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

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Troubleshoot what causes this phone error with our help guide

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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Meaning

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Fixes

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How to Tell if Your Number is Blocked

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If Your Phone Gives an Error

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Similar Phone Error Messages

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Warnings

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

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1
They don’t have any service. 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]
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- 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
They have their phone turned off. 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.”
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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.
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There’s a temporary network issue. 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:
  - Verizon
  - AT&T
  - T-Mobile
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]
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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.

Section 2 of 5:

Fixes for “The Wireless Customer is Not Available”

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Wait and try calling again later. 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.
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Use a different form of contact to reach the person. 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.

Section 3 of 5:

Am I blocked if I get this error?

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Your number may be blocked if your calls repeatedly fail to connect. 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]
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- 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

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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.^{[4]
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Expert Source

James Bell
Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
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.^{[5]
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Expert Source

James Bell
Phone Repair Specialist

Expert Interview}
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.
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Contact your service provider. 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.^{[6]
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- If your provider determines there’s an issue with your phone, they may offer repair or replacement services.

Section 5 of 5:

Similar Phone Error Messages

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Familiarize yourself with these other errors when you make calls. 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.
- “Your call cannot be completed as dialed”
- “This number is no longer in service”
- “The number you have dialed has calling restrictions”
- “All circuits are busy”
- “Last line no longer available”
- “Phone not registered on network”

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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.

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