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.
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August 20, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Paperclip tip that Tim G reported worked for me too. SIM error went away after I wiggled the paperclip around a little.
August 23, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Had the iPhone 4 delivered to me and my wife August 9th. About thirty minutes ago I encountered the “No Sim Card” error for the first time. Did a power down/up sequence, nothing. Found this forum, then tried the Airplane mode trick, nothing. Another power off/on sequence, nothing. Got a paperclip, and (with some exertion) got the Sim card cartridge to slide out. Did not wipe it, just reinserted the cartridge. Nothing. THEN used the paperclip again to pop out the cartridge, wiped off the card contacts, reinserted it and viola! Up and running!
No knowledge yet of whether or not this is long term fix, but will most definitely keep you all posted if anything changes. On the bright side, my wife has dropped hers several times and had no trouble, and yes, other than this problem and the proximity sensor issues, I love this phone!
August 24, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Airplane mode and rebooting work, but only for a little while. The error returns.
August 25, 2010 at 7:28 PM
Very upset. Second iphone….first issue with speaker and now this No SIM deal. reminds me of my treo days. Issue after issue.
August 30, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Read the fix, how ridiculous. I opted for a little slice of paper instead of sticky tape. I’m headed south on a business trip and can’t afford the glue to get me in a mess. We have no apple stores where I live so will have to wait until I get somewhere else to raise the roof about this.
August 31, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Same problem as everyone else. I have had my phone now for about a week – I notice the message on day 2 or 3 but it resolved itself very quickly. Today I haven’t been able to use it at all which is really annoying. Obviously this problem has been around now for two months and we are still having issues. I wish apple would get their shit together and fix this problem. I love the phone but this is ridiculous.
September 3, 2010 at 5:39 AM
I’ve had the same issue and have read solutions whereby tape is stuck onto the metal SIM Card tray to stop it shorting. I was a bit concerned about the tape falling off and jamming inside the phone so I coated the entire tray in nail varnish instead.
Since doing this 36 hours ago I haven’t had a single problem so I’m hoping that it’s a good fix but only time will tell.
September 3, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Thanks – the Airplane Mode trick worked!
September 8, 2010 at 4:07 AM
Airplane mode it up, I don’t care how often I have to do this, at least I know that I don’t have to take out my card every time I get this error. Way to go Apple. First iPhone and I’m really glad I jumped on the bandwagon…
September 9, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Yuck. Had this problem a month ago and now 3 times in one day. Between this and and apple’s proprietary attitude they are starting to irk one loyal apple fan.
September 13, 2010 at 8:02 AM
hi
i have the same problem with my 3gs iphone = no sim installed = . i have try every thing in soft but the problem was in hard . Problem with pin off card sim .
September 18, 2010 at 5:32 PM
hello everybody! got my iphone 4 yesterday and thanks to this forum and others I read I am cutting my losses and returning it tomorrow for the 3gs. yes I am going to downgrade rather than be a guinea pig for a poorly field tested and rushed phone. The only reason I bought it was because a friend that has one told me he didn’t have any issues with his….yet. very disappointed because everything else on the phone was working and pretty cool, but the whole point of owning an iphone is to make calls and text, and if I wanted apps and games i would have just gotten an itouch. I am not about to void my warranty with these so called fixes. The tape fix has been shown on another forum to strip the nonconducting coating on the sim tray and it was shown that the tray is not really a conducting metal as shown with a microvoltimeter. others who did the tape fix also continued to have the problem so it is not a miracle fix like some make it out to be. I am just going to switch to 3gs becus friends and my brother have had one for years with no problems. iphone 4 seems like a rushed experiment with too many new changes for apple to have field tested on a rushed schedule. I eventually plan on getting an iphone 4 again maybe a few years from now when my contract comes up for renewal again and apple has addressed the issues with this phone and starts work on an iphone 5 maybe…. so I will be phoneless this weekend:( oh and airplane mode didn’t work for me. And I’m not going to mess with the sim tray until the att store verifies my problem. I’m going to take care of this before my 30 day period ends and it becomes my and apple’s problem.
September 18, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Another opton:
Settings > general > reset > network reset
USUALLYworks
September 21, 2010 at 2:40 PM
My “No Sim Card” error message started appearing yesterday morning. This little annoyance has now become a royal pain! Just since yesterday, I’ve seen the msg at least 10 times, I’ve had 4 calls drop (2 were with potential clients!!), and I lost count of how many times I’ve had to shut-down completely and restart! I called the 800# for support and was told that updating the software in ITunes would probably solve the problem. It didn’t. Now, I have to take time off work to drive over to the Apple store to talk with someone in- person at the “Genius Bar”. (Really frustrating considering how much money I had to save to be able to buy this phone – - – less than THREE months ago!!!) I guess I’m lucky that it’s still under warranty. I feel sorry for people who start getting the “No Sim” error message AFTER their warranty expires. I was so patient with the antenna issue. I didn’t complain, not even once, I just went with the flow and was pleasantly surprised when Apple offered a refund for the case I bought (in order to get the phone to work properly). Now that I’m dealing with important calls randomly disconnecting on me, and I’m having to take off work to go drive to the mall to get my (Apple’s product problems) issue resolved – - – I’m starting to feel kind of stupid for jumping on this bandwagon, I will think harder about how & where I spend my money next time!
