else your settings are wrong. Verify with your operator that data is enabled and paid for on your account. If it is follow the suggestions in the post to research the proper settings for your operator and how to apply them to your phone.

  11. i have nokia x2-01 and my service provider is bsnl.whenever i open my opera mini and connect to google it shows failed to connrct to internet.plz help

  13. Sir,I shall used nokia 2700 classic mobile.my uc browser is not update & fb server is locked allowyes.not clear cookis.its show memory full. please help.

    • If UC Browser won’t update, uninstall it and then install the current version,

      I don’t understand what you mean by “fb server is locked allowyes.not clear cookis.”

      Memory full errors in the browser mean the page you are trying to load is too large. Try using a different browser like Ooera Mini.

  14. i am using the china mobile phone, FOXTEL N8 and i am unable to download 2go and other apps like opera mini on it. is there any possible solution it?

  15. Sir iam using nokia2700. I cont instaal any java application through the operamini. and i get the operation failed after downloading any aplication. please give me solution for this problem

  16. My browser opera mini and uc browser are not connecting to internet.i saved GPRS setting but browser didnt connect to internet what i do please give me solution of this problem

  17. u have some mistaken . . In nokia s40 phones we can set proxy and port normally just in some steps . . Meet my website . I will explain it soon . . S 40 boy

  18. I want 2 download whats app on my nokia x2-01 and he is saying wab connection ended pls help

  19. i can’t download any application nor pics on my phone . it always say “link is not availabe” even if the link is can be downloaded on other phones . i also use opera mini on my nokia 7610supernova . what should i do ?

    • Do you have a memory card in the phone, most phone’s can only download to a card. If that’s not it try using the built in browser or UC Browser for downloads instead of Opera Mini.

  20. My opera mini4.2 get installing evry time whenever i inter to it.how can i remove this problem?

  21. My phone’s applications like 2go,opera mini,facebook are not working due to the incorrect network settings on my phone.Please if you can do anything for me to solve this problem please kindly reply me,my phone’s name and model is nokia 2700.THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

  22. I can’t access the built in browser on my phone any more, is only the installed operamini that i am using to browse, and is abt 5days now when i click my web it ll write please wait but never opens, i need to download too help me. tanx

  23. I am currently using Opera mini8 and I’m having a good time from the start. However, one day when i’m about to use it again, there’s this message that says, “problem reading from server.” It’s my first time to experience this one. Is there any way i can get back my connection? Thanks!

    • I’ve seen that message a few times over the years but after an hour or two things are back to normal. If not test loading a page with your phone’s built-in browser to be sure you still have connectivity. If the stock browser works and Mini doesn’t, reinstall Mini.

    • Hi Sir thank you for your response. I’ve been doing what you said. I keep on loading the built-in browser and it works but somehow the Mini still does not work even if i re-install it.

    • If data is enabled and available on your account, the stock browser should always work. If it doesn’t you can’t expect Opera Mini to work.

      If you can, swap your SIM to another phone, if that works your phone’s APN settings are wrong or your phone is broken. If you don’t get data with your SIM in a known good phone, you need to talk to your operator.

    • Hi,

      My built in browser is still working. Every time i try to log-in on my fb account, there’s this error that says, “problem reading from server.” same thing when i use my opera mini.

  24. my problem is i installed operamini 4.5 on my tecno mobile and when i browse and want to download music or games, the will be alert saying stop other application and start new but it automatically stop the java.the operamini is saved on my phone memory not the t-flash card. i need help

  25. My software name is opera mini 4.4, this software bookmarks speed dial 8&9 is free. So I want to add facebook in this. But I don’t know what is the facebook address in opera mini. So please help me.

  28. i use samsung gt-c3200 in my handset opera mini is not working properly.it shows the sentences without space for eg.iamaboy…

    • Ways to speed up Opera Mini include:
      Turn off images or use low quality images
      Use single column mode
      Use mobile versions of sites wherever possible
      Close background apps

  30. Pls,I find it difficult to use the opera mini application on my mobile phone which has been so far downloaded and installed in my phone..Although,I was using it before but now it has stop working.I mean,it has failed to connect to the internet..pls help me solve this problem because I need to use this opera mini application.

    Thankyou,from Andy Samson

  31. my nokia phone has a built in browser and now it doesnt work i tried to download opera mini built it wont connect to the internet. what should i do? i tried to fix the settings but its just the same it wont work

  32. i use a samsung duo fon.i have a problem that when i open facebook through opera mini it says content blocked by operator.all other things are working well even the email through opera is fine.before facebook was working but now it cant open but other things open as usual even google is ok.what could be the problem?

    • Content blocked by operator means exactly what it says, for some reason your operator (or your government if they block Websites in your cour country) is preventing you from visiting Facebook

  33. i am having samsung c3222 mobile, but i am not able to download any jar files, and also not any software, it alway seems “invalid jar” or “not supported file in content” i am not understanding why is this happening. please give me any solution, if you want to give me solution send the solution to my email address [email address removed] please give me solution i will be really thanks to u.

  34. this has been the most usefull information for a teck-no dummy like me , for a real soluations aproach to ending my many mobil problems ,i have been a builder all my life with very little tec., contact , thank you very much a humble ole carpenter

  35. pls i find difficulties in executing operamini on my java mobile chinese type although i was using it before but at a certain moment it does not execute again it sometimes behave as if the network has stopped.
    pls help mi thank you from cameroun VALY

  36. I face problem when i downlod some thing download did not work problem face during download “link not avilable”

  37. am using an itel phone n its restricting me of opening usa sites. hw cn i change my opera mini ip to us own

  39. There was this uc browser version which i need to find out . It showed the ip address of the user using it . Along with the android phone , its model no. And the service provider . Pls tell me the version i wish to download it .
    Would b great

  40. Hey guys all you need to do update by going setting apps and phone and click on download software and download and install new software and reset the gprs congfiurgation and then ur phone is ready for internet in application

  42. my mobile is nokia c2-00 so problem is am eny application download complate after i see i wap conection open application

  43. I’m using an lg ku990 windows fone. Weneva i wana browse wt opera, ts always askin me 2 chek my date nd time setns

  46. I have a problem in uc browser they ask ma allow this access this app is not from secure when i press yes after some interval it give this error again and again

    • In the phone’s apps menu, highlight UC, press menu, choose suite settings or security settings (exact steps depend on the phone make and model) and set the network and/or connectivity permissions to always allow or ask once.

  47. how can i set my web so that can be able to download appstore & to solve conection problem?

  49. suddenly i am getting a problem in loading the every website as content blocked by the operator what should i do please help me. i can not use internet.

  50. I have samsung gt-b 3410, i am not abling to upload photos in facebook by opera mini version 4.2

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