iPhone “No Service” or “Searching…”: when it isn't the carrier
New SIM, network reset, a call to the carrier: nothing helps. Time to look at the logic board.
The baseband is the iPhone's modem: a chip, its memory, its power supply and a series of amplifiers, all on the logic board. A drop, a liquid or an interrupted update can cut the communication between the processor and this radio section.
The symptoms
- “No Service” or “Searching…” permanently, even with a SIM that works elsewhere.
- Under Settings › General › About, the “IMEI” or “Modem Firmware” field is empty.
- Wi-Fi works, but no mobile network, or only 2G.
- The phone gets hot and drains fast while searching for the network.
What we check first
The simple things: SIM reader, antenna flex, iOS update. Then the logic board under the microscope: baseband chip solder joints cracked by a knock, modem power supply shorted after a liquid, corrupted modem memory.
The repair
Redoing the chip's solder joints (“reball”), replacing the baseband power supply or an amplifier: micro-soldering, at the fixed logic-board price, 149 €, announced after diagnosis. If the baseband chip itself is destroyed, the repair isn't always possible on recent models; we tell you, and the diagnosis isn't charged.
A tip before you come: note whether the problem appeared after a drop, a liquid or an update. It narrows things down a lot.
Also worth reading
iPhone that won't charge: port, or charging chip?
An iPhone that only charges with certain cables, or not at all, has either a worn port or a damaged charging chip (Tristar/Hydra). How we tell the difference.
iPhone in a boot loop or stuck on the apple: software or logic board?
An iPhone stuck on the Apple logo may come from a failed update, a dead battery or a logic-board fault. The order in which we look, without losing your data.
“Face ID is not available” after a drop: what happened, and what can be repaired
Face ID that disappears after a drop or a botched screen replacement: dot projector, flex cable, or logic board. What the workshop can do, and what nobody can do.