Some Android phones might be faking your signal strength

Technology Nov 05, 2025

Turns out, some Android phones might be showing you more signal bars than you actually have.
A recent report says phones on carriers like Verizon and AT&T use a bit of code—called KEY_INFLATE_SIGNAL_STRENGTH_BOOL—that can add an extra bar to your network indicator.
So, your connection might not be as strong as it looks.

How to check if your phone is lying to you

If you want the real story on your signal, head to "About Phone" and then "SIM Status" in your Settings.
Here you'll find dBm numbers—closer to zero means better signal.
Good news: this "signal inflation" feature is usually off by default and needs a special update from your carrier to turn it on.