Because there is physical hardware behind a mobile proxy, the set of problems is different too: the modem can hang, the SIM can run out of quota, the signal can weaken. This guide offers a diagnostic flow that goes from symptom to cause.
First, Identify the Layer
On a mobile proxy the "slow" symptom is most often caused by the quota. Checking the quota status first saves hours of misdiagnosis.
Layer 1 — Cannot Establish a Connection
Intermittent disconnects are a symptom specific to mobile proxies; they are rarely seen on wired infrastructure. The source is usually the radio layer.
Layer 2 — Very Slow
There is a connection but the job isn't progressing. Check these in order:
Check the quota status
This is the most common cause. When the quota runs out the carrier throttles the speed severely. Check the remaining quota in the panel.
Lower the concurrency
On a mobile proxy, concurrency above 8 usually reduces throughput. Drop it to 4 and measure.
Reduce the resources you download
Block image, video and font requests. On mobile bandwidth, this single change can halve the time.
Measure the pure latency
Send 20 requests to an empty endpoint and record the median latency. If it is higher than normal, the problem is in the radio layer.
Rotate the IP and measure again
Sometimes registering on a different cell improves the speed noticeably.
For measurement, see ping test and proxy checker tools.
Layer 3 — The IP Won't Rotate
If you send the rotation request through the proxy, the request is cut off halfway. Always call it directly, without using the proxy.
For a detailed rotation guide, see our IP rotation article .
Layer 4 — The Platform Is Blocking
If you are asked for verification or your action is rejected even though you are using a mobile IP, the problem is not the IP but your behaviour or your account:
A mobile proxy is strong against IP-based blocking, but it does not stop behavioural analysis. The items on this list are more decisive than IP quality.
Layer 5 — Quota and Plan
| Symptom | Check | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden slowdown mid-month | Remaining quota | An add-on plan or SIM rotation |
| Slowdown at certain hours | Fair use policy | Move heavy jobs to a different hour |
| Consumption faster than expected | The type of resources downloaded | Blocking media and video |
| The panel and your measurement don't match | Counting method | Ask the provider for their counting definition |
For quota control, see our quota management article .
When Reporting to the Provider
- The timestamp (with time zone), the exit IP and the target domain.
- Whether the problem is on a single SIM or across the whole pool.
- The raw error output (
curl -vis preferred). - The time of the last rotation and its result.
- The remaining quota.
- The shortest command that reproduces the problem.
Quick Checklist
- Is the quota exhausted?
- Is the modem on the network? (trigger a rotation and verify)
- Are the credentials correct? (re-copy them from the panel)
- Is the concurrency below 8?
- Are the timeout values generous enough?
- Are the exit IP and its country what you expect?
- Is the problem on one target only, or everywhere?
- Is a direct connection (without the proxy) working fine?
Summary
The key to diagnosing mobile proxy problems is placing the symptom in the right layer: connection, speed/quota, rotation or behaviour. The "slow" symptom is most often caused by the quota, while the "I'm being blocked" symptom is almost always caused by behaviour. Because physical hardware is involved, some problems can only be solved on the provider's side — a good issue report speeds up the process. Our tools: proxy checker, My IP Address, ping test.