How to Fix ‘Not Registered on Network’ for T-Mobile

If your phone displays the error 'Not Registered on Network,' you probably can't send or receive calls or messages. Fortunately, this can be a relatively easy problem to fix. This guide walks you through several troubleshooting steps you can try.

What Does 'Not Registered on Network' Mean on T-Mobile?

'Not Registered on Network' means that your T-mobile phone isn't connecting with the T-Mobile service, and as long as you can't connect to the service (your mobile network), you won't be able to make or receive phone calls. You also cannot send or receive messages, and there may be other services not working, as well.

Why Is My T-Mobile Phone Saying Network Not Available?

There could be many reasons your phone says your network isn't available. Of course, it could be a problem with the network. This issue may happen after a natural disaster, a powerful storm, or just because T-Mobile is experiencing an outage.

However, that's not the only reason your phone can't connect to your mobile network. Other reasons you might see this error include:

• You have a damaged or dislodged SIM card.
• Your phone's firmware may be outdated.
• Incorrect carrier information is selected in your phone's settings.
• Your phone might be set to the wrong network or have the wrong network settings.

How Do I Fix T-Mobile Mobile Network Not Available?

If you're getting the 'Not Registered on Network' notification when you try to use your phone, there are some troubleshooting steps you can run through to likely get it working again. Try each of these steps until you find the one that fixes your problem.

1. Check your SIM card. You'll probably need to remove the back of your phone to check your SIM card. When you do, look for damage to the card, the card slot, and make sure the SIM card is completely seated in the slot. After you've checked everything, reinsert your SIM card, restart your phone. The phone should automatically reconnect to T-Mobile's networks if this was the issue.
   

2. Turn off Wi-Fi and then turn it back on. Disabling your Wi-Fi can reset your connection and 'force' your phone to find the mobile network. If you're experiencing a temporary issue interfering with your network connection, this could resolve the problem.
   

3. Update your phone. Outdated firmware or software could prevent your phone from connecting to the T-Mobile network. Use these guides to update your phone to the most recent version:

   • How to Update Android
   • How to Update iOS
     

4. Reset your network settings. If something has happened and your network settings have been changed, that could prevent you from connecting to the T-Mobile network. You can reset your network settings on iOS, or to reset your network settings on Android, go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Network > Network Operators > Search Now. On some versions of Android it may be Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
   

5. Change the APN settings on your phone. The Access Point Name (APN) on your phone is the carrier or network you use to connect to the internet when you're not using Wi-Fi. Most often, your phone will set the APN settings automatically, but if you can't get a connection to your T-Mobile network, changing these settings might get you reconnected.
   

6. Change your network mode. The network mode on your phone determines the type of network your device uses. For example, if you live in an area with 5G and your network mode is set to 5G, you can access a 5G network. However, if you live in an area without 5G, you might have trouble getting connected.

   You can turn 5G off on an iPhone or access other network mode settings from the same location. On an Android phone, you need to go to Settings > Wireless Networks > Mobile Network > Network Mode. Or on some versions of Android: Settings > Network & internet > Internet > gear button next to T-Mobile > Preferred network type.
   

   On an Android phone, you may need to select your SIM card before choosing Network Mode.

7. Try a different SIM Card. If none of these steps above have helped, you could have a problem with your SIM card. If you have access to a different SIM card, try using it to see if you can get connected to the T-Mobile network.
   

8. Contact T-Mobile. If nothing else works, your best option is to take your phone to your local T-Mobile dealer. They can likely help you get the problem fixed so you can get back to using your mobile phone just like you always have.