How to fix Galaxy Note8 that has “Network not available, but please try again later” error

Today’s article provides troubleshooting steps if your #GalaxyNote8 encounters the “Network not available, but please try again later” error. This error was first reported to us last year but we can’t determine if there are other users experiencing it. After getting a confirmation that there’s a growing number of Note8 users experiencing the trouble, we’ve decided to come up with a dedicated article to address the issue.

Fix #1: Check signal strength

“Network not available, but please try again later” error is one of the generic errors that a Galaxy Note8 will show if it encounters weak or no cellular signal at all. Some users reported this error on other non-Note models as well and most of the time, they’re either in a poorly covered location, or the signal bar indicator on their device is showing inconsistent signal strength.

So, for this reason, we suggest that you check your Note8’s signal indicator on the status bar to see if this is the case. In most situations, this error is not persistent and goes away once the network connection has been re-established. If this error only occurs in one particular area, it’s probably due to poor signal coverage so all you have to do is to simply ignore until you can move on to an area with better coverage.

If it appears to persists only, say, while you’re at home, you’re out of luck. That can mean your room or home is located in an area with inconsistent network coverage. To improve the situation, talk to your carrier on how to go about it. Some carriers can provide signal boosters for a fee so if you can afford that, make sure to get one.

Fix #2: Perform a soft reset

Soft reset is just another way to call restart process by removing the battery. In devices with non-removable battery packs, you can do its equivalent by doing a combination of button presses. To do this on your Note8, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons for 12 seconds.
2. Use the Volume down button to scroll to the Power Down option.
3. Press the Home key to select. Note: Wait for the device to power down completely.

Fix #3: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off

If the error only appears while you’re in one particular area, you should consider turning on Airplane Mode. This mode disables all networking functions of your device in one go so if the error is only triggered by the absence of cellular connection, it shouldn’t pop up. Enabling Airplane Mode will also help to conserve battery because it will put a stop to your system’s constant attempt to find a network to connect to. While using Airplane Mode will not fix the issue permanently, it can prevent your device from battery drain issue and showing this annoying network message.

Fix #4: Change network mode manually

In some instances, “Network not available, but please try again later” error may be caused by an incorrect network set for your device. For example, if your carrier’s 2G network used for sending and receiving SMS and voice calls is down and your phone is set to automatically connect to any available network mode, the system may not be able to do it properly. To see if that’s the situation, you can manually pick a cellular network. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap Connections.
3. Tap Mobile networks.
4. Tap Network operators.
5. Tap Search networks.
6. Wait for the device to search for networks. This may take a few minutes.
7. Pick a network different from the one you’re using. Say you’re an AT&T subscriber, try choosing T-Mobile.
8. Your device should return an error saying that it’s unable to register to a network, or somewhere along that line.
9. Go back to the previous section and tap Network mode.
10. Cycle through each of the available options. Be sure to let your phone run for a few minutes to see if the error returns.

Fix #5: Reinsert the SIM card

A lot of network issues are sometimes fixed by doing a simple step — removing and reinserting the SIM card. By removing, then inserting the SIM card again, you’re basically disconnecting and re-establishing a connection to your carrier’s network. Sometimes, network bugs are terminated this way. So, if you haven’t tried this solution before, be sure not to skip it.

Before you remove the SIM card, be sure to turn your Note5 off to prevent causing problems.

Fix #6: Reset Network settings

Another applicable troubleshooting step in this situation is resetting of your Note8’s network settings. This solution aims to reset wifi, mobile data, and bluetooth settings on the device. By doing so, you’re forcing your Note8 to reconfigure wifi, mobile data, VPN, and Bluetooth connections. If you haven’t tried this one before, check out the steps below:

1. Open Settings app.
2. Tap General management.
3. Tap Reset.
4. Tap Reset Network Settings.
5. Tap RESET SETTINGS button.

Fix #7: Install Android updates

Some issues can only be fixed by installing coding modifications. To see if “Network not available, but please try again later” error is caused by carrier firmware issue, make sure to check for any available software update at this time. To do that, just go under Settings > Software Update.

Fix #8: Replace the SIM

Replacing your Note8’s SIM card may be necessary if all the suggestions above won’t work up to this point. Sometimes, refreshing your account configuration on your carrier’s end can fix or clear up unexplained network glitches. Try to go to your carrier and ask for a new SIM.

Fix #9: Boot to safe mode

Bad third party apps can sometimes interfere with the operating system. To check if one of your installed apps is to blame, restart your device to safe mode and observe the device. While in safe mode, no third party apps will be allowed to run so if “Network not available, but please try again later” error won’t show, you should start uninstalling apps until the problem is gone.

To restart your Note8 to safe mode:

1. Turn the device off.
2. Press and hold the Power key past the model name screen.
3. When “SAMSUNG” appears on the screen, release the Power key.
4. Immediately after releasing the Power key, press and hold the Volume down key.
5. Continue to hold the Volume down key until the device finishes restarting.
6. Safe mode will display in the bottom left corner of the screen.
7. Release the Volume down key when you see Safe Mode.

Fix #10: Factory reset

Should everything in this post won’t help at all, you can be sure the reason for the problem is either due to an operating system glitch, or a network issue. As your last resort before calling your carrier, you should make sure that you wipe the phone and return all settings to their defaults. We know that “Network not available, but please try again later” error is not supposed to show in a factory state firmware. Factory reset should address this error if it’s being caused by a software glitch. If not, then that leaves you with a network problem.

To factory reset your Note8:

1. Turn off the device.
2. Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
3. When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
4. Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
5. Press Power button to select.
6. Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
7. Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
8. When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
9. Press the Power key to restart the device.

Remember, factory reset will wipe your personal data. Be sure to back them up before doing it.

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