You're trying to make a call on your iPhone 4, but it says “No Service.” No matter what you do, you can't seem to get any bars. In this article, I'll explain how to fix the problem when your iPhone 4 has no service!
Why Is There No Service?
There are a lot of potential explanations for why your iPhone 4 won't connect to cellular service. It could be an issue involving your phone's hardware, software or even your cellular provider. Unfortunately, issues like this very rarely have a definitive answer as to why they're occurring. However, there are a number of things that you can try to identify what could be going wrong.
Check If There's A Problem With Your Carrier
More often that you might expect, an iPhone will display a No Service message because your cellular coverage has been shut off by the carrier. Sometimes carriers will shut down their service if they sense that there's been a security breach of your account or if a payment's overdue. While there's certainly no guarantee that this is the route of your problem, it's certainly worth checking that your account is in good standing with your provider.
Taking a few minutes to reach out to your cell phone plan's carrier could save you a lot of frustration in the long run. Even if your account is functioning properly, it's still good to rule out this being why your iPhone 4's not connecting.
Update Your iPhone
With each iOS update comes solutions to old problems and new bugs. It's a good idea to always keep your iPhone up to date so it runs smoothly. However, it's possible an iOS update won't be available, as Apple discontinued updates for the iPhone 4 several years ago.
Open Settings and tap General -> Software Update. Tap Download and Install if an iOS update is available.
If you can't connect to Wi-Fi, you'll need to plug your iPhone into your computer and update it through iTunes. If your iPhone's plugged in and there's an update available, iTunes should prompt you automatically asking if you want to update your iPhone. It's likely iTunes will also check for carrier settings updates automatically. If prompted, it wouldn't hurt to opt for that update as well.
Check For A Carrier Settings Update
If you don't see the option for a new iOS update, you'll also want to look into updates to your carrier settings. To check for these, go back to General and select About. Stay on the page for about 10 seconds. If nothing pops up, there are no available updates to your carrier settings.
Eject And Reinsert SIM Card
Another troubleshooting step that you can try is to eject and reinsert the SIM card of your iPhone 4. Make sure that you take your case off for this step. You will find a small tray on the right side of your phone just below the power button. This is where your SIM card is located inside the phone.
Use a paperclip or a SIM card ejector tool to push into the hole on the outside of the tray. This will eject the SIM card tray. Make sure that you do this step over a flat surface like a table in case the SIM card falls out. The card is tiny and can be hard to find if it pops out and falls on the floor!
Carefully put the SIM card back on the tray and reinsert it into the phone. Once the tray clicks into place you'll know that it has been put back in correctly. Check to see if your iPhone 4 has service after you've finished.
Reset Network Settings
Lots of potential software and connection issues can be resolved by resetting your iPhone's network settings. By resetting network settings, all of your iPhone's Cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and VPN settings get reset to factory defaults. Make sure to write down your Wi-Fi passwords before you do this step!
Open Settings and tap General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Tap Reset Network Settings again when the confirmation pop-up appears on the screen.
Contact Your Wireless Carrier
If your iPhone 4 still has no service, it's possible that the issue isn't with your phone, but with your wireless carrier. Take a moment to give your carrier a call to see if there are any issues with your account or with their network. Here are some numbers for the major carriers below,
- Verizon: 1-(800)-922-0204
- AT&T: 1-(800)-331-0500
- T-Mobile: 1-(877)-746-0909
Should You Contact Apple? Well…
If you've ruled out everything else and your iPhone 4 still has no service, in the past it was an easy matter to take your phone to Apple to get it repaired. However, things have changed a lot.
The iPhone 4 was released on June 24th, 2010. That's ten years ago since this article was written! The iPhone 4 is now classified as a vintage or obsolete device according to Apple's website. This means that Apple will no longer support, service, or repair the iPhone 4.
If you're looking to get your iPhone 4 repaired, you're going to have to look for 3rd party resources. Since the device is still pretty old, it's unlikely that 3rd party servicers have the correct parts to fix your device.
Consider Upgrading
Since getting your iPhone 4 fixed probably isn't worth it, we recommend upgrading. It will be more cost-effective in the long term, and new iPhones last longer than ever before. You can definitely get two years or more of life out of a new iPhone.
UpPhone's cell phone comparison tool is a great way to compare cell phones on price, features, manufacturers, and more.
iPhone 4 Service Problem: Fixed!
You've fixed the No Service problem on your iPhone 4 and you're able to connect to the internet again, or you're considering an upgrade. Make sure to share this article with family and friends when their iPhone 4 says No Service. Need further assistance? Leave a comment down below!
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