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How to Fix the “Not Registered on Network“ Error

Not Registered on Network

Saw a pop-up stating “Not registered on network“ on the home screen of your smartphone? You can also run into the error when you try to call, send an SMS, or access the Internet. All of those actions are typically made possible by the SIM card. But, even though you think you’ve narrowed down the culprit, it doesn’t have to be one. Other things can come into play, especially smartphone firmware, roaming, network settings, or even a random glitch with connectivity. Luckily, you have the list below. So, check things off one by one and you learned how to fix the “Not registered on network“ error.

1. Enable Flight mode/Airplane mode temporarily

Airplane mode on Android or Flight mode on iOS are designed for in-flight use and will shut down all radio-frequency transmission. This is perfect for your problem since it will force the smartphone to search for a network again and likely fix the “Not registered on network“ error. Check method 2 in our guide to fixing the “No SIM card inserted“ error.

2. Restart your device

As with most electronics, turning it off, then back on can save you a headache if it works. This is done by holding down the Power button on the side for 10 to 15 seconds. You might have to tap on the Power off option on the screen too.

3. Reseat your SIM card

Since this was also a way to fix the “SIM card not provisioned“ error, we outlined the steps in detail under method 2.

4. Enable data roaming

Are you away from the geographical area your carrier covers? If set to automatic discovery (check method 8), your smartphone should transition you to a network it discovered automatically, and enable data roaming. However, the company or person that sold you the phone or a firmware update might have disabled it. So, getting the “Not registered on network“ error fixed can be done by following the steps in method 7 of the guide mentioned above.

5. Activate your SIM card

A potential fix for the “Not registered on network“ error is activating your SIM card if you haven’t. If you did, either your activation didn’t go through, or the SIM card expired. The latter case is common with prepaid SIM and pay-as-you-go SIM cards. With that said, doing this requires checking carrier-specific instructions. These can be obtained via Customer Support or by checking their website. We’re also publishing activation guides, and unless we already have, will cover your carrier shortly.

6. Update your operating system

We went over the practical application and tips under method 7 of our explanation on what causes the “Invalid SIM card“ problem.

7. Update your Access Point Names (APN)

Access Point Names are network settings that are automatically downloaded to your smartphone when you activate a SIM card. Sometimes, you’re required to enter them yourself. In this case, you can delete them, then connect to the Internet and let the smartphone download them, or enter them manually. You’ll find the information on your carrier’s website once again. Here’s where you can find APN settings:

Android

APN settings on Android 10 are here:

  1. Go to Settings, then Network & Internet.
  2. Tap on the Mobile network option.
  3. Select the correct SIM card if you’re using a dual SIM or triple SIM smartphone.
  4. Expand the list by tapping on Advanced.
  5. Tap on Access Point Names.
  6. Select the APN Type and fill in the data.

iOS

To find APN settings on iOS 13, do this:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down and select General.
  3. Tap on Network, then Cellular Data Network.
  4. In the APN field select the type, then fill in the rest.

8. Search for the network or change network mode

We discussed a potential solution when we taught you how to change a SIM card. Check the steps listed under a headline titled Instructions for swapping from SIM1 to SIM2. You can also switch the network discovery mode from Automatic (default) to Manual, and run a network search again. Moreover, you can repeat these steps after going through the technique below.

9. Reset all network settings

Both Android and iOS allow you to reset network configurations and start anew. Here’s how resetting  network configurations works:

Android

Resetting network settings on Android 10 works like this:

  1. Tap on Settings, then scroll down and select System.
  2. Tap on Reset options.
  3. Tip. If it isn’t there, expand the list by tapping on Advanced.
  4. Tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
  5. Confirm by tapping on Reset Settings.
  6. Your smartphone will restart.

iOS

Do this to reset network configuration on iOS:

  1. Open Settings, then select General.
  2. Scroll down and choose Reset.
  3. Select the Reset Network Settings option.
  4. Enter a passcode when prompted (or authenticate via Face ID/Touch ID).
  5. In a pop-up window, choose Reset.
  6. Your Apple device will restart.

10. Replace your SIM card

Start by swapping a SIM card with a SIM you know works. If that fixes the “Not registered on network“ error, contact your carrier for help, or order a replacement. If it doesn’t, there might be something wrong with the smartphone’s firmware or network antenna. In that case, reach out to a repair shop.