Basically, this very expensive gadget that I’ve been carrying around in my pocket for the past 2 days is actually just a VERY expensive CALCULATOR, because that’s the only thing that I’ve been able to use it for!
October 15, 2010 at 7:01 PM
I just got my first iphone last week (Iphone 4) and I am having the same problems and none of the fixes are working. If the apple store shrugs me off I’m cancelling my AT&T contract and going back to Sprint. This is absurd.
October 17, 2010 at 9:36 PM
I had the same problem and it was fixed by putting a small dot of glue on the sim card holder…just like a previous person posted.
Try it!
http://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F90WIHc”
October 20, 2010 at 4:56 PM
Same problem on a brand new iPhone 4 I just bought last week. First time I saw this was today, and since then it has happened 3 times. Thankfully the airplane on/off worked so far. If this continues, I will be back at the Apple Store returning it.
October 23, 2010 at 8:13 PM
I had this on my new iphone 4 bought last month. The Apple “Genius” did something and it worked for a few weeks and it came back again. I tried shutting it down and it would be OK for a few calls and then it happens a gain. I had that happen over 10 times today. What a pain. I have scheduled online to go back to the Apple store again. Not sure what I will hear but apparently, Apple in the last 3 months have not able to fix this known problem! What a joke!
October 24, 2010 at 7:08 PM
thank!!
turning on ana off the airplane mode fixed the problem
October 26, 2010 at 7:14 PM
PEOPLE I HAVE THE SOLUTION!!!!100% WORKS! Find someone with another Iphone and use their sim card metal adapter ( the metal thing that slides in the sim card slot), place your sim card on it and insert it into your iphone. Once you have done that, take it out and put the other persons sim card onto your own adapter and try inserting it into your iphone. You should get a signal even though the other person’s sim might be locked on your phone. Apparently, most of the time this problem occurs if you used your old sim or cut it down to fit the slot, in order to transfer your contacts onto the iphone. Some sort of a magnetic disruption occurs when the chip on your old sim card (which is larger than the one of the micro sim) rubs against the metal slot adapter. Finally put your old sim card back together with your own sim adapter and put it back into your phone. Your sim should definitely work now. Let me know if this fixes the problem.
November 1, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Airplane mode worked for me… for about 5 minutes. Then again, “No SIM card installed”. This is annoying
November 1, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Cleaning, may have worked though. How come the SIM is dirty? It hasn’t been taken out ever and I have always used a case! Ho, hum.
November 3, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Just received the Iphone 4 on 30 Oct 2010, and give it to my wife as gift. Phone start to screw up with “No Sim Card Install” message on 2nd Nov 2010. Just 3 days of usage, how shameful and embrassing it cause me. As for my wife she is getting upset and frustrating. She had tried all the trick as mention in the forum, but nothing works. I am willing to throw this useless phone at Steve the CEO of Apple for being a Cheat.
November 3, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Just received phone two weeks ago this is the first time it happened, I don’t have the little metal piece that removes the sim card slot, however the airplane mode trick did work surprisingly, but my phone keeps freezing, three times in one day!
November 5, 2010 at 1:26 AM
Hi Jordan, the metal clip is clip on the envelope folder that file all those little leaflet manual. I have the same issue searching it for a day, finally give up and sent it to the phone carrier to install the Sim. Upon friends suggestion, than I saw it was sticking there.
November 5, 2010 at 5:35 AM
time for everyone to wake up to this trashy phone…. Stop the Apple worshipping..Not I am beginning to like Microsoft a little more..:P
November 12, 2010 at 9:55 PM
I just upgraded to IPhone 4 today, 5 minutes from the store and I got the”No Sim Card Installed” message. I did not even know this was a problem. Thanks so to you all here I am exchanging my phone tomorrow and see what happens from there, AT&T better not charge me the restocking fee.
Is this happening with both 16G and 32G?
Mine is 16G.
November 15, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Yep, my “no sim card ” started today. I don’t understand why it’s doing this, but I’m not happy. We were going to buy 4 new phones for Christmas, but we are going back to Verizon. This is to much money ( over 1200.00) to mess with anymore. Only Steve and AT&T are making out on this deal, and we are stuck wondering if we can make a call or send a message today
November 16, 2010 at 2:09 AM
Started getting the “NoSIM Installed” message
After 6 months of outstanding service. Waited in AT&T store for young lady , snapping her gum, tell met sim must be dirty. She removed it cleaned it with her fingers and re inserted it. Told me that that “Problem Fixed” !!! within 5 minutes of departing store it happened again !!
At least 3-5 times per day- what a pain – not to mention missed calls- Hey guys identify and Fix the problem !!!!!
November 19, 2010 at 1:09 AM
After four months, “No Sim Installed” message started for me every day 2 or 3 times. It is very painful to do this. I have to go Airplane for few mins and come back. Some times it works for few mins. Other times it takes a lot more time.
