What do you do if your iPhone 11 says Searching or No Service? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our troubleshooting guide below.
When your iPhone 11 says Searching or No Service at the top of the screen you can’t make phone calls, send texts, or use cellular data. Not much of a smartphone anymore, so what can you do about it?
It could happen for many reasons, which means there are many potential solutions. In this article, i’ll explain why your iPhone 11 says “Searching” or “No Service” and show you how to fix this problem for good!
Without further ado, let’s discuss the possible causes and fixes.
Why does my iPhone 11 say No Service or Searching?
There are many reasons why your iPhone 11 could say No Service or Searching, including the following:
- You’re outside of your cellphone carrier’s network.
- There’s a network outage in your area.
- Airplane Mode is turned on.
- There’s a problem with your SIM card.
- Your iPhone needs a software or carrier settings update.
- There’s a problem with your carrier account.
- Your network settings need to be reset.
- Your iPhone is damaged.
How to fix an iPhone 11 that’s showing No Service?
The steps below have been proven to be a solution for No Service or Searching problem on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
1. If Your iPhone 11 Says no service, Check Your Coverage Area
The first thing to which you should be paying attention when your iPhone says No Service is whether you are in an area where you’re likely to be able to get cellular service. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere and you know that there’s not a cell tower anywhere near you, then you’re going to need to change locations before you can resolve the problem of No Service on iPhone 11. If you’re surrounded by mountains or you’re at a much higher elevation than normal, expect to experience this problem as well.
2. Restarting Your Device Can Get Rid of a No Service Message
People around the internet have been joking about restarting any gadget in the hopes of fixing it. As cliché as it can be, they actually work in many cases. Sometimes simply restarting your iPhone is enough to restore service. The reasoning behind this isn’t totally understood, but hey, that’s technology. We don’t necessarily need to know how it works, only that it does! So, try restarting your iPhone to clear out any software issues that could be causing your iPhone 11 to show No Service. Turn your iPhone off, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
3. Turn Airplane Mode On and Off if Your iPhone 11 Says No service
Try turning Airplane Mode off and on a few times to clear out any signal issues preventing your iPhone 11 from getting service. Make sure to leave Airplane Mode in the off position when you finish.
Toggle your iPhone’s Airplane Mode on and off by swiping down from the top right of your screen to reveal the Control Center and tapping on the Airplane Mode icon, which is represented by a plane inside a circle.
When the icon is yellow, Airplane Mode is enabled; when it’s grayed out, it’s disabled.
4. Turn Cellular Data On if Your iPhone 11 Says No Service
When your iPhone is loose and unlocked, you can accidentally push buttons that can interfere with your cellular data. When this happens, your iPhone may not be able to receive signals, causing it to show No Service. To check the status of your cellular data:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular, then check the Cellular Data setting (if your iPhone is set to British English instead of English, it will say Mobile Data). If Cellular Data is turned off, the switch next to it will be gray.
You may also want to turn your Cellular Data off and on a few times, making sure that the switch is green, or in the on position, when you finish.
5. My iPhone 11 Says No Service: Take the SIM card out and put it back in
Another way to fix this problem is by re-inserting your SIM card. Removing the SIM card and then putting it back in, your iPhone may be able to reconnect with your service provider to restore service on your iPhone 11 so that you can make calls and use data again (as well as anything else you use your phone’s mobile network for).
Removing the SIM card momentarily also gives you a chance to see if there’s any damage. If there is, you should contact your carrier for a new one. You should also ensure that the inserted SIM card works with your iPhone 11, especially if you transferred it from another device.
To remove your SIM card:
- Scan the edges of your iPhone to locate your SIM card tray, which looks like a thin oval with a small hole on the inside.
- Insert a small paperclip or SIM-eject tool (usually located in the box your iPhone came in) into the hole until the tray ejects.
- Remove your SIM card. Use a dry, microfiber cloth to clean your SIM card, then reinsert it in the tray making sure to match the notch in the card to the notch in the tray (your SIM card will only go into the tray one way).
- Pop the tray back into the oval slot and restart your iPhone.
6. If Your iPhone 11 Says No Service, a Carrier Update Could be the Fix
Carrier settings contain important data about your selected network that allow you to make calls, check voicemails, and use data. Ensuring that these settings are up to date is important, especially if you’re struggling with no service on iPhone 11. To run a carrier settings update:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi
- Go to Settings > General > About. If a carrier-settings update is available, you’ll see an option to update.
If you’re unsure whether your iPhone is running the most up to date version, contact your carrier.
If your wireless account isn’t active or in good standing, you’ll need to contact your carrier to make sure it isn’t preventing you from receiving calls.
7. Does Your iPhone 11 Still Say No Service? Try an iOS Update
Your iPhone 11 might also say No Service or Searching because it’s running an older version of iOS software. When this happens, you may notice your device is running slower or unable to complete tasks. These updates keep your iPhone up to date, secure, and working properly. To run a software update:
- Plug your iPhone into your charger and connect to Wi-Fi.
- Tap Settings > General > Software Update. If a software update is available, tap Download and Install. If a message pops up asking to temporarily remove apps, tap Continue.
- If prompted, enter your passcode. The software update will start automatically.
8. Resetting the Network Settings Can Fix an iPhone 11 No Service Error
Unlike a factory reset, resetting your Network Settings won’t delete any apps or personal data. It will simply clear out glitches that could be blocking your iPhone’s service. To reset Network settings: ,
- Open Settings.
- Tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- If prompted, enter your passcode. Your iPhone will restart.
When reconnecting to your Wi-Fi, virtual private network, or Bluetooth devices again, you will need to reenter your passcodes.
9. A Factory Reset Can Stop an iPhone 11 No Service Message
If all of the fixes on this list don’t work and you still can’t find the issue, your last resort is to opt for a factory reset. A factory data reset might be the solution for a connection problem you couldn’t find no matter how hard you look for it.
Before you perform a factory reset, make sure to back up all of your important files as the reset will erase all data stored on your phone. Once you’ve performed a backup, follow the steps below.
- Open the Settings app.
- Select General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Hit Erase all content and settings.
10. If Your iPhone 11 Still Says No Service, Contact Your Carrier
We’ve now discussed most of the conventional fixes for this problem. If you still can’t get rid of the “No Service” message, contact your carrier to ensure that the network isn’t experiencing outages, that your account is in good standing and your service operational, and that your iPhone 11 isn’t blocked from sending or receiving data.
11. iPhone 11 Still Say No Service? Get Help From Apple
There are times when you’ve done everything and nothing has solved the issue, not even a complete factory reset. If this happens to you, then the problem might not be your settings or your operating system. Sometimes, the no service on iPhone 11 is brought about by hardware problems.
If you’ve done everything, from soft reset to a complete factory reset but your iPhone 11 still says no service or Searching, reach out to Apple support for further help.
See also: Cellular Data Not Working on iPhone 11? Here Are The Fixes!
Fixed: iPhone 11 No Service!
There are many reasons why your iPhone 11 says no service. When you encounter this problem, try out these fixes before doing anything drastic. While the no service issue can be caused by many different things, usually, the solutions to these problems are quite simple.
Did our solutions fix your iPhone 11 No Service issue? Did another solution work that we didn’t mention? Feel free to share it in the comments section below!
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