Develop Bugs

[Q] [SOLVED] T-Mobile G2, no service anywhere, error while searching for networks

I've been struggling with a problem that I just solved in a stupid way so I'm posting to help other googlers.
As I was using my phone recently, I lost service like I had gone into an area devoid of towers, but service never came back. I verified that another TMobile phone (similar plan) found towers and service just fine. I tried everything I could think of from upgrading Cyanogenmod and the radio to reverting to the stock firmware. No matter what I did, the phone would not get signal. When I went to Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Network operators I would simply get "Error while searching for networks".
It turns out that the SIM card had seen the end of its days. I went to the TMobile store and had the SIM card switched out for a new one (free) and everything worked again.
The explanation I was given was that old "legacy" SIM cards sometimes will just stop allowing you to connect to the towers with no other symptoms.
TL;DR: If your TMobile (maybe other carriers too) phone isn't connecting to the towers anymore, don't panic. You probably need a new SIM card and you can probably get one for free.

Seeing the exact same problem in the last few days
Found your post by googling the error message - I've got the exact same situation on my G2, the behavior started this last weekend. The phone sometimes connects but is very, very inconsistent. I'm missing almost all text messages, or getting them up to a day late. I guess it's off to a t-mo store for a new SIM card if this doesn't stop. Funny thing is this phone was purchased with a (supposedly) new SIM card - hard to call it "legacy".

Thank you, I just stopped getting service today randomly and nothing I did could get it back. I went in to panic mode and was flashing and wiping and everything I could think of then I saw this post. I didn't think it could work but sure enough it did.

way to be....i learned my fact for the day.

mine just bit the dust.
called t-mobile and they suggested a new SIM as well.
ah well

I had the same issue and after doing tons of troubleshooting i seen that there was a space right under the keyboard that was fully flush with the phone. I lightly pressed until both sides snapped back into place and full service returned. So if you have this issue check to see if there are any spaces open and snap it closed.

halfak said:
I've been struggling with a problem that I just solved in a stupid way so I'm posting to help other googlers.
As I was using my phone recently, I lost service like I had gone into an area devoid of towers, but service never came back. I verified that another TMobile phone (similar plan) found towers and service just fine. I tried everything I could think of from upgrading Cyanogenmod and the radio to reverting to the stock firmware. No matter what I did, the phone would not get signal. When I went to Settings -> Wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Network operators I would simply get "Error while searching for networks".
It turns out that the SIM card had seen the end of its days. I went to the TMobile store and had the SIM card switched out for a new one (free) and everything worked again.
The explanation I was given was that old "legacy" SIM cards sometimes will just stop allowing you to connect to the towers with no other symptoms.
TL;DR: If your TMobile (maybe other carriers too) phone isn't connecting to the towers anymore, don't panic. You probably need a new SIM card and you can probably get one for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine has been doing this sporadically, it comes and goes and sometimes I cannot get it to find a service provider. I have to keep doing it over and over and over. Sometimes I have to set phone down and come back in a few minutes to do it again and it finally shows a provider.
The question I have is if you take your phone into Tmobile store to have sim. card replaced do you have to revert phone back to stock G2? Will they say something to you if you are rooted and running CM?

This problem happened to me too and a SIM swap fixed it. They don't check if you are rooted- they might ask you to reboot and change some settings to rule out the obvious stuff like airplane mode, correct carrier, etc.

Maybe not same issue, but also have a soultion for similar issue on G2X
Maybe I didn't have the exact same issue, but I had the exact same symptoms, so throwing my solution up here for other Googlers trying to troubleshoot this as well...
I actually have a G2X, went to Canada where I disabled roaming data and used the t-Mobile wifi calling stuff primarily...
When I got back home to the USA, I couldn't get a signal, but I also didn't have the little x next to the icon... When I went into my settings, I couldn't seem to get the "Use 2G Network" setting to stay off, and of course I couldn't make calls or anything over the mobile network...
So I figured I just needed to force the phone to register on the local network, maybe all the roaming got it mixed up or something, but when I went to the "Network operators" setting, I couldn't "Search Networks" and "Select Automatically" didn't work either, I kept seeing the error "Error while searching for networks".... spent some time playing with libril.so and friends, but it made no difference.
Anyway, long story short, it turns out that there's a setting in the T-Mobile "Wifi Calling" app under "Connection preferences", if you select "Wifi Only", it applies to your setting all the time, even when wifi is disabled, disconnected, and even if the "Wifi Calling" app is disabled too !! So just change that setting back to something else when you're done requiring that behavior and everything will work again, Yay!

intangible said:
Anyway, long story short, it turns out that there's a setting in the T-Mobile "Wifi Calling" app under "Connection preferences", if you select "Wifi Only", it applies to your setting all the time, even when wifi is disabled, disconnected, and even if the "Wifi Calling" app is disabled too !! So just change that setting back to something else when you're done requiring that behavior and everything will work again, Yay!
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Click to collapse
I can verify that this is the solution that works. I have the LG G2 w/ T-Mobile. I hadn't had any problems until today. Stumbled upon this thread after the T-Mobile chat support couldn't help me. Went to System Settings and turned wifi calling off completely. Back in business.

