What Does the “This Number Is Disconnected” Message Mean?

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Find out what this message means and what to do

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: September 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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What It Means

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What To Do

When you make a call or send a text message that cannot be completed, you will generally receive an intercept message informing you that the number has been disconnected or is no longer in service. What does this mean? What can you do about it? This wikiHow article answers all your questions.

What Does "This Number is no Longer in Service" Mean?

This message generally means the number you have dialed is wrong, invalid, or has been disconnected. It could also mean the recipient's phone service has been temporarily interrupted, or they are using an app that makes it look like they are calling from a number that is not theirs.

Section 1 of 2:

What "No Longer in Service" Means

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The number has been disconnected. It could be that the recipient you are trying to reach has changed their number or disconnected their phone service. Generally, when you hear "This number is no longer in service," it is no longer assigned to somebody.
- The exact wording of the message may vary depending on which telephone carrier you are using. The most common message is, "We're sorry; you have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your call again."^{[1]
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It could also mean that the phone service of the recipient you are trying to call has been temporarily interrupted. Maybe they didn't pay their phone bill, and their service was disconnected. It could also be the phone line is temporarily down due to weather or maintenance.^{[2]
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Most often, when you hear the message "This number is no longer in service," it usually means you dialed the number wrong. You may have entered a wrong digit or the wrong area code. You may have saved the contact on your device incorrectly.
If you are calling a toll-free number, the number may be set up only to accept calls from specific area codes. If you are not in the area, your call may not be allowed to go through.
Sometimes scammers and spammers will use spoofing technology to conceal their actual phone number. When they call, your caller ID will display a number that is not theirs. Then, when you call the number back, you hear an error message informing you that the message is not in service.
In some cases, if the person you are calling doesn't want to be contacted (or doesn't want you to contact them), they may use an app or fake the message themselves to make you think the number you are calling is no longer valid.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 2:

What To Do

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Make sure you are entering the correct area code. Try dialing the number with a "1" (or correct international country code) in the number. Try looking up their number online or in a phone book to make sure you have the correct number. If the number belongs to a contact, make sure the number is saved to your device correctly.
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Contact the person through another means. If you see them in person, ask them to clarify their phone number. You can also try contacting them through email, social media, or a direct messaging app.
- You cannot text a number that is no longer in service or disconnected.
The number may have been temporarily disconnected. Maybe they need to pay their bill, or their service is down due to weather or maintenance.
If you know the phone carrier of the person you are trying to contact, you could contact their phone carrier to find out whether the number is still active. However, they may be unable to tell you this information due to privacy concerns. At the very least, you can find out if there is an outage or if the phone service is temporarily down.
If you are experiencing problems with your cellular connection, restarting your device may fix connection issues and any bugs in your device software. Power your smartphone off and then power it back on.
Another way you may be able to fix any connection issues is to remove the SIM card and reinsert it. To do so, power off your smartphone and use a paper