• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Smart phone, gadget and computer tutorials

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
Why Does My Phone Say “Emergency Calls Only”?

Why Does My Phone Say “Emergency Calls Only”?

By Mitch Bartlett 41 Comments

Does the screen on your phone display the message “Emergency Calls Only” and you’re wondering why? In this post, we will cover the common things that cause this message to display on your phone and not enable you to make normal calls.

1. Did you pay your bill?

Has it been a while since you paid your wireless carrier? If so, your carrier may have turned your service off. Ensure your wireless bill is paid and your phone should return to normal rather quickly.

2. Is your SIM Card seated properly?

If your SIM Card is not inserted or is not seated properly, it may cause your phone to only allow calls to 911. Ensure your SIM Card is securely inserted into the slot. It may not hurt to remove it and re-seat it.

The SIM card is very small. It is usually about the size of a fingernail and located somewhere near the battery or in an eject-able slot on the side. If you don’t know where the SIM card is located on your device, look for documentation for your device.

You may also want to try a different SIM card in the case that it is defective. You should be able to get a replacement SIM card from your wireless carrier for no charge.

Note: Not all devices use a SIM Card, but most these days do.

3. Have you restarted your phone?

If you haven’t tried to power down your phone yet, do so. Turn it off and let it sit for a few seconds before turning it back on.

4. Is there a Service interruption?

Sometimes there may be a problem with the carrier’s network that will cause your phone to not work properly. In some cases, the phone will display the “Emergency calls only” message by default.

5. Are you receiving a proper signal?

In some rare cases, your phone may display the “Emergency calls only” message when it can’t connect to a wireless tower on your network. It allows emergency calls because it is connected to a tower that is not a part of your wireless carrier’s network.

You may want to check to see if your phone has a setting that allows you to make calls while “Roaming”. If you do this, your wireless carrier may charge more for calls.

6. Last resort – Factory Reset

If you have tried all of the above items, and the “Emergency Calls Only” message still appears, you may want to try to factory reset your device. A factory reset will wipe all data from the memory of the phone. So be sure all data is backed up before proceeding with this option.

If you’re not sure how to factory reset your phone, look for documentation for your particular device or perform a Google search on the topic.

You Might Also Like

  • Android Phone Only Allow Calls From Contacts
    Android Phone Only Allow Calls From Contacts
  • Fix Android Phone Goes Dark During Calls
    Fix Android Phone Goes Dark During Calls
  • Can iPhone 11 Merge Phone Calls?
    Can iPhone 11 Merge Phone Calls?
  • How To Use Live Caption To Transcribe Phone Calls
    How To Use Live Caption To Transcribe Phone Calls
  • Fix: Google Pixel Phone Not Receiving Calls
    Fix: Google Pixel Phone Not Receiving Calls
  • Windows 10: Block Apps From Making Phone Calls
    Windows 10: Block Apps From Making Phone Calls
  • Android: What Does The 'Emergency Call' Button Do?
    Android: What Does The 'Emergency Call' Button Do?
  • Android 10: How to Add Emergency Information for First Responders to See
    Android 10: How to Add Emergency Information for…
  • Android: Disable Emergency or Amber Alert Sound
    Android: Disable Emergency or Amber Alert Sound

Filed Under: Hardware

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. valentine wupongwuh says

    April 1, 2021 at 8:02 am

    Hi all, am also having the same issue and I have tried the methods to no avail

  2. Nawaz says

    February 23, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Showing emergency calls only how resolve this issue

  3. Jelly Mae says

    February 22, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    My sim card still on emergency calls only even if I tried what has said above.

  4. daud fatah says

    February 19, 2021 at 1:13 am

    i do flashing and also fix a new screen for my itel p33 plus but after that i put my sim card its shows me no service then emergency call only and i check my IMEI its shows normal, please help what the next things to do

  5. Busi says

    January 31, 2021 at 12:16 pm

    I’m experiencing a problem that my phone showing emergency calls, but funny enough I can receive WhatsApp and all but cant make or receive calls. Pls help.

  6. Andrew says

    January 17, 2021 at 4:24 am

    Had my phone with Australian SIM working perfectly as roaming. The moment I returned to Australia….Emergency calls only. Very frustrating! I can’t even contact Vodafone help line and I’m in quarantine hotel. Did Australian government put my phone in hard lockdown? It is useless now and I need to use it. Please help.
    I tried everything what is suggested on Internet but to no avail.

