Some iPhone 4 users have reported an issue in which the phone suddenly displays a “No SIM Card Installed” error, either while attempting to make phone calls or during routine usage.
Apple Discussions poster macoverclock writes:
“Keep getting the “no sim card installed” error. phone works for a bit then go to check my email and the error has come up. shut the phone off and turn back on and the sim card is found then a half of an hour later the same error comes up again. this has happened 5 times in the last 5 hours.”
Fixes
The most reliable fix for this issue is to simply remove your SIM card, clean it lightly using a dry cloth, ensure that there is no debris in the SIM slot, then reinsert the card, ensuring a snug fit. Instructions for doing so can be found in this Apple Knowledge Base article.
Other users have reported that briefly turning on Airplane mode (in Settings) then turning it back off can resolve the problem.
Feedback? info@appletoolbox.com.
February 25, 2011 at 6:39 AM
Try just restoring the phone completely through itunes. You lose your data for like an hour but after i did that and then manually restarted it… mine worked fine.
March 11, 2011 at 8:28 PM
How do I restore the phone through itunes?
Thanks,
SKN
March 17, 2011 at 6:23 PM
You restore by plugging your iphone into the computer and then hitting the restore button. But be careful, if your iphone is unlocked and jailbroken you will lost both unlock and jailbreak unless you take it to a professional person to do it the safe way for you.
March 19, 2011 at 1:41 PM
I am a business owner, Apple stock older. I have my corporate office equipped with Mac computers, IPads, Mac servers. This sim card issue with my new iPhone 4 is costing me business.
I will go back to Motorola this Monday if I do not receive some help this weekend.
President, Azimuth, Incorporated
December 11, 2011 at 3:58 PM
Ooo you’re awesome!!!
March 20, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Tape on the back side of the sim is the only thing that worked for me. AT$T replaced my sim for free, seemed to work for a day but then it resumed the no sim or invalid sim. Changing to airplane mode worked for like a minute or two. I used thicker tape than scotch like blue painters tape. No problems yet 3 days out.
April 3, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Here is the solution. Simply cut a piece of masking tape the same size as the SIM cards. Apply the tape on the back side of the SIM card, so that when inserted into the slot, it makes it more snug in the slot.
April 9, 2011 at 6:50 PM
airplane mode on and off works for me. THANK YOU!
April 10, 2011 at 7:13 PM
yup, the simple cleaning fix worked for me…you know, after I cussed out just about everything around me for a few hours
Thanks for your help!!
May 9, 2011 at 4:04 PM
This is beyond rediculous. This phone is 2 (TWO!!!) weeks old. I refuse to use a piece of tape to fix this issue. Tricking it into working, wiping off the sim card, etc. is CrAzY considering how much this phone costs. Also, I never had this issue with the G3 so why now? How long do you think the “fix” will last if ALL you did was wipe off a two week old sim card? I tried airplane mode and that did not work.
June 6, 2011 at 12:49 PM
I tried cleaning but did not work. Tried airplane mode and it worked for only a few minutes. Then I tried the blue painters tape cut out – and it seems to be working. Hopefully that is all that is needed.
Thanks!
June 29, 2011 at 11:13 AM
How do you even take out the SIM card??!
June 29, 2011 at 1:26 PM
It seems to be related to over-heating… I tried everything like airport mode (which worked only the first 3 times this happened over the span of 2 weeks) and it failed… I tried resetting the network settings and it failed… I tried power off/power on and that didn’t work… But when I turned the phone completely off by holding the HOME + OFF button (on top) for 5 seconds and slid slider bar to turn phone off, left off for 30 minutes to cool down, turned back on by holding HOME and ON key (same as OFF key) for 5 seconds, went through the Apple load up screen and VOILA… It worked…
I didn’t even need any Scotch tape!
July 11, 2011 at 3:31 AM
just take the line of and clean it by water and paper and it will work for sure 100%
July 11, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Another solution here:
http://wooservers.com/20100710/fixing-iphone-4g-no-sim-installed-problem/
August 20, 2011 at 11:13 AM
I’ve had my new iphone 4 for 3 days, have made 2 phone calls and other than that kept it in one place without moving it, and already it’s messed up. Wow.
August 21, 2011 at 1:12 AM
The problem is that the top part of the mechanism seems to have a design flaw and sometimes it touches the metal contacts on the sim card making a short circuit. As a result, the phone stops recognizing the sim.
http://wooservers.com/20100710/fixing-iphone-4g-no-sim-installed-problem/
solve with tape apple is bad in design with iphone 4, please all complain at he apple website forums
October 20, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Thanks!!!! That did the trick!
October 21, 2011 at 3:12 AM
Switching the airplane mode on and off worked, will remember that one! Note: it took three times switching it back and forth to airplane mode for it to work
January 2, 2012 at 3:56 AM
I have this problem on the iPhone 4, it started 2weeks ago, I’d switch the phone off and back on which sorted out the problem, and then last night it did it and did the usual on/off to no avail. Did the airplane mode on/off several times, phone reset, tape on the back of the SIM, cleaned the sim all to no avail and then randomly this morning it started working, no idea how long it’ll last but here’s hoping. The thought of waiting for someone in the apple store or 02 shop doesn’t thrill me. I used to get it with the iPhone 3Gs too but turning the phone off and back on always worked.
January 7, 2012 at 9:26 PM
I had the same problem. I went to an At&t store, they provided me with another sim card, and since then, it hasn’t shown the message again.
January 10, 2012 at 2:37 AM
Having the same problem. cleaned it, taped in all the right places, turned off-on, airplane mode… nothing seems to be helping, and I’m nowhere near my service provider to change the SIM card as I’m out of the country for 3 months. nice…