How do I fix an AT&T cordless phone that says No Line?
Answer
No Line usually means the base station is not detecting a working landline connection. Checking the phone cord, wall jack, and power, then restarting the base, restores the line in many cases.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Unplug power before opening battery compartments on the base or handset if the manual requires it, and avoid forcing battery removal on a powered base.
- Do not share account PINs or one-time codes with unexpected callers claiming they can restore your phone line.
Follow these steps
Confirm the base has power
Check that the AT&T base is plugged into a working wall outlet and that its power light is on. Try a different outlet if the base looks dark.
You should see: The base shows normal power and can communicate with the handset.
Reseat the telephone cord
Unplug the phone cord from both the base LINE jack and the wall jack, then plug it firmly back into both ends. Use the LINE jack, not a data or headset jack.
You should see: The No Line message clears, or the handset begins searching for dial tone again.
Test the wall jack for dial tone
If you have another corded phone, plug it into the same wall jack and listen for dial tone. If there is no dial tone on that phone either, the problem is the home phone service or jack, not only the AT&T handset.
You should see: You know whether the wall jack has a live line or the issue is limited to the cordless base.
Restart the base station
Unplug the base power adapter for about 30 seconds, keep the phone cord connected if it was already reseated, then plug power back in and wait for the base to finish starting.
You should see: The handset reconnects to the base and No Line is replaced by a normal ready state.
Contact AT&T home phone support if dial tone is still missing
If no phone gets dial tone on that jack, contact AT&T through its official home phone support channel to report a line outage or jack problem.
You should see: AT&T confirms a line issue or schedules repair for the home phone service.
Not sure this is the right page? Check here
0 of 6 checked
Extra tips
What to look for: A No Line message on the handset display, missing dial tone, and whether the base has power lights on.
Before you change anything: Confirm this is a home cordless base plugged into a phone jack, not a mobile cell phone. Note whether other phones on the same line also have no dial tone. Have the phone cord and wall jack accessible before unplugging anything. Do not remove batteries from a plugged-in base unless the manual says it is safe for a reset.