What “The Wireless Customer is Not Available” Means & How to Fix It

PDF download Download Article
Troubleshoot what causes this phone error with our help guide
PDF download Download Article

If you call someone and keep hearing a “this customer is not available” message, then an issue is preventing your call from connecting. While it may be a little concerning if you can’t reach the other person, there’s usually a simple explanation for the error. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what causes the error and how you can reach the other person. We even spoke with phone repair specialist James Bell for additional advice on what to do if you have trouble receiving calls on your phone.

Meaning of “The Wireless Customer is Not Available”

If you hear an automated message saying the person is not available, they may have weak service or have their phone turned off. If you repeatedly hear the message, the person may have blocked your number or they have an issue with their mobile provider.

Section 1 of 5:

”The Wireless Customer is Not Available” Meaning

PDF download Download Article
  1. If the person you’re trying to reach is in an area with spotty coverage or if they have no bars, your incoming call may not go through and you’ll hear this error message instead. [1]
    • If the person has wi-fi calling turned on and you can’t get through to them, then it may also mean they have a poor data signal or weak Internet connection.
  2. When someone has their phone turned off or if their battery died, you may hear this message or be redirected to their voicemail.
    • You may also hear this message if the person has their phone set to “Do Not Disturb.”
    Advertisement
  3. While most phones ring and show another call on the line, you may hear the “wireless customer is not available” message if their provider doesn’t offer call waiting or if they have it disabled.
  4. There’s a chance that the person’s carrier is having problems with their mobile coverage, which could lead to calls dropping or not going through. While these issues are usually temporary, they can sometimes last for a few hours.
    • If you know the person’s service provider, check for any service outages on the support page for:
  5. When someone blocks your number, it prevents calls or texts from going through. Instead of ringing or redirecting you to voicemail, you’re usually met with this error message. [2]
  6. If the person you’re trying to reach misses a payment on their phone bill, their provider may cut off the service to their phone. You’ll hear this message because their provider won’t allow phone calls to go through until the outstanding bill has been paid.
    7. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

Fixes for “The Wireless Customer is Not Available”

PDF download Download Article
  1. Most issues are usually resolved once the person you’re contacting goes somewhere with better service or turns their phone back on. Give it a few minutes or hours before contacting them again to see if your call goes through then.
    • Alternatively, send the person a text and ask them to call you as soon as they see it.
  2. If you haven’t heard from the person in awhile and you’re starting to get concerned, ask to use someone else’s phone to try and reach them. Otherwise, try using social media or another messaging app to get a hold of them.
    • If you’re really concerned or worried about the person and they live in the area, pop by for a visit to check up on them.
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

Am I blocked if I get this error?

PDF download Download Article
  1. While most issues that cause the “wireless customer is not available” error are temporary, you’ll continue getting the message each time you try calling if your number is blocked . If you want to figure out if the person blocked you, try the following: [3]
    • Send a text to see if it says “delivered” or “read” under the message. If you don’t see anything appear or if the text fails to go through, it’s a good sign you’re blocked.
    • Call from someone else’s phone. If the call goes through on their phone, then your number is most likely blocked.
Section 4 of 5:

What to Do if Your Phone has This Error

PDF download Download Article
  1. Phone repair specialist James Bell says that leaving your phone on all the time doesn’t give it the chance to rest or debug, and it could cause your phone to have no service. Shut off your phone and leave it for a few minutes. Then, turn it back on to see if you’re reconnected.
  2. Bell also states that resynchronizing the SIM card is a quick fix to try at home if you’re still running into issues. All you have to do is eject the SIM card and put it back in, and most times that will solve service issues you run into.
  3. Call forwarding sends incoming calls to another device, so you won’t be able to answer them on your phone. Browse through your system settings for the Call Forwarding option and switch it off to see if that fixes your issue.
  4. If you’re still running into network issues or if people have trouble reaching your phone, take your phone to your service provider and let them know you’re having issues. They can tell if you if there are any issues with your account or if there is a known network problem that’s trying to be resolved. [4]
    • If your provider determines there’s an issue with your phone, they may offer repair or replacement services.
    5. Advertisement
Section 5 of 5:

Similar Phone Error Messages

PDF download Download Article
  1. Different phones and carriers have slight variations in how error messages are worded, and they’re caused by a lot of the same reasons. Use our guides for learning what these error messages mean and the additional ways that you can fix them.

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • If you’re repeatedly having issues and nothing else is working, contact your mobile provider to see if there are any issues occurring on your end.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Check What Android Version You Have
      How to
      See a WiFi Password on Android With or Without a QR Code
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      Install Custom ROMs on Any Android Phone with Our Step-by-Step Guide
      How to
      Change Number of Rings on Android
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      How to
      Block All Incoming Calls on an Android Phone
      How to
      Use MMI and USSD Codes for Android
      How to
      Copy an Entire Text Conversation on Android
      How to
      Use an Android TV Box: Connecting, Setup, & More
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.verizon.com/support/troubleshooter/cant-receive-a-call/
      2. ↑ https://www.verizon.com/support/troubleshooter/cant-receive-a-call/
      3. ↑ https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-know-blocked-number,news-30155.html
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118427

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 5,119 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement