consumer cellular phone says no service

When your Consumer Cellular phone says no service, it can be pretty aggravating.

You can’t make a call or send a text if you need to. Luckily, we have the solution to your problem.

You may be in a location where the signal is weak, or a cellular tower isn’t close enough.

If the area isn’t the problem, you may be using the wrong settings or having a SIM card issue. Other factors are weather and environmental conditions.

To fix your Consumer Cellular phone says no service issue, reboot your phone. Press and hold the power key until your screen gets dark and your phone restarts. If this doesn’t work, reset your phone’s network settings. It will clear out your local network data.

Before discussing the troubleshooting steps, consider why your Consumer Cellular phone has no service.

Why Does My Consumer Cellular Phone Say No Service

If you experience a Consumer Cellular no network connection, Mother Nature may be the culprit. Hills, mountains, and heavy vegetation can kill your cell signal.

Thunderstorms can also cause interference and slow down your network.

Other reasons your mobile phone says no service include:

1. Service Outage

Consumer Cellular network may be down. Check with Down Detector for current problems.

2. Carrier not Selected

You may have forgotten to set the carrier on your phone. Carriers often release updates that affect your Consumer Cellular phone’s ability to connect to the cell network.

3. Using Wrong Network Settings

Your phone’s settings may be incorrect or corrupted, preventing you from getting cellular service.

4. SIM Card Issue

You may have bumped or dropped your phone, which dislodged your SIM card.

If you encounter problems with your Consumer Cellular phone signal, it may be due to the above reasons.

Now that you know them, we can proceed to the solutions.

How to Fix Consumer Cellular Phone Says No Service

fix consumer cellular phone says no service

Before you take elaborate actions, check for outages in your area. Visit the official social media handles of Consumer cellular and see if there are current issues with the network.

If you do not find user reports that indicate current problems, restart your phone.

If restarting your mobile device does not work, proceed to the solutions below.

Solution #1: Cycle Airplane Mode on Your Phone

use airplane mode

Airplane mode disables all connectivity features on your phone, including cellular service.

You will not be able make calls, send texts, or access the internet. Cycling the mode refreshes your connection, which hopefully solves the problem.

Android:

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice or use two fingers.
  2. You will see the Quick Settings panel.
  3. Look for Airplane Mode in the grid.
  4. Tap the toggle to place your phone in Airplane Mode. 
  5. You will see an airplane icon on the status bar.

iPhone:

  1. Swipe down from the top right of your screen.
  2. Once the Control Center is open, tap the airplane symbol.
Note: When the Airplane mode is on, you will see the carrier setting disappear and the WiFi and Bluetooth.

Solution #2: Select Your Carrier Manually

Network selection is usually automatic. But, if your device is having trouble finding your network, you may need to select your carrier manually.

This situation does not happen all the time. However, you do have a fallback method if your phone does not automatically pick up the network of your SIM card.

Here’s how to select your carrier on your phone:

iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings, then Mobile Data
  2. Choose Mobile Network.
  3. Turn off the Automatic option.
  4. You will see a list of available carriers.
  5. Select Consumer Cellular.

Android:

  1. From the front screen, tap Apps.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Select Mobile Networks.
  4. Choose Network Operators.
  5. Select Consumer Cellular.
Note: If you still have no service, contact Consumer Cellular and ask if you have problems with your service plan or if your device is blocked.

Solution #3: Inspect Your SIM Card

inspect sim card

It is also possible that your SIM card is not working properly. It may be damaged or not seated correctly.

Inspect your SIM card for damage. Blow on it or wipe it with a cotton swab or cloth to clean it. Then, replace it.

Here’s how to see if your SIM is connected to your device properly:

  1. Turn off your Android or iOS phone.
  2. Remove the SIM using a paper clip or ejector tool.
  3. Clean up any dust or particle.
  4. Re-insert your SIM and make sure it fits perfectly.
  5. Turn on your device and see if it clears the issue. 
Note: If the SIM card is not the cause of the problem, check your phone’s settings.

Solution #4: Change Your Phone’s APN Settings Manually

change apn settings

If you enter incorrect APN (Access Point Name) settings, you may lose cellular connectivity and receive additional charges.

The APN settings of your carrier is essential to the operation of your phone. It basically tells it how and where to connect so you can enjoy their services.

Here’s how to view and edit your APN settings on your iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Cellular or Mobile Data.
  3. Choose Cellular Data Options or Mobile Data Options.
  4. Select Cellular Network or Mobile Data Network.
  5. Tap each field and enter the details from Consumer Cellular
Tip: Do not change your phone’s APN settings unless directed by your carrier.

Note: You can get the APN details on Consumer Cellular’s website.

Solution #5: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

Your phone’s network settings may be corrupted, which prevents you from getting cellular service.

A network settings reset is different from a factory reset since this only involves your phone’s connectivity features.

It will clear up the settings from Consumer Cellular and downloads it automatically.

Here’s how to reset your phone’s network settings.

Android:

  1. Go to Settings, then General Management.
  2. Select Reset, then Reset Network Settings.
  3. Tap the Reset Settings button to confirm.

iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings, then General. 
  2. Tap Reset, then Reset Network Settings.
  3. Enter the password of your device and wait for it to reboot.
  4. Sign in to your iCloud account.
Note: A network settings reset also affects your other connections like WiFi and Bluetooth. You will need to set them up again.

Solution #6: Reset Your Phone to Factory Settings

factory reset phone

It’s time for the last resort. Resetting your phone to its factory settings clears your device of all personal data, correcting most software problems.

Android:

  1. Find and tap Settings.
  2. Then scroll down to the bottom and tap System.
  3. Tap Reset Options, then Erase all data.
  4. Select Reset phone.
  5. Enter your password to Erase Everything.

iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
  2. Tap Reset, then Erase all content and settings.
  3. Enter your password if prompted.
  4. Tap Erase iPhone, then tap it again.
Note: You will lose all your apps, photos, videos, and downloads. Make sure to back up your data.

Contact Consumer Cellular customer support if you have tried all of the above steps and still need a little help. They have experts to help get your device back up and running. 

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Bottom Line

Now you know why your Consumer Cellular phone says no service.

Hopefully, our simple troubleshooting steps can help solve your problem. If not, we suggest you contact your carrier’s customer support.