The message which says “searching” that sometimes comes up on your iPhone essentially means one thing: the device is not able to connect to a cellular network. There are several possible reasons why you might be getting that message.
You’ll want to resolve the problem as quickly as possible so you can go back to enjoying all of the device’s various functions. Follow these steps to resolve the matter, as we answer the question of what to do if your iPhone says searching.
If Your iPhone Says Searching, Check Your Coverage Area
The first thing you should notice if you see this message is whether you’re in an area where you’re likely to get cellular service.
If you’re in the middle of nowhere and you know there’s not a cell tower anywhere near you, then you’ll need to change locations before you can get rid of this notification. If you’re surrounded by mountains or you’re at a much higher elevation than normal, expect to see this as well.
Turn Cellular Data Off and On if Your iPhone Says Searching
The next option that’s worth trying is turning your cellular service off and on again a couple of times. Go to Settings. Tap where it says Cellular or Mobile Data.
Toggle the switch a few times, then see if the “searching” message goes away and the phone is able to connect to cellular service.
If you’re traveling overseas, be sure that your iPhone is set up for data roaming. Do this by heading to Settings, then Cellular.
Next, go to Cellular Data Options and turn on Data Roaming. Now, the “searching” message should go away. Overseas data roaming is costly, though, so be ready for a higher bill than normal.
Restarting Your Device Can Get Rid of a Searching Message
You can try restarting your iPhone. That’s a useful cure-all that might get rid of the “searching” message.
If you own the iPhone 8 or earlier, you will have to push and hold the Top or Side button till you see the Slide to Power Off slider on the display.
Drag it to the right, and the device will turn off. Then, press and hold the Side or Top button again until you see an Apple logo on the screen.
If you own an iPhone version X or a more recent version than that, you have to press and hold the Side button. At the same time, you need to press either the Volume Up or Volume Down button.
The Power to Off Slider should appear. Slide it to the right, turning off the phone. Press the Side button again, restarting the device.
If you still see the “searching” signal, move on to the next option.
If Your iPhone Says Searching, a Carrier Update Could be the Fix
A carrier update can get rid of these “searching” signals as well. These updates are not available as frequently as iOS updates. When there’s one for your phone, though, you need to do it, or you might experience problems like this one.
Make sure before you begin that you’re connected to either a cellular network or a stable Wi-Fi network. Hit Settings, then General. Go to About.
If there are carrier updates available, you should see a notification of that. Go ahead and update.
If you’re not sure what version of your carrier settings you’re currently running, you can see that by going to Settings, General, then About. Look next to Carrier for that information.
Also, remember that if, for some reason, you inserted a new SIM card into your phone, you have to download the carrier settings for your new carrier. Until you do that, you will continue to get that “searching” signal.
My iPhone Says Searching: The SIM Card Solution
You might also try taking out your SIM card and then putting it back in again.
To do it, take the straightened end of a paperclip or the elongated part of a SIM card removal tool and insert it into the small hole on the right-hand side of your phone. It should fit perfectly.
You should get a SIM card removal device when you purchase a new iPhone. You can also buy one separately online or in certain brick-and-mortar store locations. However, in a pinch, the straightened paperclip will work just as well.
Apply gentle pressure so that the SIM card tray pops out of the phone. Remove the card, then carefully place it back in again. Slide the tray back into your device and see if that has made a difference.
If your card does not fit in the tray, or some element of it is damaged, then you must request a new one from Apple. Be sure that it’s the right one for your generation of iPhone. You will have to pay for the new SIM card, though, so try to avoid this by treating the original card gently when you reinsert it.
Resetting the Network Settings Can Stop an iPhone Searching Message
You can reset the network settings for your iPhone next. Do this by going to Settings, then General, and then Reset.
From there, head to Reset Network Settings. Be aware that this will also reset APN and VPN settings that you have used in the past, as well as cellular settings, Wi-Fi networks, and passwords.
Does Your iPhone Still Say Searching? Try an iOS Update
An iOS update is another possible fix that’s worth pursuing. Make sure you use iTunes or iCloud to back up your device before you do this.
To back up your device with iTunes, use a USB cable and connect the device to a laptop or desktop running the latest version of iTunes. Hit the Device button that you see near the top left. Hit Summary, and then Back Up Now. The backup will take a few seconds.
To back up the phone with iCloud, connect to a stable Wi-Fi network. Head to Settings, then Your Name, and then iCloud. Hit iCloud Backup, and then hit Back Up Now. Wait a few seconds while the process finishes.
Now, you’re ready to check for an iOS software update.
Connect to the internet with Wi-Fi or plug into power. Hit Settings, then General. Go to Software Update.
If you see one, tap it to get it started. If you want to wait till that night to do it, you can also hit Install Tonight or Remind Me Later.
If you go that route, you must plug into power before you go to sleep. When you wake up, the new version of iOS should be installed and running.
If Your iPhone is Still Searching, Contact Your Carrier
We’ve now gone through most of the conventional fixes for this problem. If you still can’t get rid of the “searching” message, then you should next contact your carrier and talk to them about the issue.
Verify that your account is in good standing and active. If you’re all paid up, maybe there was some clerical error, and they cut off your service.
There might be an outage in your area, so ask them about that. They should be able to give you an update on when they’ll be up and running again.
You should also ask them whether you have the right sort of data plan. Plans exist sometimes where your device will be blocked from receiving cellular service.
iPhone Still Say Searching? Hit an Apple Store
If you’ve exhausted these options, the next thing to do is head over to the neighborhood Apple Store so they can look at the device. A hardware problem seems likely since you already did virtually everything related to software.
If you still have the original warranty, then it shouldn’t cost you anything to fix the issue. If you got an extended warranty or if you purchased an AppleCare+ plan, then those should also cover a hardware issue, if that’s what’s to blame.
If your warranty has expired and you don’t have AppleCare+, then you’ll need to figure out how much the solution is going to cost you. Hopefully, it’s not very expensive.
Keep in mind, though, that you won’t be able to get the full amount of enjoyment out of your phone till you get cellular service for it again. If the cost of getting a hardware problem fixed seems prohibitive, and if you have an older phone model, you might want to consider trading it in at that point and getting a newer version, like the iPhone 14.
