You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

💡 Did you know?

⏺ If you can't accept iCloud Terms and Conditions... Learn more >

⏺ If you don't see your iCloud notes in the Notes app... Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

iPhone 4S "no service" problem

hello all,


Just got my iPhone 4S 18hrs ago and it wen to "no service" like 3 times (so far)!!

  • I have changed carrier setting to manual I can select my network but still "no service"
  • I turned on then off "airplane mode" it goes searching... then "no service"
  • it only work when I restart or reinsert the SIM


Is this common? do I have to worry ?


Appreciate your inputs.


Thanks,

Abdullah

iPhone 4S-OTHER, iOS 5, iMac, iPad

Posted on Oct 22, 2011 11:40 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 2:48 PM

I had the same problem today, once I put the phone on airplane mode then turned it off it showed service again. If this continues I will take it back to the store.

729 replies

Mar 17, 2013 9:35 AM in response to abds2000

Here's my situation with screen shots showing how I can't connect to any network without rebooting, once the No Service bug hits. I am scheduled to speak with an O2 Guru locally next Saturday to see what they can make of it.


Details: http://hodgtography.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/no-service/


Actions taken which have no effect:

  1. Switch to Aeroplane mode
  2. Reload the firmware
  3. Reset the network settings
  4. Take out the SIM and put it back in

Mar 21, 2013 3:29 AM in response to RunsWithSissors

I spent two+ hours on the phone with Apple Support over my 'no service' issue with my iphone 5 after returning to NZ yesterday from a trip to the States. Had no previous issues travelling to Aussie and Canada.


Apple Support finally admitted defeat and sent me a new phone from Sydney which arrived today. Backed up from previous and set it up and still same issue! Was pulling my hair out and decided to do one last google search and found your post.


Sorted in 1 minute flat!


Am passing this on to Apple Support as they obviously are not aware of this easy fix!


Thank you thank you thank you 🙂

Mar 21, 2013 3:47 AM in response to BillH1184

Hey Bill

CUt and pasted as below. Once I had done this I toggled flight mode on and then off and BOOM! back in business. My relief knows no bounds! 🙂



RunsWithSissors


Oct 7, 2012 5:42 PM (in response to abds2000)


This is what I did, after the phone came back from overseas.



The Sim Card needed to be set to the Phone Provider.


Go into Settings > Phone > Sim Applications > Roaming Menu > Manual


Now choose your ISP provider (in my case it was TNZ, Telecom New Zealand)


Now back out of that and the phone will start searching for the provider.


I hope this helps.

Mar 21, 2013 4:08 AM in response to BillH1184

So sorry Bill ... directions worked brilliantly on my unlocked '5'


My menu looks like this


  • My Number
  • Calls
    • Reply with message
    • Call forwarding
    • Call waiting
    • Show my caller Id


  • SIM PIN
  • SIM Applications
  • Telecom NZ Services (my provider)


From what I can gather trawling the net over the past 24 hours, 'SIM Applications' is only available on the menu of unlocked phones. Doh. I did find lots of talk about how O2 are keeping iphone 5 locked until customers are several months into contract? But I am just repeating what I read ... no personal experience.


😟

Apr 9, 2013 6:07 PM in response to Akiradjiev

I just got it to reproduce the issue exactly.. Go into Settings, General, then Date & Time and turn off "Set Automatically". Apparently when I had this turned on the signal drops to 1 bar, the location icon shows up, then it goes to "Searching". Once I turned this off all the bars came back on. I can flip it back on, wait about 10 secs, and watch the bars drop to nothing.


This definately started with IOS6 on my iPhone 4s.. and I'm pretty sure that's a software bug.


No other method worked and I tried them all including a sim card replacement. Hopefully Apple will investigate this.

Apr 11, 2013 10:41 PM in response to Tmoore1

Here's what worked for me on multiple iPhones:


Each iPhone was originally locked to AT&T and subsequently network unlocked. However, after the network unlock, the iPhone was never restored.


If I tried inserting a non-AT&T SIM, I would get "No Service". Tried with multiple SIMs from multiple providers (Airtel, Vodafone) on all phones.


On these same phones, if I used my AT&T SIM while roaming in India, it would immediately connect to a roaming network (TATA, Vodafone, etc.).


After trying all options that didn't require restoring the phone (wanted to preserve OS version), I went ahead and restored to the latest iOS version (6.1.3) using iTunes.


When the restore is complete, the phone will display a message to the effect "Please insert active SIM to activate iPhone". With the SIM card in the phone (it doesn't matter if you keep the SIM in the phone during restore or if you insert it after restore is complete), follow on-screen instructions. Once the phone is activated (as long as the phone has been unlocked it should successfully activate), it should display "searching..." and then connect to the appropriate network. This did not happen prior to the OS restore.

Apr 15, 2013 9:12 AM in response to abds2000

Hi,


Seems this issue is not uncommon.


I had the same problem with my i4s. EE Network (Orange, T Mobile).


It kept showing "No Service" or "searching.....".


I tried, as the forum threads advised: Reset Network setting, a full Restore, Airplane mode toggled on & off,

etc, etc, etc, etc...... Still no joy.


The sim card worked in other phones, so I was told the Phone was duff & to take an 80 mile round trip

to see my nearest Apple "Genius".


I took it to a friendly Non-Apple repair shop, and was told that it was actually the Sim Card that was faulty.

It appears that static electricity from overhead rail cables had got to it when I parked at my local Train Station.


The upshot is, I went back to Orange & had a Sim Swap done. 2 hours later & back up & running!

I would advise, before you part with a penny, try this option if the Restores etc do not work.


Incidentally, this has made me think about the contracts we are signing in our chase for the next Apple product... Why sign up to a 2 year contract when the phone is only guaranteed for one? You pay for that phone in your monthly phone bill, so it should be covered during that period WITHOUT having to pay extra insurance.

Vote with your wallets people, and things will change.


Peace!

Apr 16, 2013 12:45 PM in response to Kerm1t

I have the exact same problem, i have to reboot my phone to make a call, then it works for couple of minutes.

I can't receive calls unless people text me before then i reboot my phone again such a pain!!!!


Went couple of time to the ATT store they said they are aware of the problem but it s being fixed and they reboot my phone test it and of course it s working but 20 minutes later it s not!!!!!!

iPhone 4S "no service" problem

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.