Seeing a "No Service" or "Emergency Calls Only" message on your Nothing Phone (2) is a real roadblock. It means your phone can't connect to your carrier's network for calls, texts, or mobile data. The good news is that this is almost always a software or settings issue you can fix yourself.
I'd start with the simplest fix first, which is a force restart. Just press and hold the power button on the right side for about 10 seconds until you feel a vibration and see the Nothing logo appear. This clears out any temporary glitches in the system that might be blocking the cellular radio.
Check Your Basic Connection Settings
After the restart, swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings panel. Make sure the airplane icon for Airplane Mode isn't highlighted. If it is, tap it to turn it off.
While you're there, also check that mobile data is enabled. Look for the icon that usually looks like two arrows pointing opposite directions, or the text "Internet." Tap it to ensure your cellular data connection is active.
It's also worth physically checking your SIM card. The SIM tray is on the bottom edge of the Phone (2). Use the ejector tool that came in the box to pop it out. Give the gold contacts on the SIM card a quick wipe with a soft, dry cloth and reseat it firmly.
Reset Your Network Settings
If the basics don't work, the next step is to reset all your network configurations. This is a very effective fix for persistent connection problems on Android phones, including the Nothing Phone (2).
Go to Settings > System > Reset options. Tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. You'll get a warning that this will erase all saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and cellular settings.
Confirm the reset. Your phone will reboot, and you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and re-pair Bluetooth devices, but it often clears up stubborn "No Service" errors by starting fresh.
Manually Select Your Network Operator
Sometimes your phone gets stuck trying to connect to a weak or incorrect tower. You can force it to search for and lock onto your proper carrier. Head to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs.
Tap on your active SIM card, then select Network operators. Turn off the "Choose automatically" toggle. Your phone will search for a moment, then display a list of available networks. Select your carrier's name from the list.
Wait a minute for it to register. If it connects, you can go back and turn "Choose automatically" on again. This manual selection often kicks the connection back into gear.
Verify Your APN Settings
The Access Point Name (APN) is like the address your phone uses to find your carrier's data network. If these settings are wrong or missing, you'll have no mobile data and sometimes no service at all.
In the same Settings > Network & internet > SIMs menu, tap your SIM and then Access Point Names. You should see a list with at least one APN configured, likely with your carrier's name.
If the list is empty, or if the selected APN looks incorrect, you'll need to input the right details. The easiest way is to tap the three-dot menu and select Reset to default. If that doesn't populate it, you'll need to get the exact APN settings from your carrier's website or customer support and enter them manually.
Update Your Phone's Software
Software bugs can definitely cause radio and connectivity issues. Nothing regularly releases updates for Nothing OS that include stability improvements and bug fixes. It's a good idea to check if you're running the latest version.
Go to Settings > System > System update. Tap "Check for update." If an update is available, download and install it. Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and has at least a 50% charge, or better yet, plug it into that 45W USB-C charger.
After the update and reboot, give your phone a minute to re-establish its network connection. Updates have resolved service problems for many users.
Use the Phone Information Menu
Android has a hidden diagnostic menu that lets you see the status of your radio and even toggle it off and on. Open your Phone app and dial *#*#4636#*#*.
This will open the "Testing" menu. Tap on Phone information. You'll see a lot of technical data. Scroll down and look for a dropdown menu that says "Set preferred network type." Make sure it's set to a standard option like "NR/LTE/WCDMA/GSM."
Further down, you'll see buttons for "Turn off radio" and "Turn on radio." Tap "Turn off radio," wait a few seconds, then tap "Turn on radio." This is a more forceful refresh of your cellular connection than just toggling Airplane Mode.
Check for App Interference
If you use a VPN app for privacy or work, try disabling it temporarily. VPNs route all your traffic through a separate server, and sometimes that tunnel can collapse, taking your entire network connection with it.
Open the VPN app you use and disconnect from it. You can also go to Settings > Network & internet > VPN to see if any VPN profiles are active and disconnect them from there. See if your service returns after the VPN is off.
Also, consider if you recently installed any new apps, especially ones that claim to boost signal or manage connections. Try booting your Phone (2) into Safe Mode. Hold the power button, then tap and hold the "Power off" icon on-screen until you see the Safe Mode prompt.
In Safe Mode, third-party apps are disabled. If you have full service in Safe Mode, a recently downloaded app is likely the culprit. You'll need to uninstall apps one by one to find the offender.
Contact Your Carrier
If you've tried everything on the phone itself, the issue might be on your carrier's end. There could be a local tower outage, maintenance work, or a problem with your account.
Before you call, try your SIM card in another phone if you have one available. If the other phone also shows no service, you know the problem is with the SIM or the carrier. If the other phone works fine, it points back to your Nothing Phone (2).
Call your carrier's support line. They can check for outages, refresh your connection on their network, and verify your account is in good standing. If your SIM card is old or damaged, they can also issue a replacement, which surprisingly fixes a lot of "No Service" problems.