How do you fix no service on iPhone?

Have you ever seen the ‘No Service’ message at the top of your iPhone screen? Well, when this dreaded notification appears on your iPhone, then your device is likely to be in a critical situation. If your iPhone says No Service, then you won’t be able to make or receive phone calls or connect to the internet unless you are using Wi-Fi, or send messages. This error may cause potential problems, but it can certainly be rectified.

There are some quick and convenient methods that can help you fix no service on iPhone 7, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone SE, and iPad.

Solutions to fix no service on iPhone:

• Solution 1: Toggle the Airplane mode on/off:

1. Go to ‘Settings’ and select the ‘General’option.
2. Click the ‘Airplane Mode.’
3. Switch it ‘ON’ for about 60 seconds or one minute and then turn it off.

OR

Swipe up from the home screen to view the ‘Control Center.’ Tap the ‘Airplane mode’ icon.

• Solution 2: Carrier service update

Usually, iPhone says no service when the cellular network gets affected by carrier settings update, here’s how you can manually check for carrier service update:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi or cellular network.
2. In the ‘Settings menu,’ and select ‘General’ and then tap ‘About.’
3. If the latest version is available, you will see an option for carrier settings update.

• Solution 3: Check the Cellular Data status:

1. Go to the ‘Settings’ menu.
2. Tap the ‘Cellular or Mobile Data.’ Make sure it is on. If not, then try turning it off and back on.
3. If you are traveling internationally, you need to enable Data Roaming:

Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming

• Solution 4: Check if you are in the coverage area

Keep checking the signal strength bars in the top-right corner of the screen to ensure that you are under coverage area.

• Solution 5: Take out your SIM card

Your SIM card is the link to the cellular network. If your iPhone says No Service, it could be because the SIM card does not fit in the SIM tray or it is damaged. Remove the SIM card, gently clean it with a cotton swab and inspect it for damage. Then, re-insert the SIM card.

• Solution 6: Update your iPhone’s iOS

‘No service on iPhone’ error will disappear if you update your iPhone software. Keep an eye on the software update regularly:

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Click the ‘Download’ option if the update is available.
3. Install the software update.

• Solution 7: Reset the network settings

When your network settings get corrupted, it could be another reason why the iPhone says No service. You can reset network settings to factory defaults in order to wipe out all sorts of cellular and Wi-Fi issues:

1. Follow the thread – Go to Settings > General >Reset >Reset Network Settings.
2. Input your iPhone passcode and select ‘Reset Network Settings’ when the confirmation pop-up appears.

NOTE: Before resetting the network, make sure that you back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes. Network reset will remove the details of Wi-Fi passwords, cellular settings, APN, and VPN settings.

• Solution 8: Restart your iPhone

Sometimes simply restarting your iPhone can help you restore your cellular service. It will let your iPhone return to its normal operation.

• Solution 9: Contact your carrier network

If you want to fix No Service on iPhone, there is a chance that your cellular service provider could help you as the carriers sometimes have special activation codes. You may ask them the following queries:

1. Are there any local outages in your area?
2. Is there any problem with your data plan?
3. Is your device blocked from receiving cellular services?
4. Is your account still active or not?

• Solution 10: Check if there is any water damage

If your iPhone says no service and it is smashed too, then the source of the problem is quite evident. But it is not easy to identify the issue in case your iPhone gets wet accidentally as water damage is invisible. Water damage can also be the cause of the ‘No Service’ error. Since the Apple store does not repair water-damaged iPhones, you have to get the device replaced.

FAQs –

Does no service mean my iPhone is locked?

When iPhone says no service it does not mean your device is locked. It is due to numerous reasons like poor network coverage, misconfigured network settings, or hardware issues.

How do I reset my SIM card on the iPhone?

You can reset your SIM card by accessing the ‘Settings’ menu and selecting the ‘Reset’ option.

Can a bad SIM card cause no service?

A bad SIM card cannot affect your mobile network directly, but it can prevent your device from picking up a signal, or connect to services that your carrier has to offer.

Why is my SIM card not working on iPhone?

‘No SIM card detected’ error appears on iPhone when there is an improper adjustment of SIM Card in the slot, or the SIM card is broken.