↑ why the Android device does not see the SIM card
Conventionally, all the causes of this error can be divided into two types: software and hardware. In the first case, system problems are to blame, in the second, mechanical malfunctions of the SIM card itself or the slot for it.
First we must check everything related to the system and if this does not bring the desired result, move on to hardware faults.
Why doesn’t my Android phone see the SIM card?
The reasons why the phone does not see the SIM card are related to the damage to the IMEI number.
NVRAM is damaged (Incorrect IMEI). This situation occurs quite often on smartphones and you can check it as follows:
- Turn on Wi-Fi and check for available networks to connect to;
- If the first network that appears in the list of available connections is “NVRAM WARNING: Err = 0x10” or something similar, then the NVRAM is damaged
. - We dial the combination *#06# on the call keypad and see empty fields under the name IMEI 1 and IMEI 2;
What is IMEI? This is a special identifier for your phone, without which you will not be able to make calls or send messages. It is located in NVRAM.
The reasons are as follows:
- Incomplete or interrupted firmware process;
- Memory re-partitioning;
- Formatting the gadget via SP Flash Tool;
- Using the wrong version of SP Flash Tool.
Why the phone does not see the SIM card, and what to do about it.
Greetings to all visitors!
In general, I don’t really like “digging” with phones, but today’s post will touch on a very popular and “hackneyed” question — about why sometimes the phone does not see the SIM card (I think that almost everyone has encountered this .).
I would like to note right away that in more than half of the cases you can quickly restore the phone’s operation on your own (without going to a service center or telecom operator). We only need a small piece of eraser (school eraser), cotton swabs and a little alcohol 👌.
Important Note
: if your phone is under warranty, keep in mind that some of the steps below may lead to its disappearance (everything you do based on the advice below is at your own peril and risk!)
.
Now let’s move on to the reasons, and what and in what order should be checked (and done). By the way, the tips are universal and are suitable for phones of different brands: SAMSUNG, XIAOMI, DIGMA, HONOR, HUAWEI, etc.
*
👉 Option 1: airplane mode, settings failure
And so, you noticed that the phone displayed an error: “No SIM card”
(this also includes “No signal / No network detected”
or something like that).
First, pay attention to where you are
(is there a signal in this place, do other people’s phones work?). The fact is that on some phones, due to “crooked” Chinese firmware (and poor quality translation), the error with no access to the network is marked as “SIM card invisibility”.
In addition, check whether you have “airplane mode” turned on (this thing turns off mobile communications, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). It is also recommended to restart your smartphone!
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👉 Option 2: SIM card slot is disabled
More often, this problem occurs when two SIM cards are connected to the smartphone at once (one of them may simply be turned off in the phone settings).
In Android 9 — this settings is located in the “Wireless networks” section
: Please note that the phone sees the operator, the mobile number and the SIM slot are turned on! 👇
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👉 Option 3: “acidification” of contacts (film formation)
Next, I would advise you to turn off the phone and carefully remove the SIM card from the phone slot (important: try not to touch the contacts on the SIM card with your fingers).
Afterwards, try wiping the contacts with a regular eraser — it allows you to remove all the “oxides” and film that may have formed there (especially if you haven’t removed the SIM card from the slot for several years (and even more so , if the phone was used in wet areas: bath, sauna, etc.)
).
Then, it is advisable to wipe the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
Try connecting the dry, cleaned SIM card to the phone again and test its operation.
*
👉 Option 4: has the SIM card become unusable
If your phone has been dropped into water, it often works in dusty rooms, or fur has been exposed. impacts, vibration (etc.) — I highly recommend trying to install the SIM card in another device (and test it). It is possible that it simply fell into disrepair.
For reference!
A SIM card is not just a piece of plastic (as many people think)! It contains its own processor, memory, encryption module, etc.
This allows it, for example, to find the nearest transmission substation, store part of your numbers, operator service information, etc.
I.e. accidentally damaging it is easy.
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👉 Option 5: play in the bracket holding the SIM card
Each phone has its own SIM card installation mechanism. In those devices where you can “get” to the fastening bracket (which presses the card on top, see photo below 👇) — pay attention to whether it has “been blown apart” and whether there is any play between the card and this bracket.
