denman1991
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: my iphone 5 is showing the network and 3G logos but has no signal bars and I cannot make or receive calls or use the internet

Hi,

 

I recently bought my iPhone5 second hand off a friend.  Having inserted my sim the O2 network logo and 3G symbols appear in the top left although there is no signal registered.  I am also unable to make or receive calls as well as use the mobile internet.

 

The phone is registered to O2 so there is no network clash

 

THanks

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 7, 2014 2:52 AM

Close
denman1991

Q: my iphone 5 is showing the network and 3G logos but has no signal bars and I cannot make or receive calls or use the internet

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by sterling r,

    sterling r sterling r Jan 9, 2014 2:24 PM in response to denman1991
    Community Specialists
    Jan 9, 2014 2:24 PM in response to denman1991

    Hello denman1991,

     

    It sounds like your phone is not connecting to the cellular provider network, and you are also unable to connect to the Wi-Fi network. I would recommend these troubleshooting steps from the article named:

    iPhone: Troubleshooting issues making or receiving calls

    https://support.apple.com/kb/TS3406

    1. Toggle airplane mode: Tap Settings > Enable Airplane Mode, wait five seconds, then turn off airplane mode.
    2. Check your phone settings:
    3. Ensure that your software is up to date:
      1. Check for a carrier settings update.
      2. Check for an iOS software update.
        Note:         Some updates may require a Wi-Fi connection.
    4. If the iPhone has a SIM card, reseat the SIM card.
    5. If the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s is on the Verizon network, dial *228 from the iPhone and select option 2 to update the Preferred Roaming List (PRL). The PRL determines the cellular towers the phone uses for cellular service, selecting those with the best signal strength.
    6. Reset the network settings: Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
    7. Try to make or receive calls in another location.
    8. Attempt to isolate to one network band:
      • If you're having the issue on LTE, disable LTE, if possible, and try again.
      • If you're having the issue on 3G/4G, disable 3G/4G, if possible, and try again.
    9. Contact the carrier to check the following:
      • Your account is properly configured to use the specific iPhone that has the issue.
      • There are no localized service outages.
      • Your account doesn't have a billing-related block.
      • Your calls don't have errors on the carrier system.
    10. Restore the phone as new.

     

    Also, for your Wi-Fi network issues, I would recommend this article named:

    iOS: Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1398

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

    All the very best,

    Sterling

  • by Bonggo,

    Bonggo Bonggo Jan 23, 2014 8:02 AM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 8:02 AM in response to denman1991

    Same problem here. Carrier name is shown, i can use wifi, Lte and 3g but zero signal bars. Cant accept calls and texts.

    Restored 4 times already.reset network settings etc. Will show signal for a few seconds then disappear. Same thing happens when i switch airplane mode on the  off.

     

    Problem just started today. Been using the phone for 5 days since i bought it.

     

    Is it possible that my imei is blocked? Got my iphone 5s second hand. Very frustrated, should have sticked with the 5. Zero problems with that phone.

     

    Solutions anyone? Return the phone maybe? Or will apple replace it?

  • by Bonggo,

    Bonggo Bonggo Jan 23, 2014 8:04 AM in response to Bonggo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 8:04 AM in response to Bonggo

    Data is working but cant make and receive calls and texts

  • by Bonggo,

    Bonggo Bonggo Jan 23, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Bonggo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Bonggo

    Also tried swapping sims with my wife and

    Mine works fine on her phone. Same problem as mentioned above when my wifes sim is insrted

    On the 5s

  • by umair.misbah,

    umair.misbah umair.misbah Sep 10, 2014 3:03 PM in response to Bonggo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 3:03 PM in response to Bonggo

    did anything work for you eventuually ?..im having the same problem with my iphone 5

  • by umair.misbah,

    umair.misbah umair.misbah Sep 10, 2014 3:05 PM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 3:05 PM in response to denman1991

    did anything work for you eventuually ?..im having the same problem with my iphone 5

  • by Ethan6561,

    Ethan6561 Ethan6561 Sep 10, 2014 3:10 PM in response to umair.misbah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2014 3:10 PM in response to umair.misbah

    Try going to settings and erase cookies

  • by Jethwa96,

    Jethwa96 Jethwa96 Oct 7, 2014 1:34 PM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 7, 2014 1:34 PM in response to denman1991

    Same problem im having here, got an iphone 5 has ios 8.0.2 with tesco, been using my phone fine for 1 year and as soon i updated my software i had problems with my signal bars, now nothing comes up, but my data works. ive done everything in the book restoring my phone to ios7 doesnt work. and this is just a pain because no one knows what to do. HELP!!!

  • by Ayaz A.,

    Ayaz A. Ayaz A. Oct 19, 2014 3:04 AM in response to Jethwa96
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2014 3:04 AM in response to Jethwa96

    Almost same issue with me, but in my case my cell phone is searching for network signals, I am unable to use data as well

  • by brandz06,

    brandz06 brandz06 Aug 22, 2015 11:05 AM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 22, 2015 11:05 AM in response to denman1991

    @ everyone above did any of you sort this problem out? i have the same issue with iphone 5S apple can't fix it, community has no idea about and you keep hearing same saga of reset this and that which clearly doesn't work.

     

    So its time to spill the beans do the 48 People above have iPhones as paper weights in their draws or  did someone manage to fix this?

     

    Please Reply thank you.

  • by Appleberryjuice,

    Appleberryjuice Appleberryjuice Sep 2, 2015 10:36 AM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2015 10:36 AM in response to denman1991

    HI All,

     

    i am also experiencing the exact same issues. In addition to resetting, restoring and re-everythinging I've also tried to fix the issue with an ios 9 beta install. Alas this did not solve anything. I've also tried to swap sim cards without success.

     

    Using an iphone 5 (second hand). Checked the IMEi status with the carrier and the phone is not black listed. The carrier name is clearly show but zero signal for voice and txt.

     

    Come on Apple, with a turmover greater than many countries' GDP surely you can solve this?!?

  • by naqvi9009,

    naqvi9009 naqvi9009 Sep 11, 2016 1:53 PM in response to denman1991
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 11, 2016 1:53 PM in response to denman1991

    im from Pakistan and im facing this same problem

    my iphone 5s is working only on a single carrier but on other carriers it shows no signals but carrier name and 3G sign.

    kindly somebody guide me either it is a software problem or hardware issue

    regards

  • by naqvi9009,

    naqvi9009 naqvi9009 Sep 11, 2016 1:55 PM in response to brandz06
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 11, 2016 1:55 PM in response to brandz06

    im having this same problem but found no solution from this community

    kindly anybody guide about this issue