Why doesn’t the phone see the SIM card? 8 ways to solve the problem for all operators

What to do if the problem is in the SIM card

When the smartphone has no visible damage, the problem may be in the SIM itself. Most often, they occur if the owner of the gadget has not used the SIM card for several months: some operators block numbers in such cases. To unblock it, you may have to visit the company’s office and write a statement, as well as pay money for restoration.

What to do if the SIM card stops functioning:

• If the nano card was cropped to turn into a “micro” card unsuccessfully, you should check it in another smartphone. If the assumption is confirmed, you should order a reissue from the operator.
• The SIM card contacts are clogged. In this case, it is recommended to carefully clean them with a regular eraser to remove dust and other contaminants.
• Check with your service provider to see if the number is blocked. This is definitely worth doing after several months of not using this number.
• The SIM must be activated. This happens after purchasing new plastic. To activate, just top up your balance or call a specific number: the procedure depends on the conditions of a particular operator.

Why can’t my xiaomi phone see the SIM card?

The main reasons are:

• Mechanical breakdowns
• Poor contact.
• Broken chip — as a result of bad cutting of the SIM card
• Poor contact of the SIM card in the card reader.
• “Chinese” phone – does not support national mobile cellular operators.

The modem is responsible for the functionality of these phones. You need to find a version of the modem that is suitable specifically for your smartphone; information about this can be found in the settings in the “phone information” item.

To install, you need to have TWRP. This program allows you to completely restore the firmware from a recovery file, removes all “hidden” factory files and ensures full operation of your smartphone in the likeness of a personal computer, which makes the process of loading and “revitalizing” a “dead” phone much faster without launching the program itself.

TWRP

Let’s look at how to install this program

Why doesn’t my Android phone recognize 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 can’t my Samsung phone see the SIM card?

What should you do if the Samsung phone you recently purchased no longer recognizes the SIM card and, as a result, you cannot make calls? What do you need to do with your Samsung phone to make your SIM card from your mobile operator work again? Let’s try to figure it out.

There are main failures due to which Samsung phones cannot see SIM cards:

Hardware

• Oxidation of telephone contact;
• Microcircuit failure;
• Broken or damaged telephone board;

Software failure

The surest way to identify a hardware problem is to insert another (new) SIM card. If the other (new) SIM card is not visible, then the problem is in the phone. Try checking your phone for dirt and water. If everything is clean and the device is otherwise functioning, then this is a hardware failure and it is better to contact a service center.

Why can’t my meizu phone see the SIM card?

China’s 3G Internet is different from our WCDMA/HSPA, for this reason it is not surprising that in China there are no problems at all with the World Wide Web.

Not long ago, the netmonitor program was downloaded — according to its logs — the 3G Internet may freeze at the moment when your mobile phone can change the base station. It can be either free or close. While in one place, your smartphone can register in both one and another station. As a rule, there are 8 cells connected, everything is in motion.

Therefore, one of the reasons why the Meizu phone cannot see SIM cards is that the communication module is broken or damaged.

In most cases, this is due to a malfunction of the hardware (SIM card, slot):

• The phone fell or got wet; Poor contact of the SIM card;
• Chip is damaged;
• Problems with the SIM card and card reader (these problems can arise if the SIM card does not fit tightly enough);
• Moisture gets into the phone;
• It happens that you buy a gadget at a promotion or cheaper than the nominal value and the seller did not tell you that the phone is programmed for a specific cellular network operator (in this case, SIM cards from other communication providers will not be detected by your device, and you will not be able to fully use a smartphone).

As for the software of this smartphone model, it is slightly different from those that we described. Often it is enough to disable unnecessary frequencies in the engineering menu. To do this, dial the following combination on the call screen *#*#3646633#*#*

Go to “BandMode”/”SIM1”. Next, uncheck the following:

• GSM Mode with:
  — “PCS-1900”,
  — “GSM-850”;
• UMTS Mode with:
  — “WCDMA-DSC-1800”,
  — “WCDMA-CLR-850”;

Turn on airplane mode.

Put your phone into airplane mode, wait a few seconds, and turn it off again (airplane mode). This will refresh your device’s connection with your cellular provider and resolve the «SIM card not provided» error.

Open your phone’s notification panel (for Android) or Control Center (for iPhone) and tap the airplane icon.

Clean the SIM card and SIM card ports.

Your phone may not detect and activate your SIM card if there are foreign objects in the SIM card tray, SIM card slot/port, or on the SIM card itself. By foreign materials, we are talking about dirt, grime, dust, etc. Make sure that your SIM card and SIM card port are free of these materials.

Remove the phone’s SIM card tray and clean the SIM card and port(s). Before doing this, we recommend turning off your device.

