Exclamation mark over cellular network - can't browse internet

[Robert Flook]

Hi,

Got a really annoying problem with my Nexus 4. A few days ago I updated to Lollipop 5.1. Ever since then my cellular network symbol has an exclamation mark on it. This is where (I think) it gets odd. I can usually open chrome and perform a search in it, and I get back a full set of search results from Google - pictures, web pages, video links, shopping. However when I try to access one of these links I get .... nothing. My phone refuses to load that web page.

To make matters even stranger I am getting whatsapp messages come through, emails and facebook updates. What the hell is going on? Clearly I must have some form of data connection or I wouldn't be able to do anything which requires an internet connection. So why can't I browse the internet?

I have tried: toggling airplane mode, toggling mobile data on/off, changing APN, toggling WiFi on/off.

Hoping someone has an answer for me.

 

[Nick Tempo]

I had the same problem with the exclamation point. I changed my passwords and wasn't logged into my two google accounts registered on my phone. Once I logged in with the correct passwords, my internet access was restored.

One funny thing I noticed by posting on Topix, which posts your location, is that any time I would post through the phone my location would appear as "Mountain View, CA". Just a wild guess, Android must route your internet useage through Google's servers. Google probably wants you logged in so it can track what you do with the phone so they can figure out how to make money from you. That may bother some people, but they gave me a $600 phone for $349, free landline phones (check out the Obihai 202), free forwarding numbers, they host my domains for free and gave me a free google website. As far as I'm concerned, they can have all the information they want about me so long as they continue to give me free stuff.

EDIT: That wasn't it. The exclamation mark came back. Another article I read said the issue has to do with the SIM card. I will call T-Mobile tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[Nick Tempo]

I've been having the same problem many others have had regarding the exclamation point and not being able to connect to my cellular data plan. I have a Google Nexus 4 and my cell service is through T-mobile.

The guy at T Mobile told me that he's had 3 calls on this issue today. He had no solution other than to reset and wipe the phone.

While on hold with him, I figured it out on my own:

The problem had to do with the data usage settings. To get my phone working here's what I did:

1. Go to "Settings"
2. Go to "Data Usage"
3. Go to drop down menu in the upper right hand corner ":"
4. Go to "Cellular Network Settings"
5. Go to "Access Point Names" (APN's)
6. Go to the drop-down menu ":" and select "Reset to Default"

That got me going.

Google should give me a nice gift for figuring this out. It has been a major issue.