There are 5 reasons an iPhone has the “No Service” error:
- “Broken” Hardware
- Software Conflict
- Network Issue
- Settings Issue
- Blacklist Issue
No Service error is a pain, so let’s get quickly to our solutions for fixing iPhone No Service problem.
By the way, before following our tutorials, use the following quick fixes. You might get lucky and skip reading the whole iPhone No Service Fix article:
- Airplane Mode: Turn it ON and OFF
- Restart your iPhone
- SIM-Card: Eject it and then put it back again
The No Service Error is unrelated to SIM-Locks or iCloud Locks (Click on those links if you want to learn about these kind of locks).
#1. Identify if No Service is caused by “Broken” Hardware
Since it is very dangerous to try and open your iPhone’s case and take a look inside it, you will have to inspect its appearance.
If you can see any weird “inflated” areas (Usually to the back where the battery lies), then definitely something bad is happening. Also, if you see any deep scratches or hits, it is definitely a sign that it might be a hardware issue.
The most common reason of “inflated” areas, is when an iPhone gets wet. If you didn’t dry it properly and quickly, most likely the insides of the iPhone got damaged.
Next step is to try your SIM-Card to another device. Sometimes, problems with the SIM or the SIM Tray, might cause the No Service issue.
#1.1 Fixing iPhone No Service error due to Hardware issue
If you are not an Apple technician, then there is little you can do to fix it on your own.
Go to Apple’s Coverage & Warranty Check website and see if your iPhone still has a Warranty so you can bring it to them and fix it for you.
Do not try to use online tutorials for fixing it, since those are for experienced users and you might cause more hardware issues to your iPhone and NOT fix the No Service error of your iPhone.
#2. iPhone No Service error due to Software Conflict
If you suspect a Software Conflict causes the No Service issue then you can do the following easy things to fix it.
This Solution will fully restore your iPhone, so everything will be erased. Please do a full BackUp before proceeding.
- Do an iOS restore to the latest iOS version
- Through WiFi (Settings, General & Software Update)
- or through iTunes
- Check Apple’s Tutorial on how to update your iOS
If there was a conflict with an app or the iOS of your iPhone, updating it to the latest iOS version should fix the No Service error.
#3. No Service issue due to Network problems
The first thing you need to do, is to call your Mobile Network and ask them if they did anything from their end to block your iPhone’s access to their network. If you haven’t paid your contract bills for a few months (2-3), the Mobile Network will block your device to prevent you from using their network. You will have to deal with them in order to Fix the iPhone No Service issue.
It is also possible that your Network’s Settings were altered for some reason (Installing a weird app or doing changes by accident), so you will have to reset them:
- Go to “Settings“, “General” and then to “Reset“
- Find the “Reset Network Settings” option, tap it (It might ask you for your passcode) and finalize the reset
Also, if the above solution does not fix your iPhone’s No Service problem, you can go to “Settings” -> “Carriers” and Turn OFF and then TURN ON the “Automatic Carrier Selection“. If nothing changes, then TURN it OFF again and pick manually the Network your iPhone uses.
#4. No Service Problem due to iPhone’s Settings misconfiguration
Those are unrelated with Network’s Settings, but they might still cause No Service error to an iPhone.
It is reported that a wrong Date and Time in iPhone’s Settings, can cause the No Service issue. This is happening because the correct Date and Time works as a process of verifying how things work on your iPhone, if you are being charged correctly and other security reasons. Mobile Networks, require you to have a proper Date & Time to your iPhone, and if you do not, they might thing that you are trying to do something “sketchy“.
- Connect your iPhone to a WiFi (Or use your Cellular data)
- Go to “Settings“, “General” and “Date and Time“
- Turn ON (Or first TURN OFF and then ON) the “Set Automatically“
Also, many people reported that the Cellular Data were causing No Service issues, so it is also a good idea to check them out:
- Go to “Settings“, “Cellular“, “Cellular Data Option” and then on “Voice & Data“
- Try to change the 4G to 3G and vice versa (Or other options it may have)
- After you make one change, go to the Home Screen to check if the No Service issue was fixed
As a last resort, before checking if there is a Blacklist problem with your iPhone, you can do a FULL RESET of your iPhone’s Settings. Maybe there is something you missed, so this will bring it back to its factory settings when everything was working great!
Have in mind that you will not lose any data or media, so it is very safe:
- Go to “Settings“, “General” and tap on “Reset“
- Tap on the “Reset All Settings” option
- You will be asked to type in the Passcode
#5. iPhone No Service Fix due to a Blacklist problem
If your iPhone gets blacklisted by your Mobile Network, then not only the No Service Error will appear to your screen, but you will also not be allowed to use ANY mobile network inside your country. For instance, if your iPhone gets Blacklisted by Verizon USA, you will not be able to use Verizon USA and ALL USA Carriers. You are basically banned from the whole country (Also you will have problems in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico and other neighboring countries).
By updating the iOS, Removing the SIM Card and Resetting your iPhone’s Settings, will make no difference if your iPhone is Blacklisted.
#5.1 How to identify if my iPhone is Blacklisted?
One thing you can do is to call the Mobile Network that your iPhone uses and ask them. Not all Carriers share that kind of information, but you can always try. You can read more about Blacklisted iPhones.
The best solution is to get an iPhone IMEI Blacklist check service, which will provide you the following:
- It will reveal to you the Blacklist status of your iPhone
- It will inform you which Mobile Network blacklisted your iPhone
- It will inform you in which country your iPhone is Blacklisted
- It will inform you of the Blacklist reason
- It will inform you if there is a service available to remove the Blacklist status of your iPhone
Conclusions on iPhone No Service Fix solutions
We suggest to proceed with all the above tutorials, from #1 to #5 in that specific sequence.
You might get lucky and the iPhone No Service error will get fixed by configuring properly your iPhone’s Settings or updating the iOS.
The 5th option is a paid service but it is the only solution if your iPhone is Blacklisted. It will show you if your iPhone is Blacklisted, by which Carrier, the reason and how to fix it.