"Finish setting up mobile service" How do you remove this persistent notification?

[maxim642]

I purchased the iPhone 14 Pro Max and went through the standard set-up process, restoring from iCloud.

The phone is now fully restored, it seems. However, in settings, I have a persistent notification badge informing me to "finish setting up mobile service".

When I click it, I'm presented with 2 options: "Transfer From Nearby iPhone" or "Use QR Code".

My carrier (Vodafone - UK) doesn't support e-sim. My old phone has been factory restored. Neither of the above options are relevant to me.

How do I remove this irritating notification?

 

[lat2801]

It's going to keep bugging you until you do. If you say your carrier doesn't support e-sim, you're not going to be making any phone calls unless it's wifi calling.

 

[maxim642]

That's not correct. I'm able to make calls just fine. I'm in the UK, the iPhones here still come with sim trays. The phone is working perfectly fine (I'm connected to my network, 5G etc.). It's just irritating to see the notification in the settings app. Seems like a bug, so hopefully Apple will fix it soon enough.

 

[lat2801]

That's not correct. I'm able to make calls just fine. I'm in the UK, the iPhones here still come with sim trays. The phone is working perfectly fine (I'm connected to my network, 5G etc.). It's just irritating to see the notification in the settings app. Seems like a bug, so hopefully Apple will fix it soon enough.

Oh yeah, i forgot about that.

 

[Spid]

I have the same notification (I’m on Sky Mobile). I’m guessing it’s because I’m using Beta iOS and hope it’ll be sorted out at some point soon.

 

[0128672]

Does the message go away if you click on one of those options and then cancel it? That's what I've done with setup reminders for Wallet and Siri.

 

[Spid]

Does the message go away if you click on one of those options and then cancel it? That's what I've done with setup reminders for Wallet and Siri.

Nope. Still there if you try and then cancel all three methods of adding an eSIM

 

[matthijst]

Same here, annoying.

 

[Spid]

Is everyone else with this issue in the Uk and using beta iOS builds

 

[matthijst]

Holland, beta build.

 

[lanceanz]

Same here, annoying.

I didn't think I was in the UK but not so sure at the moment. So ... In New Zealand I have the same issue, running iOS 16.1 beta (20B5045d) on iPhone 14 Pro Max. I swapped my Vodafone NZ SIM from my iPhone XS Max. There's no apparent impact to my mobile services. I've used the option Settings > Mobile > (VODA NZ section) Mobile Data Network > Reset Settings. No change.

 

[joaobarreiros]

The same issue in Portugal. Hope it gets fixed soon. It’s pretty annoying

 

[lanceanz]

No change after updating to iOS 16.1 developer beta 2 (20B5050f). The issue isn't mentioned in the release notes.

Environment: iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB on Vodafone NZ, using SIM swapped from iPhone XS Max.

 

[ffcphone]

On iOS 16.1 developer beta 2 I think it is (iOS 16.1 (20B5050f)) and can confirm the annoying prompt still here and can’t be dismissed.

Annoying the f*ck out of me too.

Oh and if you had horrendous GPS issues download tonight’s update. Hoping it’s all sorted now.

UK based. 14 Pro Max 1TB. Vodafone UK. Purchased direct from Apple

 

[Spid]

I’ve reported this in the Feedback app, hopefully others have done the same.

 

[Selcher]

Same issue on iPhone 14 Pro Max in Canada on the Bell network. Nothing will remove the notification.

 

[Selcher]

Just updated to the latest software released today and the “Finish Setting Up Cellular” notification is still present and no way to clear it. Annoying for those with a physical SIM card.

 

[Akor]

Very annoying. 14 PM, Beta 2

 

[macachia]

Same problem. Cell capabilities work, service provider has no esim but yet I’m being requested one

 

[bukalemun]

I encountered the same error while setting up my device. Here is how I fixed it:

When I encountered this, I had activated the new phone while my sim card was on my old phone. After I transferred my data from that phone and then put the sim card to the new phone, the error persisted.

I then completely erased the new phone, activated and transferred the data again from the old phone while the sim card was in the new phone. This fixed the issue.

I hope Apple fixes the problem for those that no longer have this means.

 

[macachia]

I encountered the same error while setting up my device. Here is how I fixed it:

When I encountered this, I had activated the new phone while my sim card was on my old phone. After I transferred my data from that phone and then put the sim card to the new phone, the error persisted.

I then completely erased the new phone, and transferred the data again from the old phone while the sim card was in the new phone. This fixed the issue.

I hope Apple fixes the problem for those that no longer have this means.

I thought that might be the problem.

Sadly my old 13 pro max isn't at me anymore so the above isn't really possible.

I sure hope it gets fixed as the 1 badge really annoys me

 

[Noname41]

I encountered the same error while setting up my device. Here is how I fixed it:

When I encountered this, I had activated the new phone while my sim card was on my old phone. After I transferred my data from that phone and then put the sim card to the new phone, the error persisted.

I then completely erased the new phone, and transferred the data again from the old phone while the sim card was in the new phone. This fixed the issue.

I hope Apple fixes the problem for those that no longer have this means.

I did it the other way around, my sim card was in the old phone until the transfer began and when I took my sim card out of the old phone (iPhone 12 Pro), and put it in the new phone (iPhone 14 Pro), it was fine, but when the transfer finished, the badge appeared on the iPhone 12 Pro… and it’s annoying AF. At least it's not on my new phone! I’m also using Beta, although I had to disable Beta while transferring because it wasn’t working otherwise, an issue I had last time I transferred from my XS to iPhone 12 Pro. I reenabled Beta on both phones after the transfer. I also submitted the error on the Feedback app. I hope someone reads those! 😂

 

[bukalemun]

I did it the other way around, my sim card was in the old phone until the transfer began and when I took my sim card out of the old phone (iPhone 12 Pro), and put it in the new phone (iPhone 14 Pro), it was fine, but when the transfer finished, the badge appeared on the iPhone 12 Pro… and it’s annoying AF. At least it's not on my new phone! I’m also using Beta, although I had to disable Beta while transferring because it wasn’t working otherwise, an issue I had last time I transferred from my XS to iPhone 12 Pro. I reenabled Beta on both phones after the transfer. I also submitted the error on the Feedback app. I hope someone reads those! 😂

I think your problem was the same as mine. The problem seems to be in the activation stage. The phone needs to activate with the SIM card in it with this bug for the issue not to happen. The transfer stage does not look relevant. Completely reset the device, activate it with the SIM in it, and then transfer the data. That fixes the issue.

Looking back at my earlier post, it looks like I was not completely clear in the steps. Sorry about that. 😊

 

[macachia]

iOS 6.1 new beta doesn't fix the problem.

quite weird as I always activated and restored from iCloud backup without a SIM cards inserted

 

[Spid]

Ok, so there’s a simple workaround for this one (until it gets fixed)

Install an eSIM app called “Dent”, this gives you a small amount of esim data for free. Create an account, and let it set up the esim (choose “primary” for all options to make sure you’re still using your physical sim for everything).

Once set up, you’ll see the prompt in settings has gone.

Now, use Settings->Mobile Data and tap on the Seconday sim and turn it off.

You’re now left with your physical sim being the only active one and you’re not paying anything for your esim.

Hope this helps.