Desirable
If they are visible, wipe the contacts (under this bracket) with a cotton swab (soaked in alcohol), and place a small piece of paper between the SIM card and this bracket. This will allow you to press the SIM card more tightly and improve contact.
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👉 Option 6: installing the SIM card on the wrong side (wrong cropping when trying to make a Nano standard from a Micro)
Another “hackneyed” and popular problem is simple inattention. Some people simply don’t pay attention to the control “corner” (👇) and insert the SIM card into the slot with the wrong side!
Moreover, this problem often “pops up” when you try to cut a card yourself: when you try to make “Nano” from a larger format (“Standard” or “Micro”).
Very often, when cutting, the scissors “move” 0.5 mm to the side and the SIM card is damaged.
In this case
All you have to do is go to any mobile phone store of your operator and get a new version of the SIM card, fortunately it’s free! (the new card format is quite easy to “break” to fit any standard)
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👉 Option 7: incorrect updates, firmware, virus infections, etc.
If you just updated your phone (or installed a new application with some “strange” advertising)
and this “misfortune” happened — most likely the phone can only be “fixed” with a full system reset (HARD RESET).
After the reset, all settings and presets will be returned to the factory settings, but all data from its memory (contacts, photos, etc.) will be deleted!
Therefore
, first I recommend making backup
(backup copy) of everything you need, and then perform a reset
. How to do all this — see my previous notes, links below.
👉 Help!
1) Like
reset Android settings
to factory settings [Hard Reset] (i.e. delete all data from the phone, tablet)
2) Like
make a backup of contacts and files
(photos, videos, etc.) on Android. Backup just in case 👌
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👉 Option 8: “presets” from the telecom operator
Some telephone sets are sold on special basis. promotions (with certain presets and additional agreements!). They can often have a strict “link” to a specific operator (and this may apply not only to Russian operators).
Check whether your device is licensed to operate in the country where you want to use communications, and what about the service. its use. (this mainly applies to those users who ordered phones themselves from foreign online stores or purchased the device with promotions and discounts of 50% or more).
*
If you solved the question in some other way — let me know
in the comments (mercy in advance!).
All the best!
👋
↑ incompatibility of SIM card and phone
For example, you bought a super modern flagship smartphone and inserted a SIM card into it, which you have been using for a very long time. There is a high probability that the device simply will not be able to read such a SIM card. In this case, we simply go to the nearest office of our operator and change the SIM card to a new one (the number will remain the same).
↑ problem with the contacts of the slot and SIM card
If you accidentally wet your smartphone or it stayed in a dusty room for a long time, then perhaps the contacts of the SIM slot and the SIM card itself are simply dirty or oxidized. To fix this, just soak a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe the contacts here and there.
Is airplane mode on?)
Any Android smartphone allows users to activate airplane mode. When you enable this feature, mobile communications, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth stop working.
The disadvantage of airplane mode is that it can be turned on accidentally, since the button intended for this is located right in the curtain. Check if this mode is activated.
You can also go to settings, in the “Wireless networks” section, select “Additional functions” and disable “Airplane mode”.
Sometimes after this you need to remove and reinsert the SIM card so that the phone can see it.
SIM card slot is disabled in settings
Often the card does not work due to incorrect parameters for connecting to the mobile network, or perhaps its slot is simply turned off. This is especially true for devices with two SIM cards, where connection settings change at the discretion of the user.
To check if this is true and correct errors:
- Go to your phone settings via the desktop or notification shade.
- Select the “SIM cards and mobile networks” subsection.
- See if the operators of both SIM cards are displayed and select the one with which you are having problems.
- Make sure the switch is in operating mode.
- If the card is turned on, click “Mobile networks” and see if auto network selection is turned on.
In addition, in the “SIM cards and mobile networks” section, check which settings are set by default. For example, if the Internet is configured on one SIM card, then it simply will not work on the other.
