Android phone says No service or SIM not detected? 8 fixes

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

No bars, "Emergency calls only" or "No SIM" means the phone cannot register with your mobile network. First check whether other people on the same network have signal where you are.

Step by step

1. Turn Airplane mode on and off

   Swipe down twice from the top, tap Airplane mode, wait ten seconds and tap it again.

   Done

2. Restart the phone

   Open the power menu and tap Restart.

   Done

3. Take the SIM out and put it back

   Switch the phone off, open the tray with a pin, check the card sits flat and is not damaged, and push the tray in fully. Skip this step with an eSIM.

   Done

4. Check that the SIM is switched on

   Open Settings, Network & internet, SIMs. Tap your SIM and make sure Use SIM is on. On Samsung: Settings, Connections, SIM manager.

   Done

5. Choose the network automatically

   In the SIM settings, switch on Automatically select network. A network chosen by hand while travelling can leave the phone stuck searching.

   Done

6. Turn on roaming when abroad

   In the same place, switch on Roaming. Check the price with your network first.

   Done

7. Test the SIM in another phone

   If another phone cannot see it either, the SIM is faulty. Your network replaces it, usually for free or a small fee.

   Done

8. Reset mobile network settings

   Settings, System, Reset options, Reset mobile network settings. On Samsung: Settings, General management, Reset, Reset mobile network settings.

   Done

Good to know

Call your network from another phone if nothing helps. The line may be suspended, or there may be an outage.

A phone bought second-hand or abroad may be locked to another network or blacklisted. The network can check this with the IMEI number: dial *#06# to see it.

Thinking about eSIM? See what an eSIM is.

In short: Airplane mode on and off, restart, reseat the SIM, check it is switched on, reset network settings.