If you see No Service, Searching, or SOS on your iPhone or iPad

If you see No Service or Searching in the status bar on your iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular), your device isn't connected to a cellular network. If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device can still make emergency calls.

Check your coverage area

  • Make sure that you're in an area with cellular network coverage.
  • Turn cellular data off and then back on again. Go to Settings, then tap Cellular or Mobile Data. If you're using an iPad, you might see Settings > Cellular Data.
  • If you're traveling internationally, make sure that your device is set up for data roaming. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming.
    Top part of an iPhone screen showing cellular settings

If you see SOS or SOS only

If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to a network, but you can still make emergency calls. This feature is available in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Top part of iPhone screen showing "SOS only" in status bar

If you're on AT&T's 3G network

AT&T is phasing out their 3G network. If you see No Service in the status bar of your device and you have an iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, or earlier or an iPad 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular or earlier, contact your carrier to discuss your options. If you have an iPhone 6 or later or an iPad (3rd generation) or later, follow these steps:

  1. Update your iPhone or iPad to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
  2. Go to Settings > Cellular. Then:
    • For iPhone, tap Cellular Data Options, then turn on Enable LTE.
    • For iPad, turn on LTE.

If you still see No Service after following these steps, contact your carrier.

iPhone and iPad devices that support 5G networks are not affected by the phasing out of 3G networks.

Restart your iPhone or iPad

Check for a Carrier Settings update

To manually check for and install a carrier settings update:

  1. Make sure that your device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
  2. Tap Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you'll see an option to update your carrier settings.
  3. To see the version of carrier settings on your device, tap Settings > General > About and look next to Carrier.

If you insert a new SIM card into your iPhone or iPad, you need to download the carrier settings for your new carrier.

Turn your cellular line off and back on

Go to Settings > Cellular and check to see if your cellular line is turned on. If your cellular line is off, turn it back on. Then check to see if you have service.

If you don't see your cellular line in Settings > Cellular, you should set up an eSIM or insert a physical SIM card. If you're using a physical SIM card, remove the SIM card and put it back in.

If your SIM card is damaged, doesn't fit in the SIM tray, or you transferred your physical SIM card from another device, ask your carrier for a new SIM card.

Learn more about removing your iPhone SIM card or iPad SIM card.

Reset your Network Settings

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.

Update your iPhone or iPad

Contact your carrier

Issues with your carrier or account might affect your service. Contact your carrier to:

  • Verify that your account is active and in good standing.
  • Make sure that there are no outages in your area.
  • Check that your device isn't blocked from receiving cellular services and is set up with the right data plan.

Only your wireless carrier can access and manage details about your account:

  • iPhone wireless carriers
  • iPad wireless carriers

Get more help

If your carrier confirms that there's no issue with your account or network, but you still can't connect to a cellular network, contact Apple Support.

If you see an alert next to No Service, learn what you can do.

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