How to fix no service on iPhone issue?

SIM card inserted but no service iPhone – how to fix the issue?

In this article I have shown how to fix the issue – ‘SIM card inserted but no service iPhone‘ when you are unable to make or receive calls or send or receive text messages on your phone and your iPhone keeps saying no service or no signal.  

I have come across iPhone users at times making the query – why is my iPhone saying no service even when the SIM card is inserted? If you happen to face the same problem even after inserting the SIM card then you have come to the right place.

Before I show the steps for how to fix no service on iPhone, let me first give the possible causes when iPhone users make the query – why does my iPhone say no service?

Why is my iPhone saying no service?

There may be many reasons why your iPhone says no service. Following are the possible the causes of no service on iPhone issue when iPhone users make the query – why does my iPhone say no service?

1. Damaged SIM card or improper insertion of the SIM card;

2. Issues with your carrier (carrier settings update gone wrong);

3. Poor network coverage;

4. Due to some software or hardware issues;

Sometimes, also after the iOS upgrade iPhone says no service.

Now that you know – why my iPhone has no service, follow the steps below to resolve the iPhone no service issue.

SIM card inserted but no service iPhone – how to fix

There are several reasons why an iPhone might display “no service” even when the SIM card is inserted. In order to troubleshoot this error and the other problems related to the ‘Sim card inserted but no service iPhone’ issue, follow the steps below:

1. Update your iPhone

Apple’s new updates always come with improved security and bug fixes. That is why it is advisable to make sure that your device is always up-to-date. To check for any pending updates,

Go to Settings > General > Software Updates > Check for Updates;

Tap download and install, if the update is available.

2. Check your coverage area

First, make sure that you’re in an area where your service provider provides cellular network coverage. Next, do the following:

i. Toggle your cellular data on and off. To do this,

Go to Settings and then tap Cellular or Mobile Data to turn on or off;

Sometimes toggling your cellular data on and off could help you to fix the issue when your iPhone service not working.

ii. In case you’re traveling internationally, make sure that your device is set up for ‘data roaming’. To do this,

Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming;

3. Restart your iPhone

Sometimes simply restarting your iPhone is a good way to resolve many issues and restore your device. Follow the steps below to restart your device:

For iPhone 10 and above: Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Next, drag the slider and then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.

To turn back the device on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 6, 7, or 8: Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Next, drag the slider and then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.

To turn back the device on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 5, or earlier: Press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears. Next, drag the slider and then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.

To turn back the device on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.

4. Check that your carrier settings are up to date

iPhone no service issue may also result from wrong carrier settings. Carrier settings contain important data about your iPhone and the network you use for making calls etc. It is, therefore, important to keep your iPhone’s carrier settings up to date to ensure improved performance and smooth working of your device. To manually check if an update is available for career settings and to install an update, follow the steps below:

  i. Make sure that your device is connected to a WiFi or cellular network;

ii. Tap Settings > General > About;

(If an update is available, you’ll see an option to update your carrier settings.)

iii. Next, tap Update, if available;

5. Remove and reinsert the SIM card                     

If iPhone loses service your iPhone will be unable to receive a network signal.

Your iPhone is linked to the cellular network by the SIM card. If the SIM card is damaged or not inserted correctly then the iPhone will be unable to receive a network signal and you may run into a ‘SIM card inserted but no service iPhone’ issue. Therefore, when iPhone says no service, the same can be fixed by removing and reinserting the card properly following the steps below:

  i. Open the tray using a paper clip or SIM ejector;

ii. Take out the SIM card and check if there is any damage sign;

iii. If no damage sign appears put the card back properly;

iv. Now close the tray and check if the issue is solved;

(Note: In case the SIM card is damaged, or doesn’t fit in the tray, ask your service provider to replace the SIM card.)

6. Reset your Network Settings

Corrupted network settings, on rare occasions, may be the cause of the “iPhone no service” issue. Resetting the network to factory default can not only fix such errors but also fix other network-related problems including Bluetooth and WiFi issues. To reset network settings,

Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

(Note: Before resetting the Network, make sure to back up your data since resetting network settings to default also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you’ve used before.)

7. Ensure that the date and time are set correctly

The wrong date and time may also sometimes be the cause of the ‘no service iPhone’ issue. To set it right,

Go to Settings > General > Date and Time > turn on Set Automatically > select the appropriate Time Zone.

8. Contact your service provider

When your iPhone says no service it may also be due to some problem at your service provider’s end or some issues with your account. Therefore, contact your carrier to verify that the network isn’t experiencing outages in your area, your account is active and in good standing, and your device is set up with the right data plan.

The troubleshooting steps mentioned above on how to fix no service on iPhone have been found to solve the issues related in most cases. However, if none of the above steps work for you and you still get the iPhone no service error message, you need not get panicked. You can contact Apple support or schedule a Genius Bar appointment for further help. The repair will be covered by Apple if it is still under warranty otherwise, they will charge a certain fee for the service.

You may also like to read: iPhone not connecting to WiFi – 10 simple solutions

Frequently asked questions

Now that you have the answer to – why is my iPhone saying no service and you have known how to fix no service on iPhone issue, let me address some of the related queries often made by iPhone users.

Why do I have no service on my iPhone? 

If your iPhone loses service even after you’ve inserted the SIM card, here are a few potential reasons why this could happen:

1. SIM card is not inserted properly;

2. It’s possible that there’s some issue with your carrier’s network;

3. Sometimes, a software issue can also cause your iPhone to display the ‘no service’ message;

4. Sometimes, it’s also possible that there’s an issue with your SIM card;

Why my new iPhone says no service after activation?

Your new iPhone may say ‘no service on iPhone’ when the SIM card is damaged or corrupted or not properly inserted.

Therefore, if your new iPhone says no service after activation, to fix the issue it is recommended to remove and reinsert the SIM card if the card is not damaged or corrupted.

How to fix no service on iPhone when my iPhone says no service?

To fix the ‘no service on iPhone’ issue do the following,

1. Check your coverage area;

2. Restart your iPhone;

3. Check for updates in the Carrier Settings;

4. Remove and reinsert the SIM card;

5. Reset your Network Settings;

6. Contact your service provider;

Why is my SIM card not working on my iPhone?

Improper insertion of the SIM card may cause the problem. So, to fix the issue, take out the SIM card and put the card back properly.  Make sure that the SIM card is not damaged.

Why is my cellular data not working on my iPhone?

There may be several reasons why your cellular data not working on your iPhone such as poor network connection in your area, lack of mobile internet coverage, a bug in the system, or problem with your SIM card.

You may also like to read: iPhone connected to WiFi but no internet – 9 proven solutions

Conclusion

On going through the post it would be evident that there’s no single solution for the issue of  SIM card inserted but no service iPhone. Since the reasons of your query ‘why is my iPhone saying no service’ are not always so apparent, you need to try each of the steps mentioned in the post for a possible solution.

As everyone nowadays needs an internet connection or cellular data, it needs no mention that it is really frustrating if you cannot connect to the internet for which your iPhone loses service. However, if you follow correctly all the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the post about how to fix no service on iPhone, you should be able to fix the iPhone no service issue in most cases when your iPhone says no service.