Use a soft and dry cloth to clean the gold-plated contacts of the SIM card. Do the same for the tray and SIM card slot. However, be as gentle as possible; When cleaning the SIM card slot, do not press too hard to avoid breaking the metal contacts.

Hollow SIM card ports can be deflated using a can of compressed air. Do not blow air into the port with your mouth; Water vapor from your breath can damage the port. Reinsert the SIM card and make sure it is properly inserted into the SIM card tray and properly inserted into the port.

Install carrier settings updates.

If your phone has a carrier settings update, installing it may help resolve the issue. Carrier settings have many functions. When your cellular carrier introduces new features—Wi-Fi calling, for example—they are rolled out to your device through carrier settings updates.

Bug fixes that fix cellular issues are also rolling out to your phone via carrier settings updates. Typically, these updates are installed automatically when you insert a new SIM card into your phone. Sometimes you receive a prompt to install a cellular update.

In some cases, you will have to manually check for updates to your cellular settings. Follow the instructions below to do this.

Note. Installing carrier settings updates requires a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.

Install carrier settings update on iPhone

Go to Settings > General > About and check if there is an option to update your carrier settings. If you don’t find this option on the page, your iPhone has the latest carrier settings.

Go to Settings > About Phone and find the Update Profile button. On some Android devices, you’ll find this option on the system updates page; go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update.

Your phone is likely set to the latest carrier settings if you are unable to update them manually.

Update the Carrier Services app (for Android).

The Android operating system has a special application that handles the cellular handshake between your phone and the operator’s network. This application is called Carrier Services. You may receive a «SIM card not prepared» error message if there is a bug in the app that is preventing your phone from communicating with your cellular provider.

Follow the steps below to update the Carrier Services app on your Android smartphone.

1. Go to Settings and select Apps & Notifications.

1. Next, click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the page and select “Show System.”

1. Click the Update button to install the latest version of the application on your phone.

If the «SIM card not provided» error persists after updating the app, reboot your phone and see if that helps.

imei recovery

Why doesn’t my phone see the SIM card? 8 ways to solve the problem for all operators | 2022

The phone may not see the SIM card after the update. In order to fix this, you need to do the following:

• Reflash the device via a computer;
• Install a patch for communication via TWRP Recovery;
• Perform a factory reset.

Diagnostic instructions

When the user does not know what to do if the phone does not see the SIM card, he will need instructions that allow him to perform the simplest diagnostics to detect the problem with his own hands:

1. Correcting the SIM card. Even a slight displacement in the connector caused by shaking or falling makes it impossible for the gadget to detect the card. This is especially true if a person himself cut it from a larger one, for example, tried to make a micro-Sim.
2. Inspecting the plastic. If dirt is found on the contact side, remove it with a damp technical wipe, taking utmost care.
3. Pay attention to the slot. If the card holder becomes loose, the contact between the smartphone and the card disappears. You can place a piece of paper or slightly bend its part to increase the volume and create a more stable contact.

If the above methods did not help, you should put another SIM card in the slot: if the problem is in the phone, it will not be recognized either. Owners of dual-SIM smartphones just need to install the plastic in another connector and check whether the network will be detected.

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 2022, Xiaomi devices support eSIM only in China. Among other things, this feature 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 stop working. 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.

Many users are faced with a situation where their phones do not see the SIM card. There are several possible reasons for this problem, from card failure to problems in the smartphone itself, and the manufacturer does not matter here: the situation is equally typical for Apple, Samsung, Asus, Xiaomi, Sony and other popular brands.

Invalid imei

After checking it, you realized that it was worn out or did not match. How to recover? For all operating systems:

• open the service menu using the code:
  

  Universal code	*#3646633#	*#*#3646633#*#*
  Samsung	*#*#8255*#*#	*#*#4636*#*#
  HTC	*#*#3424*#*#	*#*#4636*#*#
  Sony	*#*#7378423*#*#
  IPhone	*#*#4634*#*#
  Huawei	*#*#2846579*#*#
  Philips, Fly, Alcatel	*#*#3646633*#*#
  MTK processor	*#*#54298*#*#	*#*#3646633*#*#

  dial the combination as a number and press the “call” key;

• go to “CDS Information – Radio Information – Phone1”;
• at the top under the AT item, enter in the field EGMR=1.7 “enter the correct IMEI” — for the first SIM card, or EGMR=1.10 “enter the correct IMEI” — for the second Sim;
• press the “SEND AT COMMAND” button and the new settings will take effect;
• reboot your smartphone.

You can fix your name using the “Chamelephon” application if you have ROOT rights. You can always contact the service center to resolve the issue.

Incorrect settings

Why doesn’t the phone see the SIM card?

1. Check to see if you have Airplane Mode or Offline Mode enabled. When airplane mode is turned on, mobile communication services will automatically turn off.
   • click the setting icon;
   • select additional settings;
   • disable the option.