  7. Hardson says

    October 17, 2020 at 3:42 pm

    I phone was on binary blocked by frp. Then I installed another firmware. It could connect to Wi-Fi network but not on mobile network. I can’t make any call or receive messages. I have tried many options but to no avail.
    Could you have a solution to that?

  8. Kirill says

    September 4, 2020 at 5:06 pm

    I’m using an old ALBA 1.8″ mobile from Argos and insert my 3 sim. It says searching network, and then says Emergency Calls. Why?

  9. Ragini Varma says

    August 29, 2020 at 3:07 am

    My phone showing no sim card emergency calls only What should I do I switched off my mobile phone many times and took out the sim re seated so many times but still showing the same no sim card emergency calls only

  10. Usman M BEllO Garindau says

    August 28, 2020 at 8:43 am

    I have done all this step but still showing me emergency call only

  11. Akpoghol Dickson says

    August 7, 2020 at 5:08 am

    I wanted to change my patern yesterday before charging from a neighbor house unfortunately, I wanted to change it to date of birth thereafter,I could not access my phone.all I see is Emergency number.it is itel 33plus I have the Imel number but this one is my wife.

  12. Buhle says

    June 19, 2020 at 6:55 am

    I tried restarting it but doesn’t want to work, tried to switch airplane mode then off still doesn’t want to work. What must i do

  13. Brad says

    June 16, 2020 at 9:30 am

    Had this problem and the issue was the cell tower in the area was down

  14. Pumeza Ntloko says

    June 13, 2020 at 10:20 am

    I have tried all of the above and even tried to insert it into another device but still it does not operate.

  15. Ellie says

    May 11, 2020 at 10:59 am

    I did those many times and nothing worked what should I do

  16. KH says

    April 30, 2020 at 10:33 am

    Just wanted to add my experience. I bought a prepaid Samsung Galaxy A20 phone and my carrier is Verizon prepaid. I switched phones with minimal problems. I was able to text/call without issue (tested to confirm). Remembered I had a microSD card and wanted to add it to my phone. My old phone I could remove the back with ease. With the new phone, there is a hole that you use a pin and push a button which opens a tab that includes the sims card and a microSD. Added the microSD, and didnt think anything of it. Now I noticed that I received the above alert. I found this page and restarted my phone. It did not work. I removed the sims card and it looks like it sat in the seat correctly. however, there was a smudge on the electrical side, so I used a electrical microcloth to wipe it down. inserted it back in and for now it works. I will keep an eye and see if moving m phone actually messes up how the sim card sits, and i dont know if the smudge was the problem, but it was definitely the sims card. I would try and remove, then replace the sims card to see if it works if restarting your phone does nothing.

  17. Michelle says

    April 4, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    I have tried all those things still nothing

  18. Dorothy says

    March 14, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Interesting. I have free wifi at my new home but it sucks!

  19. Annes says

    March 11, 2020 at 2:38 am

    I have restarted ph many times.. Re inserted sim many times.. But still showing same message.. What should i do

  20. Paul says

    March 7, 2020 at 1:51 am

    Sim wasn’t seated properly, took it out, reseated it, all well now, many thanks.

  21. RS says

    December 21, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    This happened to me tonight :Windows /Nokia Lumia 950 Dual sim.
    Only message I got was “emergency calls only”. So, I switched the phone off, removed the battery. Sim no.1 was loose,I re-seated it. I removed sim no.2
    as it only had a couple of gbs on it ( the data was transferred to sim no.1 before removing). The battery was fully charged so I replaced the sim then the battery, then switched the phone on. Immediately, there was a message from Windows saying you sim is being repaired. The phone then restarted after a few seconds and there was the signal and the symboys.
    I would suggest to anyone to treat this and related problems as you would with your PC – bach to the beginning , switch on/off then replace what has been removed , bit by bit, switch off the phone when finished and restart.

  22. Nishant Nandan says

    December 19, 2019 at 9:12 am

    Sometimes, manually selecting from available network help. When traveling, sim doesn’t automatically connect. This is usual during foreign travels.