Problem with Data Connection

I replaced my galaxy s 2 because it was acting up and now i have rooted one and also put stock rom bloat free and i recently noticed that sometimes my phone have hard time connecting to data. i can see the uplink sign go green but the downlink arrow doesnt blink and phone keeps me waiting waiting and waiting and i have to restart the phone or leave it for good 5 or 10 minutes to be able to start working. can anyone please tell me if thats a hardware issue or the software? do i need to have my phone replaced?, i dont know if tmobile store would exchange phone now because i purchased phone on 12th and its been 12 days if the reffer me to customer service then they will send me a refurbished phone which i do not want because i paid full price for phone.
any help will be appreciated.

Data connection problem
If you haven't already tried, go to Settings/Wireless and network/Mobile networks/Access Point Names and if there is an option to reset, select it. I had a similar problem with data connections - up and down lights blinked but no connection - and T-mobile support helped me out. Also, make sure Use packet data and Data roaming are checked.

mtmikey said:
If you haven't already tried, go to Settings/Wireless and network/Mobile networks/Access Point Names and if there is an option to reset, select it. I had a similar problem with data connections - up and down lights blinked but no connection - and T-mobile support helped me out. Also, make sure Use packet data and Data roaming are checked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the problem too, both on 4G and WiFi. There is a warning on the data roaming option about incurring extra charges. Is this true? I know that my plan says free domestic roaming, but I'm not sure that applies to data?

The T-mobile rep allowed that this was confusing. They stated that there are no additional charges within the US. Roaming is required because TM uses other providers' (i.e. Verizon) towers in some locations.

I have this same problem, Im wondering if the update coming out next month for wi-fi calling will address this, or what about using the new sim card??? Its pretty annoying but i didnt want to really exchange my phone b/c this is the only problem im having as well as the vertical lines which i have pretty much learned to live with.

K_esco said:
I have this same problem, Im wondering if the update coming out next month for wi-fi calling will address this, or what about using the new sim card??? Its pretty annoying but i didnt want to really exchange my phone b/c this is the only problem im having as well as the vertical lines which i have pretty much learned to live with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am using the new sim card already... i dont know if the problem is with new sim card or the phone itself but it gets annoying sometimes when i need internet and it doesnt wanna work.

Has anyone had any luck fixing this?
I noticed this problem sometime after rooting and flashing roms. Now I'm on the stock rom released in the dev channel. I've talked with customer servie for an hour and none of their solutions fixed anything for me.
I don't have a good backup - is there anything I can do?

I haven't been bitten by this again. It has been a couple days and I've since replaced my phone (today). But I haven't been on 4G much. Wifi has been working fine for the last couple days.

A few questions about the GNex - Network, Mail etc.,

Hi Guys,
So, I've been using the GNex for about a month. I moved to this phone from a Moto Atrix and here is what I have noticed and have looked around but didn't see any good answers to these questions I am having. Hopefully I get some answers here.
Device info:
GNex GSM version on ATT.
Running JB 4.1.1 Stock with Trinity Kernel (rooted and bootloader unlocked).
Issue #1: I get really bad reception at work. But, when I leave the building, my phone doesn't automaticaly connect back to the network. Sometimes, if I don't check my phone, it's been like that all night long until the next day when I have tried to make a call and it said "No Network Available" and I have to either reboot or toggle airplane mode to get back on the network. Am I missing something? In my past experience with other devices, they try to automatically connect back to the network when they loose connectivity. Also, if I get in an elevator during a call and the call gets dropped due to network unavailability, it doesn't connect back to the network and I have to toggle airplane mode. Has anyone else had this issue?
Issue#2: This is with the stock mail app. Specifically the search in this mail app. No matter what, it always returns zero results. Has anyone had this issue with the Mail App? If I use the Gmail app, it works fine. That's what I am using now, but am curious as to what I may be missing that make it not return any search results in the stock mail app.
Q3: Speed Dial: How do you set speed dial on the dialer? Is it even supported?
thanks in advance,
vG

verruckterGeck said:
Issue #1: I get really bad reception at work. But, when I leave the building, my phone doesn't automaticaly connect back to the network. Sometimes, if I don't check my phone, it's been like that all night long until the next day when I have tried to make a call and it said "No Network Available" and I have to either reboot or toggle airplane mode to get back on the network. Am I missing something? In my past experience with other devices, they try to automatically connect back to the network when they loose connectivity. Also, if I get in an elevator during a call and the call gets dropped due to network unavailability, it doesn't connect back to the network and I have to toggle airplane mode. Has anyone else had this issue?
it could be to do with your radio, what version is it? baseband version in about phone. im no expert but when i flashed a jellybean rom i had to update my radio afterwards cause my signal was dropping alot. i also had the same problem later on but that was down to my network operator. before i realised it was them i googled my problem and a few forums suggested that my sim card was goosed. so maybe check those three possibilities? i cant help with the other two issues unfortunately but good luck sorting it out!
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Click to collapse

