How do I fix a phone that cannot call or send and receive text messages?
Answer
The most common causes are Airplane Mode left on, a temporary carrier outage, or a SIM/eSIM that is loose, missing, or not activated. Check service status first, then refresh the connection before changing deeper settings.
Follow these steps
Turn off Airplane Mode and confirm the carrier name
Open quick settings and turn Airplane Mode off. Wait about a minute and check that a carrier name or signal indicator appears instead of No Service.
You should see: Airplane Mode is off and the phone either regains service or clearly shows no cellular connection.
Restart the phone and test call plus SMS
Restart the phone, then try one voice call and one SMS to a trusted number. Also ask that person to text you back so you can test receiving.
You should see: Calling and texting both work, or the same failure remains with a clearer service status.
Check the SIM or eSIM
For a physical SIM, power off and reseat the card. For eSIM, open mobile network settings and confirm the line is enabled. If the phone says SIM missing or invalid, contact the carrier for a replacement or redownload.
You should see: The SIM/eSIM is detected and the carrier line shows as on.
Rule out a wider outage
Check whether another phone on the same carrier nearby can call and text. If many people are affected, wait for the outage to clear or follow your carrier’s status updates before swapping hardware.
You should see: You know whether the problem is limited to your phone or looks like a carrier outage.
Ask the carrier to refresh the line
If only your phone fails after the steps above, contact the carrier from another device and ask them to refresh network provisioning or replace the SIM/eSIM. Mention that both calls and SMS are failing.
You should see: The carrier refreshes the line or provides a replacement SIM/eSIM plan.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Airplane Mode icon, carrier name versus No Service, whether mobile data still works, and whether other phones nearby on the same carrier are also affected.
Before you change anything: Confirm whether Wi-Fi still works on the phone. Note when the problem started and whether a SIM was recently moved or replaced. Avoid third-party apps that claim to unlock or repair cellular service. Do not share account codes with unexpected callers.