  23. Louis says

    October 22, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    I turn off the phone and re-start it . Amazingly ,it works
    Thanks!!.

  24. talent kamini says

    October 18, 2019 at 3:43 am

    restarting the phone miraculously did a perfect job…….

  25. Wendy says

    September 19, 2019 at 2:46 pm

    Have had emergency calls only for a month after changing providers. Vodaphone has charged me for leaving but have not provided aNUC number which is to unlock the phone. It is a nightmare.

  26. Sandy Speechley says

    September 3, 2019 at 4:20 am

    Been without signal24hrs so annoying have done all battery out sim card out Virgin tell me when I called them on my landline the transmitter was being worked on don’t know if true or not very frustrating tho

  27. Jane E Horten-Zimmer says

    August 31, 2019 at 2:27 pm

    I am overseas and cannot call Telstra because it says emergency calls only. I am able to connect to the Internet when available but not use my own data which is unable to be used. I can’t receive SMS which caused problems when Eurostar connected to my debit card bank and I couldn’t receive the password. This mobile is Samsung 10 plus and was connected in May 2019. Telstra only give numbers to call when overseas but no other means. Do I purchase a local SIM card from a local carrier? I certainly will be seeking compensation when I return to Australia

  28. Graham says

    August 28, 2019 at 3:45 am

    Hi I put a new sim card in phone yesterday and all I am getting now is emergency calls only .every time I try to ring out it says number not registered on network

  29. Fatima manuel says

    August 22, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    My phone has been wiped .SIM.was removed phone was restarted sometimes get incoming calls sometime go to voice mail on screen shows emergency calls only .is my phone faulty or my SIM please assist

  30. maria says

    June 28, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    somehow i ended up putting my phone in a puddle of water and now it doesnt want to stay on..i have another spare phone but how do i transfer everything to this phone and why does it say i can only make emergency calls only?HELP i know it cant be this difficult..tried switching sim cards and turning off phone..everything.

  31. Omar el Abdellaoui says

    February 16, 2019 at 3:10 pm

    Keezy says.
    Try removing the SD card or remove the battery and SIM card and put it back in.

  32. george says

    November 29, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    I reestarted the phone and reset 2 times and still says emergency calls only, can some body help, I did everything I could and nothing happen.

  33. Ranjana.khanfelwal says

    November 12, 2018 at 5:43 am

    Thanks a lot
    Restarting the phone done the perfect job

  34. Keezy says

    October 26, 2018 at 9:21 am

    My phone started off saying not configured and hanging up immediately. Just yesterday I was using it with no problems. My bill is not due & now its saying emergency calls only. I am on a samsung flip phone. Is there anything I can do about this?

  35. John says

    September 14, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    Turn off and restart did the job perfect. Thanks I was going crazy with this. Emergency calls only made me think ourprovider had shut up shop.

  36. Manoj says

    April 15, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Sir may i on 4G network on my phone after my phone show emergency calls only why sir?

  37. P.Ganesh says

    February 13, 2018 at 8:37 am

    How do we do a factory reset when phone is stuck with emergency calls even after restarting phone many times.

  38. C walsh says

    November 18, 2017 at 1:48 am

    Yes, I know a lot more about the subject now

  39. Shshid says

    November 10, 2017 at 8:20 am

    How you do a factory reset when phone is stuck with emergency calls only and asking for password.

  40. Mitch Bartlett says

    October 28, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    The SIM card is not active with your wireless provider.

  41. Norm Dunn says

    October 28, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    what does sim not provisioned MM#2 mean?

Did this help? Let us know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Increase the Size of Text on Any Website on iPad
  • Chrome: How to Fix Can’t Scroll Using Scrollbars
  • Samsung Galaxy S 21 Plus: How to Check How Much Memory Is Left
  • Google Photos: How to Export Your Albums
  • Bitwarden: How to Deauthorize All Sessions
  • Bitwarden: How to Clone an Entry
  • Bitwarden: How to View Your API Key
  • How to Fix Microsoft Teams Error 0xcaa80000

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

Follow me on Twitter, or visit my personal blog.

You May Also Like

  • Best Smart Phone with Keyboard: Top 8 Reviewed
  • 10 Best Android Phone Cleaner Apps in 2019

© Copyright 2021 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy