TracFone Not Registered on Network: How to Fix

TracFone says “not registered on network”? No problem! I experienced the same issue recently and was able to restore my Tracfone network myself after doing some research.

In this article, I have carefully explained the steps to follow to restore full Tracfone network coverage on your device. Let’s dive in!

A quick way to troubleshoot a network error on your Tracfone SIM is to power cycle your phone. You can also try cleaning the grime on your SIM card to fix the problem.

If these steps do not help you fix your network issue, keep reading for more details on how to go about this.

Table of Contents

Tips to Troubleshoot TracFone Network Issues

Power Cycle Your Phone

As mentioned earlier, if you discover a network error on your Tracfone SIM, it might just be a sign that your phone is malfunctioning.

Power cycling your phone should fix this issue.

Follow these steps to power cycle your phone:

Switch off your phone.
Next, wait for 60 seconds. Then turn on your phone and wait for it to finish booting.

After rebooting your phone, check if there are any visible signal bars at the top of the screen.

If you don’t see any signal bars, continue to the next step.

Examine the SIM Card/SIM Tray

A broken SIM card or SIM tray can also cause your Tracfone network to encounter an error. If your SIM card or SIM tray is damaged, you’ll need to replace them.

But first, inspect your SIM card and SIM tray to see if they are actually faulty.

Here’s how to do that:

Open the SIM tray to remove the SIM card from your phone.
Check the placement of the SIM card before removing it to ensure it is in the correct position.
Inspect the SIM card for scratches and any damage.
Dirt and grime on the SIM can impair its functionality, so keep an eye out for those.
Clear the dust from the SIM port and tray.
Using a clean, dry cloth, wipe down the SIM.
After that, insert the SIM card into your phone and power on your device.

For most devices, we find that this step restores the Tracfone network to its normal state. However, if this isn’t the case, try the next step.

Reset and Update Your Network Settings

Tracfone may have added new settings to their network. However, your network may still be set to the old format.

This might be the reason for the network error.

Usually, rebooting your phone should resolve this. Nevertheless, you might not always get the full network update after a reboot. The best way to get the new network configuration for Tracfone is to reset and update your network settings.

Here’s how to reset your phone’s network:

iPhone Network Reset

Open your Settings app.
Tap on General. Then select Reset.
Next, click on Reset Network Settings from the list of Reset options.
To finish the process, enter your passcode.

Android Network Reset

Tap on Settings. Then tap on System or General Management.
Choose Reset and select Reset Network.

After resetting your network, you’ll need to update it to get the new network settings for Tracfone.

iPhone Network Update

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi.
Open your Settings app. Then select General.
Click on About.
Now, follow the steps on the screen to complete the process.

Android Network Update

Select the Settings icon.
Tap on Connections and select Mobile Network.
Scroll down to Network Operators and click Search Now.
To finish the process, enter your passcode.

After resetting and updating your network settings, check if the “Tracfone Not Registered on Network” notification is still on your screen. If you see the notification, proceed to the next step.

Change Your Network Mode

Depending on your area, Tracfone may only support the 4G network. So, if your phone is set to 5G, it may connect to the network.

If Tracfone notifies you of a network error, your phone might be set to 5G. A 5G network mode is indicated by the 5G icon appearing above your signal bar.

If you see the 5G icon, you’ll need to change your network mode.

Follow the steps below to change the network mode on your Android phone:

Select the Settings icon.
Click on Network and Internet. Then choose Mobile Network.
Tap on Network Mode and select 4G.

And here’s how to change your network mode on an iPhone:

Tap on Settings.
Click on Cellular. Then select Cellular Data Options.
Choose Voice and Data.
Now, click on 4G.

Update Your Phone’s Software

Another way to fix the network error on your Tracfone SIM is to update your phone’s software.

The following guide will show you how to update your phone’s software:

iPhone

Select the Settings icon.
Scroll down to General. Then tap on Software Update.
Next, select Download and Install.
Now, click on Install Now to install the update.

Android Phone

Click on Settings and select About Phone. Then choose System Update.
Next, tap on Download Now.
Click on Install Now.

After updating your phone’s software, the system will prompt you to restart your phone. Your Tracfone network should be back to normal now. But if the network is still malfunctioning, continue to the next step.

Test Your SIM Card on Another Phone

You can test the SIM card on a different phone to see if it works. Another possibility is to use a SIM card from a different network on your phone.

If your SIM works on another phone, your phone’s SIM port or tray is damaged. Fix the SIM port before trying to use the SIM again.

Wrapping Up

If you follow these steps carefully, your Tracfone network should be restored to its original state.

Make sure to reboot your phone before trying other steps in this article.

However, if you’ve tried these steps and none of them fixes the problem, contact the Tracfone customer service.

You may also like to see how to troubleshoot SafeLink Hotspot and Voxi SIM activation problems.