Is your Galaxy S26 stuck on “emergency calls only”? There may be a solution

The features of a modern smartphone can make you forget that it is intended for phone calls, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. Samsung is great for adding features you might not have known existed, but you’ll most likely still need the device to act as a phone. If your device says “Emergency calls only”, this may be a noticeable problem. Fortunately, we can show you several solutions.

If your phone can only make emergency calls, it could be due to low signal strength or a problem with your SIM card. A simple reboot may resolve the issue; However, there are also ways to check your device for physical damage. There are also a number of options you can try in the device’s Settings menu that may resolve your issue, including checking network settings or resetting certain items.

Since it may be a signal issue, you can quickly try putting your device in airplane mode for 10 seconds and then turning it off. Simply swipe to the top right of your screen, tap the Airplane mode icon, wait, then tap it again. It’s also a good idea to check for a software update. Open Settings, scroll to Software Update and tap Software Update. Select Check for new updates, then tap Download and install if one is available. We can also tell you when the device will stop receiving updates.

According to Samsung’s official support documents, an Emergency Calls Only message means your device is having problems connecting to a carrier network. Start by checking the phone itself – inspect the device for any physical damage, such as cracks or scratches. Check for dead pixels to see if the screen is damaged, and check your charging port for any noticeable issues. If the problem is physical, contact your mobile provider or Samsung Support Center. Remember, there are benefits to buying a Galaxy phone directly from Samsung.

You can also open your SIM tray at the bottom of your device with an ejector tool to check the Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) for water damage. The LDI is inside the SIM card port. Make sure to turn off the device first. If the device has been exposed to water, the LDI will be solid red, purple, or pink. You can also try using the SIM card on another device. Please keep in mind that there are some differences between European and American S26 devices.

While the SIM card tray is removed, you can also ensure that the card itself is properly seated in the tray by aligning it with the cutout in the tray. If you’re using an eSIM, open the Settings app, select Connections, then choose SIM Card Manager and make sure it sees your eSIM. Finally, just try pressing the Back button on your device to see if you are stuck on the emergency call screen.

While this may be a physical problem, there are also software solutions you can try. First, check your mobile network settings. Open the Settings app, select Connections, then check Mobile Networks to make sure you have cellular access. Under Mobile Networks, you can also tap Hotspot Names to see if you have a connection to your cellular network. Tap Hotspot Names under the Mobile Networks option to see if it looks correct. There is also an option to tap the three vertical dots in the right corner and select Reset to Default. In the mobile networks settings menu, you can also tap Network operators and make sure automatic selection is enabled.

One last thing to check in the mobile networks settings is the network mode. Tap Network mode under Mobile networks settings and make sure 5G/LTE/3G/2G (Auto connect) is selected. You can also reset your network settings, but be aware that this also resets your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth information.

Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Choose General Management.

3. Select Reset.

4. Tap Reset mobile network settings. You may need to choose which network if you have multiple SIM/eSIM cards.

5. Tap Reset Settings. You may need to enter your password or PIN.

6. Select Reset.

7. Now choose Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings.

8. Select Reset Settings.

Finally, you can also open Settings, choose General management, select Reset, and then tap Reset all settings. Tap Reset Settings, then tap Reset to confirm. This erases all settings on your device, so consider other options first.