You’re getting the “T-Mobile not registered on network” issue? Well, you’re in luck, because you have just found the best troubleshooting post out there!
We will explain what could be causing the issue and the best tips & tricks to troubleshoot it in a matter of minutes.
If T-Mobile doesn’t register to the network, try re-inserting your SIM card to determine if the slot is compatible. Next, check if you have paid your subscription and toggle the airplane mode OFF. Finally, select the network mode manually on your mobile device.
Before troubleshooting it’s helpful if you first check the possible causes so let’s take a look at them first. Then we’ll proceed with the solutions.
Why T-Mobile Phone Not Registered On Network?
If your phone isn’t connecting with the T-Mobile network, then this means your SIM card doesn’t make contact.
In other words, if the SIM card wasn’t recognized by your phone, it won’t connect with T-Mobile’s network.
Here are some of the most frequent causes that might be preventing you from connecting to the T-Mobile network:
Wrong Frequency
If your T-Mobile plan doesn’t support a certain frequency, you won’t be able to connect with the given signal.
No Coverage
In case you’re in a place where your phone cannot acquire service, T-Mobile’s network will become unreachable.
Sim Card/Slot Problem
An issue with the SIM card or the slot of your phone might prevent you from connecting with T-Mobile.
APN Settings
If you’re just changing your service to T-Mobile, you might have to update the (APN) or Access Point Name.
Network Mode isn’t Updated
Lastly, the network mode will determine the service of your provider and if it remains unchanged, you won’t be able to connect with T-Mobile.
Now that you know what could have gone wrong with T-Mobile, let’s check what are the possible ways to resolve the problem easily.
How To Fix “Not Registered On Network T-Mobile” Error?
Before we proceed, make sure to reboot your Android/Apple device to determine if the problem is a temporal glitch or bug.
If restarting your device didn’t help in any way, then proceed with the upcoming solutions.
Solution #1 Re-Insert The T-Mobile SIM Card
First, we suggest re-inserting the SIM. One of the most frequent issues that could cause interference with your T-Mobile connection, is a problem with the SIM card or the slot itself.
To reseat the SIM card, please follow the steps down below:
- Grab the SIM instrument that was delivered with your phone.
- Insert it into the pinhole above the SIM slot until you hear a click.
- Take the SIM slot out and detach the SIM card.
- Wait for 5 minutes and re-insert the SIM.
Important: The SIM card must be compatible with the slot on your phone.
T-Mobile usually delivers the biggest SIM cards and you have to take certain compartments of the SIM itself in order to become compatible with the slot on your phone.
Once you have reinserted the SIM, check if you would connect with T-Mobile now.
Solution #2 Toggle Airplane Mode OFF
If you’ve enabled the airplane mode, regardless of the type of your device, you have to turn it off in order to receive reception.
While enabled, the airplane will block all signals coming to your phone, including WiFi and cellular.
T-Mobile’s network uses cellular data to connect with your phone, so this means that the airplane mode will actively prevent T-Mobile services from reaching in.
Solution #3 Update The APN
If you’ve just switched your service to T-Mobile, you will have to update the APN of your phone in order to connect with T-Mobile’s network.
The Access Point Names or the (APN) is a protocol that determines the IPV of your mobile device.
T-Mobile usually uses IPV4, so if you’re on IPV6, you will have to change it in the instructions down below:
- Open the Network settings on your phone.
- Head to the Mobile Networks > Access Point Names.
- Tap on APN settings and choose IPV4.
You might have to reboot once you’re done with these steps in order for the changes to take effect. When ready, test if the services will not show up, if not proceed further down.
Solution #4 Toggle The Frequencies
It is possible that the frequency you’ve chosen isn’t compatible with your T-Mobile data plan. We suggest switching to 2G, 3G, LTE, and so on.
In case you’ve chosen a 5G cellular network, you must ensure your phone is compatible with that type of network and that you have 5G transmitters in your hometown.
To toggle between frequencies, you can go to the Settings > Mobile Data > Network Settings > Network Frequency and you will be able to choose from there.
Test out with each and determine which one will deliver the T-Mobile’s network.
Solution #5 Reset The Network Settings
If the “T-Mobile not registered on network” problem still persists, we suggest resetting the network settings of your phone.
Sometimes a wrong configuration of the settings might prevent you from pairing with T-Mobile’s network, therefore you won’t get any cellular data.
To reset the network settings, follow the universal steps down below:
- Open the Settings of your phone and select “Mobile Data”.
- Select the Network tab and scroll all the way down.
- Choose “Reset Network Settings” and confirm.
This will cause all the settings of your network to go back to the default state, which will most likely get you connected with T-Mobile.
If the phone does not automatically connect to T-Mobile, proceed with the next solution to manually establish the connection.
Solution #6 Connect With T-Mobile Manually
If the automatic connection with T-Mobile doesn’t seem to work, you can connect to your carrier manually, through your phone’s settings.
To connect with T-Mobile manually, follow the steps down below:
- Go to the Settings of your phone.
- Tap on Connections and head to the Mobile Networks tab.
- Choose Network Operators and select “Search Now”.
- Locate the T-Mobile in the search list and tap on it to establish the connection.
If the issue is still not resolved, let’s test out your phone with a different SIM card.
Solution #7 Try With A Different SIM
Lastly, we recommend testing your T-Mobile network via a different SIM card to see if the problem is with the T-Mobile service itself.
Try inserting another SIM card, for instance, ask your family or friends to give you theirs just to perform the test.
This is the fastest way to find out whether it’s something with the card/plan or your device.
Another approach would be to test your T-Mobile card with another phone.
Either way, you would know whether you need to call T-Mobile support for further investigation or simply troubleshoot your device.
Read Next: Why is T-Mobile Visual Voicemail Not Working?
Bottom Line:
Thus, if your phone doesn’t connect with T-Mobile’s network, try rebooting your device and reseating the SIM. Next, change the APN settings and reset the device’s network settings. Lastly, try to connect with the T-Mobile network manually.
Now that you know why T-Mobile not registered on network, you can try resolving the issue at home using our solutions.
If your phone still ends up disconnecting from T-Mobile, then perhaps you should reach out to customer support and report your problem.
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.