Whether you are using an iPhone or an Android device, the SIM card inside showing a “No service” message is common and could be straightforward to fix. When it arises, you either see no network bars or see the aforementioned notification on your screen. Regardless of if your device or the SIM card is old or new, this problem can arise, and not only for a single reason. Consequently, you are unable to make or receive calls, send or accept text messages, access cellular data, or do pretty much anything related to your carrier’s network.
But there is nothing to worry about as it could be fixed using one of several simple techniques. In some cases, you may have to go for advanced methods, but that comes later. In this article, you will learn about all those fixes in detail. Without further delay, let’s start.
1. Reboot the Phone
One of the easiest and the most common ways to fix the no network issue is to restart the phone. It takes only a minute or two to do this job. When you see no signal bars or home screen saying “no network” for your SIM card, press the power button for a long time. A Restart button will show up, tap it. Wait until your phone restarts. When the phone is switched on completely, it may fix the problem, and you may see the signal bars again. Rebooting the phone resets the signal-catching capacity of your phone. In most cases, this method works.
2. Turn Airplane Mode On, Then Off
If you don’t want to reboot your phone, there is one more, very simple trick to reset your signal. Just slide down the menu bar pane, and you will see the Airplane Mode icon. Turn on your airplane mode, keep it that way for some time, and turn it off again. As for iPhone devices, go to Settings, then toggle the switch next to “Airplane Mode” at the top.
3. Double-Check the SIM Card
In case your SIM card is old and scratched up, the problem of no signal may occur quite frequently. If your SIM card is an outdated version and your device is much newer, you may still experience signal issues as the two could be incompatible. In that case, get a SIM card compatible with your device. If everything seems okay but still you are getting the “No service” notification, you can insert another working SIM card into your device to fix it. After that, check if the issue is resolved. If the device catches the signal with another SIM card, then the fault lies in your current one.
4. Check if the Network is Available
It is reasonable to presume that when there is no network available, the signal bars disappear. When you are somewhere for the first time, and your phone starts showing a “No service” notification, you may get skeptical. After all, you don’t know whether the signal is unavailable or if there is something wrong with your device/SIM card. If there is someone around you who uses the same carrier, ask them if their phone is getting a signal. If that person doesn’t have the signal either, then there is nothing wrong on your side. Just move from the place until you get a signal—that’s all you can do in such situations.
5. Select the Network Operator Manually
Sometimes, your phone gets onto a different network automatically when your home network is weak. After that, the phone may remain hooked to the same network for a long time, hence you lose signal on your home one. In such a case, you have to reset the network manually. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings menu on your phone.
- Tap on Mobile Networks.
- Tap Network Operators. Wait while the scanning process is going on to find cellular connections.
- From the list, select your relevant network operator. Check if the issue is fixed or not.
6. Run a Ping Test
Occasionally, the cellular radio receiver gets disabled automatically. You cannot reactivate it from the Settings menu of your phone. Instead, follow the instructions below to fix this:
- Open the phone’s dialer and dial *#*#4636#*#*.
- Tap the Call button. The phone will enter in Service Mode.
- Select Phone Information or Device Information.
- Tap on Run Ping Test option.
- Next, check if the radio data is turned off at the bottom of the screen. Turn it on if it is off/disabled.
- Reboot the phone and check if the issue is resolved.
7. Check with Your Carrier’s Customer Support
Using another SIM card of your carrier, you can contact the customer support representative and ask them why the “No service” issue is happening. Some reasons could be out of your control. For instance, there’s no network coverage in that particular area, a temporary network outage, a local authority blocking access, or a problem with your service plan. If the representative says there’s nothing wrong on their side, you know your SIM card or device is the culprit.
8. Restore Device to Factory Settings
This must be your last resort. It is a risky step as it deletes all your data on the device. Thus, if you are left with no other option, and you have to exercise this one, make a backup of your data and then run the factory restore. It’s worth a try if you think some network settings got messed up during updates or tweaking, such as rooting/jailbreaking the device. Here are quick steps to perform a factory reset:
- Android: Head to Settings → Pick General or Reset options. Go to Erase all data (factory reset).
- iOS: Go to Settings → Select General → Pick Reset iPhone → Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
The tips and tricks mentioned in this article are almost foolproof and work with all devices. The “No service” issue is minor, and you may fix it by removing a SIM card, then inserting the SIM into the slot properly. This isn’t always the case. If your network IC (integrated circuit) is damaged, it is a hardware problem, so you will need to fit in a new one or change devices. In those situations, we always recommend you consult an expert by visiting the authorized service center of your device.