Not connected to Mobile Network after being on Wifi?

This has been a frustrating issue I've been having pretty much since starting up my T-mobile service about a month ago.
To start off, my G3 is unrooted and on the latest stock software version, 20e.
I use Wifi calling often because I get 0-1 bars of reception at work. All seems to work well until I go outside and try to make a phonecall over the voice network. I'll have plenty of signal bars, be connected to 4G even, yet when I try to use the phone dialer to make a call it will say "Not connected to Mobile Network." or something along those lines.
I haven't done extensive testing, but I believe the other day I toggled the "Mobile Data" off then back on and was able to make calls.
Has anyone else had this trouble? Is it something possibly to do with Wifi and/or Wifi calling?
I believe I could make a phonecall using Hangouts when I was off of wifi, which tells me that the data part is working, but not the voice network.
I contacted T-mobile support, but they just had me do the "typical" things, like shut down the phone, remove the battery/SIM, start everything back up. And sure enough, it worked after that, but I'd rather not have to restart my phone or toggle stuff to get it to work as it should without any hassle.
Thanks!

My wife has the same problem after the 20E update. Her mobile is stock as well. It did not happen on 20B.

thewalkingdude said:
My wife has the same problem after the 20E update. Her mobile is stock as well. It did not happen on 20B.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting.... so is there a known solution for it?

rubejb said:
Interesting.... so is there a known solution for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off the top of my head no. I'll dig around a bit and see what if anything I come up with.,

From the digging I did I can't seem to find any help. The only thing I can think of is to factory reset it thing and see if it helps. I am going to do do it on my wifes phone tonight.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too... I'm not really in the mood to deal with restoring all of my apps and whatnot, so I'll hold off on the factory reset for now.
If you remember, could you let me know the results? If I know for fair certainty that a wipe will fix the issue, I might do it.
Thanks!

It's a network problem and it is worst on Samsung phones. I recently went and got a new sim card and it seems to have fixed it. I read it is because if you live in a area where there is poor coverage it causes your sim to where out fast.

punkhawaiian said:
It's a network problem and it is worst on Samsung phones. I recently went and got a new sim card and it seems to have fixed it. I read it is because if you live in a area where there is poor coverage it causes your sim to where out fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This started happening before my first month of T-mobile service was even up with a brand new SIM. I'm not saying that it's definitely not a SIM issue, just would seem unlikely that it's worn out that fast.

Mobile out of Network-Tmobile - Android
I;m having the same issue, turned phone off and on, checked Network connections everything looks fine, but now able to receive and send texts or make calls.
rubejb said:
This has been a frustrating issue I've been having pretty much since starting up my T-mobile service about a month ago.
To start off, my G3 is unrooted and on the latest stock software version, 20e.
I use Wifi calling often because I get 0-1 bars of reception at work. All seems to work well until I go outside and try to make a phonecall over the voice network. I'll have plenty of signal bars, be connected to 4G even, yet when I try to use the phone dialer to make a call it will say "Not connected to Mobile Network." or something along those lines.
I haven't done extensive testing, but I believe the other day I toggled the "Mobile Data" off then back on and was able to make calls.
Has anyone else had this trouble? Is it something possibly to do with Wifi and/or Wifi calling?
I believe I could make a phonecall using Hangouts when I was off of wifi, which tells me that the data part is working, but not the voice network.
I contacted T-mobile support, but they just had me do the "typical" things, like shut down the phone, remove the battery/SIM, start everything back up. And sure enough, it worked after that, but I'd rather not have to restart my phone or toggle stuff to get it to work as it should without any hassle.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Question Unable to retain/regain signal without reboot/airplane mode toggle

