SIM Card No Signal
Your Chinese SIM card has no signal, or your phone shows no network connection.
Estimated resolution time
5-15 minutes
Why This Happens
- SIM not properly activated — some require 24h after purchase
- Phone locked to home carrier — roaming/SIM unlock not enabled
- APN settings incorrect for Chinese carriers
- SIM tray not properly seated after insertion
- Carrier network congestion in crowded areas
Step-by-Step Resolution
- 1
Toggle Airplane Mode
Turn airplane mode on, wait 10 seconds, turn off. This forces a network re-registration.
→ Open Settings → Airplane Mode
- 2
Check SIM Seating
Remove and re-insert your SIM card. Make sure it clicks into place firmly.
- 3
Manual Network Selection
Go to Settings → Cellular → Network Selection → Manual. Choose China Unicom or China Mobile.
- 4
Visit Carrier Store
Find a China Unicom (中国联通) or China Mobile (中国移动) store. Show the emergency card below.
- 5
Use Hotel WiFi
As temporary backup, connect to hotel WiFi for essential communication.
What NOT to Do
- Do NOT buy replacement SIM from street vendors
- Do NOT factory reset your phone — you may lose VPN and payment apps
Emergency Language Card
我的手机没有信号。我需要帮助设置我的SIM卡。这是我的护照。
Wǒ de shǒujī méiyǒu xìnhào. Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù shèzhì wǒ de SIM kǎ. Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
My phone has no signal. I need help setting up my SIM card. Here is my passport.
Show this to a local if you need help communicating.
Prevent this from happening next time
View Setup Checklist