If you get a “Not registered on network” error on your phone, chances are that your SIM card is not activated, you can’t use roaming, or there are some other issues with the SIM or the Android system. Restart your device and give it another try. If that didn’t help, check the instructions we provided below.
The most common causes of this error are:
- SIM card placement or possible damage.
- The SIM card is not active.
- Your carrier is not the default service provider/network operator.
- Roaming is not available in the current region for your provider.
- Carrier-locked SIM.
Table of contents:
- Call your carriers Call center to activate the SIM
- Choose the default carrier network
- Remove and add your SIM again
- Contact your carrier
Why is my SIM not registered on the network?
1. Call your carriers Call center to activate the SIM
You’ll need to activate a new SIM card by calling the carrier call center in some regions. As soon as you get the automated response, you should be able to make and receive calls without issues. After that, you should get Configuration messages for Mobile data and MMS APN settings.
If that doesn’t help and you still get the prompt that the Phone is not registered on the network, make sure to check service provider settings.
2. Choose the default carrier network
Although slight, there’s a chance that the SIM card in use is not connecting to its default service provider. The default setting is Automatic, where the SIM card will automatically connect to a predesigned operator. However, you can try switching off the Automatic mode and selecting your carrier manually from the list of available providers.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open Settings.
- Select Connections.
- Choose Mobile networks.
- Tap Network operators.
- Disable the Select automatically option and the available providers should appear.
- Select your provider and try making a call or sending an SMS.
3. Remove and add your SIM again
There’s also a chance that your SIM card is not placed properly so we recommend taking it out and placing it in the SIM tray again. Make sure that the SIM card is enabled in Settings > Connections > SIM card. You can even clean SIM connectors a bit, just to make sure that some sort of debris isn’t causing issues.
Once you clean your SIM card, place it in carefully and restart your phone. If you still get the message that the Phone is not registered on the network, try resetting the Phone (Dialer) app and try again.
4. Contact your carrier
Finally, if none of the previous steps worked for you, you should definitely contact your carrier. If your device is locked to a certain carrier, you won’t be able to use an alternative SIM for a different service provider. You should reach out to carrier support and they should give you a better insight. Also, your SIM might require replacement and that’s where the carrier can help you out, too.
With that said, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions with us in the comments section below. As always, we look forward to hearing from you.
