Samsung Not Registered on Network? 8 fixes that work

Not registered on network appears when you try to call or text and the phone cannot sign in to your carrier. You might still see signal bars, which makes it confusing. The cause is almost always a setting, the SIM or eSIM, a carrier lock, or something on your account, and most of it can be fixed in a few minutes. The steps below are for Samsung Galaxy phones on One UI, and most apply to other Android phones too.

What the different messages mean

• Not registered on network: the phone sees a network but the carrier does not accept it. Often the SIM, a lock, network settings or the account.
• No service: no usable signal at all, often poor coverage, Airplane mode left on, or a SIM the phone cannot detect.
• Emergency calls only: the phone can reach another network for 911 but not your carrier’s.

How to fix Samsung not registered on network

Using an eSIM on your Galaxy?

Many recent Galaxy phones use an eSIM instead of, or as well as, a SIM card. Check it in Settings › Connections › SIM manager: the eSIM should be listed and switched on. If it shows but the error continues, restart and try the steps above. Do not delete the eSIM to fix it; once removed, you need your carrier to issue a new one, usually by QR code or through its app. If you just switched phones, the carrier may still need to move the line to the new device.

Two SIMs in one phone

With two lines, the error can appear on one line while the other works. In SIM manager, check which SIM is set for Calls, Messages and Mobile data. If you call from the line that is off or has no service, you see this error. Turning off the unused line, or setting calls to Ask every time, avoids the confusion.

Check your account

• An unpaid bill can suspend outgoing calls and texts. Check your carrier app for a balance or suspension notice.
• A number transfer from another carrier that is still in progress can leave the line unregistered for a few hours.
• A new line or replacement SIM may not be activated yet. The carrier can activate it while you wait.
• If the line was reported lost, it stays suspended until you ask the carrier to restore it, even after the phone is found.

Older or imported phones: the VoLTE problem

US carriers have shut down their 3G networks, so calls now run over 4G LTE using VoLTE (Voice over LTE). A Galaxy phone that does not support VoLTE on your carrier, which is common with older models and phones imported from other countries, can connect for data but show Not registered on network when you call. Check that VoLTE or HD Voice calls is on in Settings › Connections › Mobile networks, and ask your carrier whether your exact model is approved on its network. If it is not, only a different phone will fix it.

Started after a new SIM or a carrier switch?

If the error appeared right after putting in a SIM from another carrier, the phone is probably locked to its original carrier. Phones still being paid off are usually locked. See how to check if your phone is unlocked. Once the original carrier unlocks it, restart with the new SIM inserted. Major US carriers unlock eligible, paid-off phones for free when you ask, though the rules and waiting periods differ by carrier.

Blocked or unpaid phones

Carriers block phones reported lost or stolen, and sometimes phones with unpaid installment balances, by their IMEI. A blocked phone shows this error with any SIM. Dial *#06# to see the IMEI and give it to the carrier, who can tell you whether it is blocked and why. If you bought the phone used, see our guide to checking if a phone is stolen.

After an update or when traveling

• After a software update, restart once, then reset network settings if the error stays. Updates sometimes reset network mode or APN settings, and a quick check of both often fixes it.
• Reset the access point settings: Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Access Point Names, tap the three dots and choose Reset to default.
• Abroad, turn on Data roaming in Mobile networks, check your plan covers the country, and choose a partner network manually in Network operators.

Is the SIM or the phone faulty?

To find out which part is at fault, put your SIM in another unlocked phone, or another SIM in your phone. If your SIM fails in both, ask your carrier for a replacement SIM or eSIM, which is usually free or cheap. If other SIMs also fail in your phone, the SIM tray, antenna or board may be damaged, especially after a drop or water. Samsung Authorized Service Centers can test it, and Samsung Care+ may cover the repair.

Galaxy phones from another country

Samsung sells different versions of each Galaxy model in different regions, with different radio bands and software. A phone bought abroad or from an overseas seller online may lack the LTE bands or VoLTE approval your US carrier needs, even if it is unlocked. Check the model number in Settings › About phone, then look it up on your carrier’s device compatibility checker before buying or activating it.

Last resort: back up and reset

If the SIM works in another phone, your account is fine and the phone is approved on your carrier, but the error continues, a software problem may be to blame. Back up the phone with Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch, then reset it in Settings › General management › Reset › Factory data reset. Set it up again and test calls before restoring your data. If the error returns on a clean phone, it is a hardware fault and needs a repair.