Signal issues / no service troubleshooting

No signal bars or a “no service” error means no connection. We want to fix that.

Read me first

Before you dive too deep into troubleshooting, make sure of the following:

  Your line is active.

  You’re in a covered area.

  Airplane mode is off.

  Wi-Fi Calling is turned off. If the problem happens when Wi-Fi calling is on, see Wi-Fi Calling problems instead.

  The copper plating on your SIM card has no chips or discoloration. If it does, contact us from a device that has service if you have one, or visit a T-Mobile retail store for a replacement.

If your device meets the criteria above and you still have no signal, proceed with the troubleshooting steps below.

Tip: If you need help with any of these steps, visit our Device tutorials page, select your device, and use the search bar to find what you’re looking for.

Troubleshoot no signal or “no service” errors

1. Restart your device and check for signal bars.
2. Change Wi-Fi Calling preferences to Cellular Preferred or Cellular Only to prevent Wi-Fi Calling issues from interfering with the signal.
3. Turn off Wi-Fi to make sure you’re using the T-Mobile network.
4. Set the device Network mode to Auto.
5. Remove any cases or covers from the device.
6. (Apple only) Reset network settings (select Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings) and verify the T-Mobile Carrier Settings are up-to-date. You can do this over Wi-Fi. See Update your carrier settings on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support
7. Update the device software to the latest version.
8. Perform a manual network selection to look for networks your device can connect to. If you see:
   • Registered to T-Mobile network, but no signal: The problem is likely low or no coverage. If the coverage map showed good coverage, try switching to 2G or turning off LTE.
   • T-Mobile network is not available: The problem is likely no coverage. If the coverage map showed good coverage, perform a master reset.
   • T-Mobile network is available but cannot connect: We’ll need to check your SIM card when you contact us.
   • Network selection gets stuck or gives error: Perform a master reset. If that doesn’t help, we’ll check your SIM card when you contact us.
9. Check for signal.

Still need help?

If the phone still has no signal bars or shows a “no service” error after you’ve worked through these troubleshooting steps, contact us from a device that does have service, or visit a T-Mobile retail store.

Report a location without service

Restart your device. If that doesn’t help, follow the troubleshooting steps above to take care of any other potential problems. If you’re still experiencing issues, contact us from a device that has service if you have one, or visit a T-Mobile retail store to report the problem.