The hidden thieves that eat your airtime are not physical people; the quest for unraveling why your airtime is disappearing on MTN and how to stop it is the reason why this extensive guideline is published for you.
While I agree that there are different strokes for different folks, however, any missing airtime on an MTN phone follows the same pattern whether it is for data or voice-calling purposes
At Mamzanzi, we understand the quest to stop this annoying act; therefore we traversed proven steps you need to apply to stop your airtime from disappearing on your mobile phone even if it is the cheap one under r2000 you are using or the ones within the R3000 price range.
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5 Ways To Stop Your Airtime from Disappearing on MTN
The five causes why your airtime is being eaten, missing, or disappearing are explained below with the guidelines on how to stop it.
1. MTN Subscription Services
It is disheartening to know that over 90% of airtime disappearing on your MTN phone is because you are subscribed to some of their WASP services/content.
However, most users do not know they are subscribed to the services and secondly, for those who know, they are not aware that some of these services are not free. In such a case, hidden fees are deducted basically from your airtime.
How do I know I am on an MTN subscription service?
One of the quickest ways to know is if you are experiencing missing or disappearing airtime. But to be extra sure, the steps below are a guide for you to know if you are on an MTN subscription.
- From your phone, just dial *136*5# or *141*5#
- Pick 2 – Content services
- Pick 1 ( Manage content to view)
- Then it will be displayed and you will see the list of content subscriptions you are on
Now, once you have established the fact that you are on a subscription and probably they are the ones you do not need, I published a comprehensive guide on how you can cancel these subscriptions on MTN.
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2. Out-of-bundle Data rates
If you are a victim of this, you are to be blamed partially. Years back, once your data bundle finishes, MTN automatically uses your airtime as your data and that is why the airtime finishes or disappears quickly.
However, the whole scenario changed and it all depends on you now by giving your consent for the network to use your airtime as data in case your main data bundles finish. In most instances, you will be notified that your data bundle is about to finish and that you should buy another one or stop the data connection.
This development is technically called OoBS (out-of-bundle data rates packages). An out-of-bundle data rate is a service that allows you to access internet data from your airtime whenever your standard/normal data bundle you purchased has finished.
So, for you to stop your airtime from disappearing on MTN, you need to stop and disengage yourself from the OoBs!!
How do I check if I am out of the data bundle package and how do I stop it?
In most cases, MTN will notify you a few minutes before it finishes. However, if you do not get the notification, follow the guidelines below:
- Go to your phone settings
- Click on settings, then data.
- Set your data limit on the mobile data section
- Or, go to settings, then connections, then data usage ( how to get there may differ for different phones)
- The second option is to check your airtime balance after loading it ( check if your data connection is on). If it is on, just know that you are out of data bundles and the airtime will be eaten up quickly
How Do I cancel MTN out of data bundle rates?
To stop disappearing airtime on MTN caused by the out-of-data bundle packages, follow the guidelines below;
- Dial *135*6# and follow the instructions to opt out of Oobs ( Out of data bundle rates)
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3. Automatic Top-Up Airtime Advance
Virtually all mobile networks offer these features. Some of them give you notice of interest while some automatically engage you.
Many people load airtime only to find out that the airtime has been deducted by MTN for the top-up money they owe.
The question now is:
How Do I Know If I am on MTN Automatic Top-Up Advance?
I understand the frustration. For example, I once gave my phone to a friend to hold for me for just 5 minutes while I went to pee/toilet. Unknown to me, this bad friend borrowed airtime on my phone and used it!!.
So I understand why you need to know before you load the last R100 you have.
- From your phone ( make sure the MTN SIM card is inside)
- Dial *136*2#
- Select or choose ‘Xtra Time’
- Follow the instructions and click on the balance
With the above code and guidelines, once you are sure that you are on automatic top-up, the following are ways and steps you can use to cancel it. This is important to stop disappearing airtime on MTN.
How to opt out of MTN emergency airtime top-up
You can opt out of the MTN emergency airtime top-up advance by canceling it. To do that, see below:
- From your phone ( make sure the MTN SIM card is inside)
- Dial *136*2#
- Chose ‘Xtra Time’
- Follow the options to stop it and it will be cancelled.
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4. Background data App
This is the silent thief of your airtime and data. In this case, the problem is not with MTN, the problem has to do with the settings on your phone in regards to App updates.
Most Apps run programs in the background and update themselves even when you are not using the App; they make use of your data and in case your data is finished, they go straight to your airtime and use it to update themselves.
The solution is:
- Remove and uninstall any App you are not using
- Go to settings on your phone
- Go to connections/data, then to data settings
- Locate background data and switch it off
- Sometimes, you may see background roaming, just switch it off
- On some phones, you may be given an option to either use your Wi-Fi or data; always choose Wi-Fi.
Let me explain one more thing here; when you watch videos or play games on your phone and you just leave the App on without even using it, the App will continue to run.
The solution is to disable background App data updates; go to settings on your phone, then to Apps and notifications, then to Select App and from here, select disable background data.
5. Your phone is consuming bundles ( Airtime and Data)
One common question among most Android and Huawei phone users in South Africa is ‘ Why is my phone consuming bundles?
You may have observed and fixed the other four reasons above and still notice that your airtime or data is disappearing, in this case, the culprit or rather thief is your phone and not the mobile network.
The truth is that in most phones ( especially when idle and not in use) when your data is on, the phone iOS will be monitoring the internet for updates e.g. Google maps, location information, application upgrades, email notifications, social media notifications, etc. All these activities indirectly eat your airtime and data.
To stop airtime from disappearing on your MTN phone, the best option in this case is to always switch off your phone data when not in use or not active.
