How to Fix “Emergency Calls Only” Network Error on Android

Introduction 

It’s frustrating when your Android phone suddenly shows “Emergency Calls Only” in the screen. And You can’t call, text, or use mobile data only emergency services like 112 or 911. This is issue can happen without warning and affects all major brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, and more.

Whether you're facing this after a software update, a SIM card change, or a network drop, don’t panic. This are guide covers 15+ working fixes to solve the “Emergency Calls Only” error quickly. Follow below

 

Why Does My Phone Say “Emergency Calls Only”?

Here are the most common issues:

Reason in Description

No SIM card or improperly inserted Your phone isn’t detecting your SIM

Network outage The mobile tower in your area is down

Airplane mode is on the Blocks all signals

SIM card or phone is locked SIM PIN or network lock active

Software bug After the Android update or flashing

Wrong network mode 4G-only in a 3G area, for example

IMEI issue Lost IMEI due to corrupted firmware

 

Step-by-Step Fixes for “Emergency Calls Only” on Android

Let’s go through the each fix in order of effectiveness and simplicity.

1. Restart Your Phone

Start with the basics.

Hold the Power button > Restart

Wait for a few seconds and check signal bars again

 Sometimes a simple reboot fixes temporary glitches on your phone.

 

2. Remove and Reinsert SIM Card

Power off the phone

Use a SIM ejector to remove the tray

Clean the SIM with a soft cloth

Reinsert and reboot the phone 

Try inserting the SIM in SIM Slot 2 if Slot 1 isn’t working.

  

3.Toggle Airplane Mode

Swipe down to the open Quick Settings

Tap Airplane Mode ON > wait 10 seconds > turn it OFF 

This resets mobile radio signals and may restore normal service.

 

4. Try the SIM in Another Phone

If the SIM shows “Emergency Calls Only” on another phone, the issue is with your SIM or     network account.

Contact your carrier for SIM replacement.

 

5. Check Network Signal in Your Area

If  Your location may have poor or no coverage.

Go  the outside or near a window

Use the another phone with the same carrier to compare signal

If the both show no network, it’s likely a tower issue 

Wait for some time or contact the mobile carrier for updates.

 

 

6. Select Network Manually

Automatic mode is sometimes fails to lock onto the right tower.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network

Tap Network Operators

Turn off Select Automatically

Wait and choose your correct carrier from the list

 

7. Switch the Network Mode

You may be forcing your phone to a band that’s unavailable in your area.

Steps:

Settings > Mobile Network > Preferred Network Type

Try switching between:

2G/3G/4G/5G Auto

3G Only

4G Only

Restart the phone after switching.

 

8. Reset the APN Settings

Corrupt APN (Access Point Names) can be block mobile registration.

Steps:

Go to Settings > Mobile Network > Access Point Names

Tap Menu (3 dots) > Reset to Default

 

9. Check for Carrier Lock

Phones purchased under contract or from abroad may be locked to a specific network.

Insert the different SIM card

 

If it shows “SIM Not Supported” or “Invalid SIM”, it is locked.

 Contact the carrier to unlock your phone if eligible.

 

10. Enable Roaming (Temporary Fix)

Sometimes, enabling roaming can help if the phone can’t register on the home network.

Steps:

Settings > Mobile Network > Roaming

Turn ON Roaming 

Use this cautiously to avoid charges if you're traveling.

 

11. Remove SIM Lock or PIN

A locked SIM won’t function properly if the wrong PIN is entered.

Steps:

Settings > Security > SIM Card Lock

Enter the SIM PIN if required

Turn off the SIM lock

 

12. Reset the Network Settings

This resets mobile, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth settings.

Steps:

Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth

Confirm reset 

 No data loss, but Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices will be unpaired.

 

13. Check the IMEI Number

A missing or invalid IMEI can cause your phone to lose network registration.

Steps:

Dial *#06# to check IMEI.

If it says “Null” or “Invalid”, your phone’s IMEI is lost.

This happens after flashing custom ROMs or factory resets.

Fix:

Visit an authorized service center to restore IMEI legally.

 

14. Update Phone Software

A bug in the OS could cause network registration issues.

Steps:

Go to Settings > System > Software Update

Tap Check for Updates

Install the all pending updates.

 

15. Factory Reset (Last Option)

Only if all other fixes fail and you’re sure it’s not hardware-related.

Steps:

Backup important data

Go to the Settings > System > Reset > Factory Reset

This will erase all data.

Brand-Specific Tips

Brand Fix Tip

Samsung Use #0# for hardware tests

Xiaomi/Redmi Use SIM Slot 2 and turn off “Dual 4G” temporarily

OnePlus Update OxygenOS and reset APN

Realme/Vivo/Oppo Check Network Mode in Engineer Mode

Motorola Use carrier-provided SIM Toolkit app

 

Pro Tips to Avoid “Emergency Calls Only”

Avoid flashing unauthorized ROMs

Keep software up to date

Avoid SIM swaps too often

Turn off airplane mode before turning off the phone

Clean your SIM card once a month 

this are step for the emergency calls only network error on android use it