Why does a new phone show Emergency calls only during activation?
Answer
Emergency calls only on a new phone usually means the SIM or eSIM is not provisioned yet, is seated incorrectly, or the carrier activation is incomplete. Confirm activation with the carrier, reseat or redownload the SIM profile, then toggle Airplane mode.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Do not share account PINs or one-time codes with unexpected callers claiming they can activate the phone.
- A factory reset will not finish carrier provisioning by itself and can erase setup progress.
Follow these steps
Confirm the line is active
Sign in to the official carrier account or check the activation email/order and confirm the phone number shows as active on this device's IMEI or SIM.
You should see: The carrier shows the line as active, or clearly says activation is still pending.
Reseat or refresh the SIM
For a physical SIM, power off, reseat the card firmly, and power on. For eSIM, reopen the carrier's install plan or download cellular plan flow over Wi-Fi.
You should see: The phone detects a SIM or eSIM profile and begins searching for service.
Reload the network
Turn Airplane mode on for 30 seconds, turn it off, then restart the phone and wait a few minutes for the carrier name to appear.
You should see: Emergency calls only clears and normal signal returns.
Update carrier settings
Install any carrier settings or system update offered, and if the carrier provides a network reset option in Settings, use that before visiting a store.
You should see: The phone attaches to the network or a clearer activation error appears.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Emergency calls only in the status bar, missing carrier name, no signal bars after setup, or an activation still processing message from the carrier.
Before you change anything: Have the account PIN or order details from the carrier ready. Know whether the phone uses a physical SIM or eSIM. Stay on Wi-Fi so you can reach carrier activation pages. Do not wipe the new phone as a first step.