Why does my iPhone says no service message when searching for service? Learn how to fix No Service on iPhone error/issue after iOS updates/jailbreak.
Many times while traveling, you will notice that your iPhone says “No Service”. This happens when there is no or poor network coverage. This in general means that you cannot use your iPhone for calling, texting or using mobile data. However, you can use the phone to play games, use calculator or calendar or other apps which do not require the presence of cell phone carrier and you can also access the internet by connecting to a Wi-Fi network.
Got other iPhone issues? Check out how to fix iPhone keep restarting issue.
Why does My iPhone say No Service:
- No, or poor network coverage
- Damaged SIM Card
- SIM Card not properly placed in SIM tray
- Software bug
- Incompatible iOS upgrade
So, before troubleshooting the No Service on iPhone make sure that your account is active and you are in an area with full network coverage.
Troubleshooting Steps for No Service on iPhone
Toggle Airplane Mode:
The very first step is to turn the airplane mode ON, wait for one minute and then turn it OFF. To turn ON the airplane mode, go to Settings; click on General then Airplane Mode. An alternate method is via the control center. Swipe up the bottom of the screen; the control center appears. Look at the top-left corner of the control screen for Airplane Mode and turn it ON. Wait for one minute and then, turn it OFF.
Check the Cellular Data:
Turn ON the cellular data of iPhone by going to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. If you are traveling long distance, then remember to turn ON the Data Roaming. To turn ON the data roaming, go to Settings > Cellular > Data Roaming.
Date and Time:
Set the date and time on your iPhone according to the time zone you are living in. The most appropriate method is to enable “Set Automatically”. Steps to enable it are as follows:
- Connect iPhone to the Wi-Fi network
- Open Settings; click on General; click on Date and Time
- Turn ON “Set Automatically”.
Restart iPhone:
The best ever solution for any issue of your phone is to restart it. Press and hold the Power button. Slide the slider named “slide to power off” from left to right. iPhone will switch off. Wait for one minute and then switch it back on by holding the power button until the Apple logo appears.
Change Voice & Data:
Many of the iPhone users who experienced this issue of no problem changed the Voice & Data to fix it. To change Voice & Data, open Settings; click on Cellular; click on Cellular Data; click on Voice & Data. If you use 4G, switch it to 3G and vice-versa and click the home button to check if the cellular network is working.
IPhone Carrier Settings Update:
You need to regularly keep updating the carrier settings of iPhone. These settings update includes updates of the network, hotspot, calling, voicemail, texting, and cellular data. First of all, you need to have a good internet connection as update requires the internet. Click on Settings; go to General; Click on About. If there is an update available, then click on it to update the settings.
Re-insert Your SIM Card:
One of the reasons why No Service reflects on your iPhone may be the SIM Card not inserted properly in the SIM tray. So, switch off your iPhone by holding the power button, then take out the SIM Card from the SIM tray and re-insert it. Power on your phone and check if the issue is resolved. If you catch a glimpse of any damage made to the SIM, contact your cell phone carrier immediately and ask for the replacement of the SIM Card. If there are no damages and the issue still appears, then also contact your cell phone carrier for the SIM Card replacement.
Update the iOS:
Updating the operating system on your iPhone once in awhile is important as it fixes the bug, increases the security level and improves the performance. Connect to a Wi-Fi network; go to Settings; click on General then on Software Update. If an update is available, click on Download and install the software.
Reset Network Settings:
Along with “No Service” issue, resetting the network settings fixes others issues as well like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Note: After resetting, you will be required to re-enter your Wi-Fi password and pair your iPhone with Bluetooth devices. To reset network settings, open Settings>>General>>Reset>>Reset Network Settings>>Enter your passcode>>Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm your action.
Reset All Settings:
Resetting all the settings of your phone is good and safe as you will not lose any data. Tap on Settings>> General>>Reset>> Reset All Settings>> Enter a passcode>> Tap Reset All Settings to confirm your action.
Restore:
Restoring your iPhone to factory settings erases all the data saved on iPhone, so create a backup of your documents and media. You must have a good internet connection and the latest version of iTunes software. Connect iPhone to Mac/PC via a lightning cable and click Restore on the Summary Before the process begins, iTunes will download the firmware; once the restore is complete, your iPhone will look new like day one.
How To Fix No Service after iOS Update
There were complaints by some users that after they upgraded their iPhone to iOS 9.3, No Service issue appeared. Generally, waiting for some time after upgrading resolves the issue, however, it does not sound like a good idea if you need to place urgent calls. Troubleshooting steps are as follows:
- Go to Settings and click on Cellular Data to turn it OFF.
- Enable airplane mode and wait for 15-20 seconds.
- Disable airplane mode and enable cellular data.
- Restart iPhone.
- Re-insert SIM Card.
- Reset network settings by opening Settings>>General>>Reset>>Reset Network Settings>>Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm your action.
iPhone No Service after Jailbreak
After jailbreak, you are likely to observe No Service error. This happens because of incorrect baseband signal which clashes with the network carrier and interferes with the radio frequency of iPhone. This issue can be resolved by downgrading your current iPad baseband.
- Download the latest version of RedSn0w
- Download your Firmware here(6.0.1)
- Extract and open RedSn0w as administrator
- Navigate to Extra and select IPSW and browse for the downloaded firmware.
- After the process is complete; RAM and kernels are added and a screen with options will appear.
- Check to see if the iPad baseband is downgraded or not.
- Go to Settings>>General>>About
- Check Install Cydia and downgrade from iPad baseband
- Your iPhone will reboot
- Launch Cydia on your iPhone and click on Manage tab at the bottom right-hand corner.
- Select Launch Store
- To fix iPhone No Service after Jailbreak, click Add at the top left corner and type http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com/ as the source URL and press the Add Source button.
- Select Return to Cydia and Done at the top right
- Click http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com/ as the source list, install and confirm.
- Restart Spring board and place your SIM Card within your iPhone 4/3Gs/4s/5/3 and you shall get the Service.
Even after applying all these methods your iPhone says No Service, then, backup your data, insert your SIM Card>>go to Settings>>General>>Reset>>Reset Network Settings.
Hi, my name is Gabriella. My IPhone 6 Plus keeps saying no service. I updated the IOS and restored it, took the SIM card out. Powered it off and on and still saying no service. Any tips on how to fix it? Other than the options here.