iPhone no service? 10 fixes to try before you visit a store

No Service, Searching or an empty signal icon is one of the most frustrating iPhone problems, because it cuts you off from calls, texts and mobile data. The good news is that it is usually fixable in a few minutes. The key is to start with the cheap, quick checks and move toward the heavier ones. Below are ten fixes in a sensible order, plus how to stay connected with Wi-Fi while you sort it out.

Why does an iPhone lose service?

• Carrier outage or tower work in your area.
• Weak coverage: a basement, a rural area or inside a building with thick walls.
• A software glitch after an iOS update or a carrier update.
• A SIM or eSIM problem: a loose card, a damaged card or an eSIM that needs to be reactivated.
• An account issue: an unpaid bill, a suspended line or a number that was moved.
• Hardware: a damaged antenna, a failed modem or water damage.

Fix 1: toggle Airplane Mode

Fix 2: restart the iPhone

Hold the side button and a volume button, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds and turn it on again. If the phone does not respond, force restart it: press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. A restart clears temporary glitches in the modem and the network software.

Fix 3: check for an outage and your account

• Ask someone nearby on the same carrier whether they have service.
• Check your carrier's outage page or social media, and use an outage tracker.
• Sign in to your carrier's app or website over Wi-Fi, and check that your line is active, your bill is paid and there is no suspension.
• Check whether you recently moved the number or changed a plan.

Fix 4: make sure cellular is on and the right line is selected

Fix 5: update carrier settings and iOS

Open Settings › General › About. If a Carrier Settings Update prompt appears after a minute, tap Update. Then go to Settings › General › Software Update and install any new iOS version. You need Wi-Fi for the update, so connect to Wi-Fi first. Many service problems are fixed by an update from Apple or the carrier.

Fix 6: reseat the SIM card, or check the eSIM

If your iPhone has a SIM tray, turn it off, take out the SIM, check that it is clean and undamaged and put it back. See how to remove a SIM card. If it asks for a PIN or PUK, see what to do when a SIM card is locked. For an eSIM, open Settings › Cellular and check that the plan is listed and turned on. If it is missing or says No Service, contact your carrier to reactivate it, since eSIMs can stop working after a transfer or a reset.

Fix 7: use Wi-Fi calling as a workaround

While you sort this out, turn on Wi-Fi calling at Settings › Phone › Wi-Fi Calling. You can then call and text over Wi-Fi. This does not fix the problem, but it keeps you reachable. See how Wi-Fi calling works.

Fix 8: reset network settings

Fix 9: try the SIM in another phone, or another SIM in yours

This tells you whether the SIM or the phone is the problem. If your SIM works in another phone, your iPhone has the fault. If another SIM works in your iPhone, the SIM or the account is the issue. A carrier store can test it in minutes, and they can replace a damaged SIM or reissue an eSIM. If a SIM works nowhere, the line may be suspended.

Fix 10: restore, then repair

As a last software step, back up the iPhone and restore it with a computer. This replaces the system software, which can fix a damaged modem file. See how to back up an iPhone first. If the problem remains, it is probably hardware, and you should contact Apple or a repair provider. A damaged antenna, a failed modem or liquid damage are the usual causes, particularly after a drop.

Service comes and goes? Try this

• Check whether it happens in one place only. If so, it is the coverage, not the phone.
• Take off thick metal cases, which can block the signal.
• Turn 5G off and use LTE for a day, at Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data Options › Voice & Data.
• See the guides on dropped calls and calls not arriving if the signal shows but calls fail.

If service shows but calls do not ring, read why an iPhone is not receiving calls and why an iPhone keeps dropping calls. If the phone says SOS only, see why a phone says SOS.