I'm at my wit's end with this. I got this phone last year and it worked perfect until the stock Android 13 update. Then it wouldn't hold a signal to save its own life. I finally have wifi here so it's not as much of an issue, but when I leave my house I have to toggle airplane mode to get it to work again, or it's stuck on "emergency calling only" forever. I did recently put Lineage on it, thinking maybe that would help. The last couple updates it's a little better, it will sometimes get signal back on its own. However more often than not I have to toggle airplane mode or reboot to get service back. This happens all the time, a dozen or more times a day depending on how often I lose service. I did try to search the forums for an answer, but I kept getting errors back with the exception of one result with the same issue that said "tmobile only" under the fix.
I have:
Reset network settings
Reset APN
Manually selected a carrier and switched it back
Cleared cache through Android Settings
disabled/enabled mobile data
Toggled Mobile data always active
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Seriously considering going back to my LG G8 ThinQ and selling this thing, but I love the cameras on it. Side note: When I put the SIM in my old phone none of these problems exist.
Model: LE2125
Carrier: Verizon
Lineage ver.: 20230613

Caboose27 said:
I'm at my wit's end with this. I got this phone last year and it worked perfect until the stock Android 13 update. Then it wouldn't hold a signal to save its own life. I finally have wifi here so it's not as much of an issue, but when I leave my house I have to toggle airplane mode to get it to work again, or it's stuck on "emergency calling only" forever. I did recently put Lineage on it, thinking maybe that would help. The last couple updates it's a little better, it will sometimes get signal back on its own. However more often than not I have to toggle airplane mode or reboot to get service back. This happens all the time, a dozen or more times a day depending on how often I lose service. I did try to search the forums for an answer, but I kept getting errors back with the exception of one result with the same issue that said "tmobile only" under the fix.
I have:
Reset network settings
Reset APN
Manually selected a carrier and switched it back
Cleared cache through Android Settings
disabled/enabled mobile data
Toggled Mobile data always active
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Seriously considering going back to my LG G8 ThinQ and selling this thing, but I love the cameras on it. Side note: When I put the SIM in my old phone none of these problems exist.
Model: LE2125
Carrier: Verizon
Lineage ver.: 20230613
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe contact Verizon support. They should be able to fix it or at least tell you what the problem is.

TheGhost1951 said:
Maybe contact Verizon support. They should be able to fix it or at least tell you what the problem is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that. I couldn't get anyone that was a technician on the phone and eventually after three days of not getting an answer they closed the ticket.

Caboose27 said:
I tried that. I couldn't get anyone that was a technician on the phone and eventually after three days of not getting an answer they closed the ticket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WOW, glad I am with TMO. Their support is the best I have ever worked with. To me they set the standard.

You said you reset the APN, but did you check to see if the APN is the same as on your other phone that doesn't have any issues with mobile service? Maybe check to see if they are the same, and if not put the APN in that works

Amazoniac said:
You said you reset the APN, but did you check to see if the APN is the same as on your other phone that doesn't have any issues with mobile service? Maybe check to see if they are the same, and if not put the APN in that works
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good idea, I'll do that tomorrow. Thaanks!

Assuming you're unlocked and rooted since running Lineage, so add this module in Magisk, and maybe also enable mobile data always active in developer settings for now as well.
[TMO] OOS/COS DATA FIX
TO CLARIFY THIS IS A ROOT ONLY FIX After gaining root install given module. Data is now retained. Even after reboot(s). No empty slot or waiting. Issue is TMO variant is showing multi sim. So props were added to make it like a conversion to...
forum.xda-developers.com

Caboose27 said:
I'm at my wit's end with this. I got this phone last year and it worked perfect until the stock Android 13 update. Then it wouldn't hold a signal to save its own life. I finally have wifi here so it's not as much of an issue, but when I leave my house I have to toggle airplane mode to get it to work again, or it's stuck on "emergency calling only" forever. I did recently put Lineage on it, thinking maybe that would help. The last couple updates it's a little better, it will sometimes get signal back on its own. However more often than not I have to toggle airplane mode or reboot to get service back. This happens all the time, a dozen or more times a day depending on how often I lose service. I did try to search the forums for an answer, but I kept getting errors back with the exception of one result with the same issue that said "tmobile only" under the fix.
I have:
Reset network settings
Reset APN
Manually selected a carrier and switched it back
Cleared cache through Android Settings
disabled/enabled mobile data
Toggled Mobile data always active
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Seriously considering going back to my LG G8 ThinQ and selling this thing, but I love the cameras on it. Side note: When I put the SIM in my old phone none of these problems exist.
Model: LE2125
Carrier: Verizon
Lineage ver.: 20230613
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exact same issue, unlocked LE2125, TMobile simcard. Didn't have issue on custom ROM, but this is happening on OOS13. Tried everything NSA SA 5g dev settings nothing worked. Living with trying to remember to toggle airplane mode periodically.
Try App "connection stabilizer booster" actually helps w root
Connection Stabilizer Booster - Apps on Google Play
Fix cell and wifi connectivity issues. Improve your mobile internet experience.
play.google.com

Life got in the way and I haven't had a chance to try this yet. Probably this coming weekend.