Use esim
A recent technology, eSIM, is a virtual SIM card that operates using a small chip embedded inside the smartphone. In many countries, users can choose mobile operators and communication tariffs directly in the settings of their device, without visiting communication stores. This eliminates problems associated with physical damage to the card.
eSIM appeared in Xiaomi smartphones with the MIUI 10 update. The developers added a special application that uses “dollar traffic”, which is based on virtual eSIM technology. When the application is running, the smartphone is assigned a virtual number.
At the beginning of 2020, Xiaomi devices support eSIM only in China. Among other things, this function does not work if the phone has two SIM cards.
If we talk about Russia, at the moment only Tele2 has offered its subscribers to use such a service. To do this, clients should contact one of the five Moscow communication stores with a request to switch to an electronic SIM card while maintaining their number.
Once the application is approved, their plastic card will no longer work. If a user wants to switch to a virtual SIM card, but he is not a Tele2 client, then he must first purchase a regular card.
The remaining major operators — MTS, Megafon and Beeline — did not approve the introduction of eSIM. In their opinion, this technology will lead to increased competition (including with smartphone manufacturers) and a reduction in the revenue of the operators themselves.
Mechanical damage to the card
A SIM card is just a small piece of plastic with a metal chip. With prolonged use, it may become damaged and its contacts may oxidize.
Try cleaning the chip with a soft eraser or a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Both of these remedies have the same effect. Darkened contacts should be thoroughly rubbed with an eraser, and when using alcohol, a cotton swab should be applied for a couple of minutes, then wipe the chip.
After the cleaning procedure, insert the SIM card and check its functionality. If the card is very old, scratched or cracked, contact your operator’s service center. You will be given a new SIM card to which your old number will be attached.
Software fault
Let’s take a closer look at specific errors for Android devices and iOS devices.
Reboot your smartphone
If you have moved the SIM card and realized that it is working, and the problem is in your smartphone, reboot the device.
In the vast majority of cases, this helps with any failures, including the invisibility of the SIM card. At the same time, pull out and put the card back in place. If the phone does not detect it, then try using the second slot.
Reinstalling the SIM card
The most common cause of a SIM card malfunction is itself, so first of all you need to determine what exactly is not working. Transfer the card to any other working phone to check if it will work on that device. If it turns out that the problem is with the card, also contact your operator.
Before going to the communication store, take your passport with you; you will need it if it turns out that your SIM card still needs to be replaced.
Common causes
There are many reasons why a smartphone stops seeing a SIM card. Problems can be related to both the phone and the SIM card itself. In addition, the reason is often hidden in incorrectly configured device settings.
Factory reset
Sometimes, due to any manipulations on the smartphone, a system failure could occur related to the correct operation of the modem. In this case, the entire functionality of the device in terms of communication may be disrupted, and you should reset the settings to factory settings.
To reset, you need to go to settings, in the “System and device” section, click “Advanced settings” and find the “Reset settings” subsection, where you need to select “All files on the phone”.
Resetting will clear all user data, so back up important files first.
Ways to solve the problem
You can solve the problem with an invisible SIM card in very simple and obvious ways, but some of them are not the most common methods.
Removed imei serial number
Each smartphone has a unique IMEI number, by which it is uniquely identified. There are cases when, after some user action (firmware update, system update, resetting the smartphone to factory settings), this number is deleted from a special section of the smartphone’s memory, which makes it impossible to identify the inserted SIM card.
To return the device to a working state, you need to re-register the IMEI in the phone. There are plenty of instructions on how to do this on the Internet. The process itself is quite complicated for the average user, so if you have the slightest doubt in your own abilities, it is better to contact qualified service center specialists.
Installing the latest update
Sometimes such a problem is due to the fact that the user has not updated the smartphone for too long. New firmware versions correct various errors and bugs that gradually accumulate on the smartphone due to the obsolescence of the operating system. Such errors can make it difficult to connect your smartphone to the SIM card.
For example, you can install the current version of MIUI firmware by selecting the “About phone” — “System update” section in the settings.
↑ conclusion
If you still have any questions in the format “Why doesn’t the Android device see the SIM card,” then write to us in the comments below, and we will definitely help you!