   Didn’t help? Pull out the SIM card, wait about half a minute and reinsert it. Reboot your phone/tablet.

2. Check whether the SIM card is enabled in the phone settings, relevant for devices with two or more SIM cards on Android:
   • go to settings options;
   • select “Sim Card Manager”;
   • activate the desired SIM card by clicking on it, or switch the slider next to it to “on” mode.

   If this does not help, try sending a message with an inactive Sim and the system will automatically ask you to enable the card.

3. The phone does not see the new SIM card — activation failed. What to do:
   • install SIM, turn on the device;
   • enter the PIN code (indicated on the plastic blister where the Sim was attached);
   • make a call to the toll-free activation number.

   Tele2	610
   MTS	*111#
   Beeline	*101*1111#
   Megaphone	*121*PACK code#

4. No online registration. You will need to manually search for the nearest station through the settings:
   • select settings;
   • click advanced settings;
   • Click mobile networks.

   The device will start searching for all available operators and display a list of possible connections. Select what you need and activate it.

If none of the methods work, do a full reset: “settings” – “backup and reset” – “data reset”. Pre-archive data for auto recovery.

Contact the operators

Each mobile operator is interested in the loyalty of its customers, so in almost all cities there are service centers where you can contact with your problem.

If the Megafon SIM card does not work, you need to call the support service at 0500 from another number of the same mobile operator. Tell us in detail under what conditions the Megafon SIM card suddenly stopped working, and follow all the steps that the support operator advises you to do.

If the MTS SIM card does not work, you need to consult the unified information phone number 8-800-250-0890. This is the first assistant if the MTS SIM card stops working. Probably, one call to support will help bring your SIM card back to life.

If the Beeline SIM card does not work, a 24-hour customer support center will help. You can reach him at 0611. The support service operator will ask you under what circumstances your Beeline SIM card stopped working and will advise you on a way out of the unpleasant situation.

If the Kyivstar SIM card does not work, you need to tell us about your problem by calling (044)466-0-466.

Perhaps expert advice will help you revive your SIM card. If it is hopelessly faulty, your operator’s customer service center will quickly replace your SIM card. Remember: there are no hopeless problems, there is always hope. And just in case, write down all important phone numbers in a notebook.

General recommendations

To successfully resolve the situation, it is recommended to perform a visual inspection of the gadget according to the above algorithm. If no damage is found, you should call the operator’s technical support hotline and explain the essence of the request, because sometimes the reason lies in technical problems in the provision of cellular services.

What contacts are available to subscribers of different operators:

• Beeline: 0611 or single line 8-800-700-06-11. Both numbers are open 24 hours a day.
• Iota: single number 8-800-550-00-07.
• Megaphone: 8-800-550-05-00. If you are in roaming, dial 7-926-111-05-00.
• Tele2: single line 8-800-555-06-11.
• MTS: general number 8-800-250-80-90. When staying outside the Russian Federation — 7(495)766-01-66.

Before calling the call center, you must prepare your passport, because the operator can ask for the personal identification data it contains if the user accidentally blocked the SIM card and wants to reactivate it.

The user’s first actions when a problem occurs

First of all, we need to clarify that in most cases, the smartphone does not see the SIM card if the slot where it is inserted has been damaged, or if the card itself has been damaged.

Also, when an Android smartphone supports working with two SIM cards at once, you first need to make sure that the desired SIM card has been activated in the settings. To do this you should:

1. Go to menu “Settings”
   .
2. Find the section here “Managing SIM cards”
   .
3. Find the one you need in the list of available SIM cards and activate it.

There are also cases when the SIM card is already activated, but for some reason does not show signs of life and does not show its work at all. In this case, try the following:

1. Go to the application to send SMS messages.
2. Try sending a message to any subscriber using a non-working SIM card.
3. The operating system should display a message indicating that you need to enable the SIM card.
4. Just activate it.

If none of the methods described above helped solve the problem, you can try several more methods, which will be described below.

Troubleshooting software problems

Software problems arise in the smartphone’s operating system and can only be solved using drastic methods: resetting to factory settings or flashing the smartphone.

A hard reset can be performed in several ways: through the phone’s settings menu or by launching Recovery Mode.

Important to know

After the procedure, all user data will be deleted, so you should transfer important files to your computer or place them in cloud storage in advance.

Flashing the operating system will require certain knowledge and the use of special programs. If Samsung does not see the SIM card after installing the updates, then you need to search for a previous firmware version that will not have the specified problem. In the future, you should disable automatic updates (at least until another software version is released).

Please note

If you are not confident in your own abilities or the instructions for installing the OS yourself are superficial, it is better to seek help from a specialist.

Vitaly Solodky