How to Fix ‘Emergency Calls Only’ Error on Android

Getting an “Emergency Calls Only” error on your Android phone can be frustrating. The error means your phone cannot connect to a mobile network, disrupting all basic smartphone activities such as calling or texting. If you’ve suddenly started facing this issue on your phone, this explainer will provide easy-to-follow techniques to resolve the emergency calls error on Android phones.

There are numerous reasons why your Android phone can show the “Emergency Calls Only” error. Some of them are as follows:

• Your smartphone is in a no-network coverage area.
• Incorrect SIM card placement in the SIM tray.
• Your existing cellular plan has expired.
• Lack of data roaming permissions.
• Incorrect network settings on your Android phone.
• Device glitches, such as obsolete software.

Before you begin troubleshooting, ensure that you have an active cellular plan on your number. Additionally, check whether your mobile service provider is having a server outage or not using DownDetector.

How to Fix ‘Emergency Calls Only’ Error on Android

1. Ensure SIM Card Is Enabled

Checking the SIM card status of your phone is the first step to fixing Android’s “Emergency Calls Only” error. Head to your device settings app to verify your SIM/eSIM is enabled. If you’re receiving feeble or no network signals, try switching your network type to see if that helps.

1. Open the Settings menu on your Android phone and tap Network & Internet.
   
2. Tap SIM Card & Mobile Network. If you can’t locate it, type SIM card in the search bar.
   
3. Pick your desired SIM card.
   
4. Ensure Enable SIM Card is turned on.
   
5. If you’re using an eSIM, ensure it is enabled from the network settings.
6. You can also shift your network type to 5G/4G/3G or 2G using Preferred Network Type to use what’s available in your area with adequate network strength.
   

2. Enable/Disable Airplane Mode

Airplane mode is the fastest and easiest way to disable all wireless and cellular communications on your phone. You can try enabling/disabling this mode to see if it fixes the “Emergency Calls Only” error on your Android phone. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Access your phone’s Network & Internet settings.
2. Turn on the toggle for Aeroplane/Airplane mode to enable it.
   
3. Alternatively, you can expand the notification center to turn on Airplane Mode using the Quick Settings tile.
   
4. Wait a few seconds and repeat the above steps to disable Airplane mode.

3. Restart Your Device

A simple restart can fix most device problems. Long-press the physical power button on your Android phone to use the restart option. In case your device doesn’t have a dedicated Restart option, shut it down and turn it back on after some time.

If the power button on your Android phone is damaged and not working, you can learn easy ways to turn it off without the power button.

4. Allow Data Roaming

Data roaming allows you to use mobile data services outside your home region. On some phones, data roaming is disabled by default to ensure your carrier does not charge you a bomb for using mobile data outside of your home network. But in some cases when traveling, this option could cause an “Emergency Calls Only” error to show up on your Android phone.

1. Open SIM Card & Mobile Network settings in your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap your preferred SIM card/eSIM.
   
3. Turn on Data Roaming to enable it.
   

Do note that enabling data roaming might cost you extra if it is not included in your cellular plan. Check your existing plan for precise details.

5. Re-Insert Your SIM Card

If you have an old Android phone, it is possible that its SIM card slot is showing its age. In some cases, it is possible that the SIM card slot on your phone stops reading the inserted SIM, leading to an “Emergency Calls Only” error to show up.

To fix this, eject the SIM card, thoroughly clean it, and re-insert it again. Make sure to pay close attention to tray indications for placing the SIM card correctly.

6. Pick Your Network Carrier Manually

Your Android phone is smart enough to automatically select the best mobile network tower closest to you. But in some situations, this process can fail, leading to the “Emergency Calls Only” error to show up. Thankfully, you can manually pick your carrier on Android smartphones to resolve the issue.

1. Browse your SIM card & mobile network settings and tap your desired SIM card. If you’re using an eSIM, tap the Mobile Network option.
   
2. Disable Automatic Network Selection and press Choose Network to configure the carrier network manually.
   
3. Wait a few seconds to let your device scan and list all nearby networks.
4. Finally, pick your desired network to enable it. Make sure to switch to your registered carrier network, or you won’t receive any signals on your smartphone.
   

7. Reset All Network Settings

Incorrect network settings can often be the culprit behind cellular network issues on your device. To fix this, reset the network settings of your phone.

1. Search for Reset in your phone’s settings menu. Select Network settings from the results.
   
2. Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile, & Bluetooth.
   
3. Press Reset Settings and provide your device passcode to reset all device network settings.
   

8. Install Pending System and Carrier Updates

If you haven’t updated your Android device in a long time, its outdated software might create issues in using cellular services, resulting in the “Emergency Calls Only” error. Check Software updates on your phone and install all pending and carrier network updates to restore the problem.

1. Open the Settings menu on your phone and tap System Update.
   
2. Check new available updates and install them to upgrade your device’s software.
3. Next, head to the default Messages app on your phone to find SIM configuration messages.
4. Press Install to update your device’s carrier network settings.

9. Issue a New SIM Card

If all the above steps fail, you will need to get a new SIM card issued from your network operator. There’s a possibility that the SIM card is faulty and was causing the “Emergency Calls Only” error. If you’re using an eSIM, ask your network carrier to reconfigure its settings to eliminate the error.

Final Words

Network issues like emergency call errors are quite common on smartphones, and resolving them doesn’t require much technical knowledge. You can follow the above-listed steps to quickly troubleshoot them and enjoy a seamless network experience without interruptions.

If you own a Samsung, you can learn to fix the “Connection Problem or Invalid MMI Code” error while making calls or sending text messages.

FAQs

My SIM card is showing an Emergency Calls Only error. How do I fix it?

You can easily fix it by applying basic fixes such as enabling/disabling the SIM card or airplane mode or restarting the device. If that doesn’t solve the problem, use advanced troubleshooting methods like resetting network settings or selecting the network carrier manually.

How to turn off the Emergency Calls Only mode on Android?

The Emergency Calls Only mode can indicate an issue with your SIM card. You might have to issue a new SIM card to see if that resolves the issue.