November 21, 2010 at 7:37 AM
I’m in the same situation as most of you who posted and going on a rant will make me feel sooo much better. Apple and At&T are both the most worthless pieces of dog shit to hit the planet!!! You pay 400 dollars for a constant no sim card reading and Apple or its provider won’t do anything. I’ve had the phone for a while and have taken it back to the store; of course, no one will do anything to fix it! Not a new sim, repair or phone. I’m extremely pissed!! Help!!!!!
December 5, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Loved my iPhone 4 until today. Received the dreaded no sim card detected. The screen is locked on connect to iTunes. Now have to wait for apple to send me out a new phone. AT&T wouldn’t switch out the phone which would be the simplest fix. Not a happy customer after 14 years of faithful service. No phone for a few days with all my business contacts. Changing out the sim card did not work. What is up with Apple?
December 6, 2010 at 3:51 AM
I just purchased an iPhone4, cut my SIM down to micro size, popped in the phone and got a message “No SIM card installed…install a valid SIM card with no PIN lick to activate phone” … what’s up with that…
December 8, 2010 at 8:22 AM
After reading one of the comments about the sim card circuit possibly shorting against the sim tray, I took mine out to inspect it. The die that cut my sim card was most certainly off a bit and the circuit was largely biased to one side. This meant that the circuit was touching the aluminum tray. I took a piece of scotch tape and covered the edge of the sim that looked to be contacting the tray while being carful not to obscure too much of the circuit from the contact pin. Popped the sim card back in the phone and the problem went away.
December 9, 2010 at 7:29 AM
Hey, i bought my iphone 4 32g in november and have had No sim card problem since day 1.
The phone has fantastic feautures but, when you pay this much and can’t use them…
Honestly this is a pretty shitty product.
December 10, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Been having the No sim card problem for the past week. Bought the phone three weeks ago. Called Apple Care. They told me to remove the sim card and make sure it was clean (not sure how it could be dirty considering the phone has been in a case since I bought it. In any event, they gave me a case number if it continues to occur, but also told me that they would exchange it if need be. I still love my new iPhone 4 (an upgrade from my 3gs).
December 11, 2010 at 6:58 PM
Just picked up “new” 16gb iphone 4 from ATT today, and got the “no sim” error twice, once right when I got home when pulling it out of my pocket, the 2nd time I was on a call and it dropped, and I had to reset the phone to get it working both times. I’m not going to f around with this longer than I have to, I’m taking Toby’s advice from above, and this phone’s going back to ATT tomorrow. I think I may even go to the Apple store just to make sure I get a truly “new” phone. I wouldn’t put it past ATT to sell reburbs as “new”.
December 13, 2010 at 3:23 AM
No simcard error can be fixed with a little bit of tape on top of the card.
Some cards are a little to smal en the can move around inside the iphone.
I taped mine and the error ” no simcard” is no longer.
December 20, 2010 at 8:46 PM
day 1…”no sim card”
December 23, 2010 at 11:23 AM
It has been going on for a while now… first its once
every other week.. then once every other day… and finally
yesterday it is once EVERY OTHER HOUR!!! going to try the cleaning
sim card… switching mode…. and tap on the card… hopefully one
of them will work. grrrrr
December 26, 2010 at 6:18 AM
Hi my 3G worked great with all cards. but after the new
update to 4.2 my 3g dont accept anycard.NO SIM CARD!!! SIM CARD
FAILURE:
December 27, 2010 at 1:06 PM
I bought my iphone 4 in July and it has worked so
flawlessly that I disconnected my landline and bought my wife one
two days ago. Today hers had the “No Sim Card” message with no
phone service of any kind, and nothing we could do would fix it.
She’s at the ATT store now. I wish I had seen these reports
before…
December 28, 2010 at 5:06 AM
did the tape sim card thing and now i actually get better
service at home. i used to only get one bar and now get 3 bars!
hopefully this fixes my no sim card problem permanently, and get
better service! ty Lucas.
January 6, 2011 at 5:40 PM
I had this same problem the day i got my iPhone 4. what i
did was i took out the SIM card and then turned off my phone and
put it back in after i had turned off my phone then turned it back
on. it came on and acted as if nothing had happened!
January 15, 2011 at 7:38 PM
I had my phone for 3 days and no problems. On the third day, I had no signal. It said I must do a system restore. I went online, did the system restore, then it said no sim. I took it back to the phone store. They inserted new sim. Same problem. The salesperson called her manager. He said my phone was the third one this week. I returned it and I am now using my old phone once again. I use my phone for business must have something more reliable but I do not know what that would be. Any suggestions?? Android? Windows 7???
January 20, 2011 at 7:16 AM
I have a 3GS and just had the same problem. I tried the solution noted originally (“Other users have reported that briefly turning on Airplane mode (in Settings) then turning it back off can resolve the problem.” It seems to have solved the problem.
January 25, 2011 at 10:14 PM
the tape worked!
January 27, 2011 at 3:31 PM
if you buy one of those multi-purpose-duster things that have air in it and just try to clean out the inside where the tray goes in, that should help. it also works for audio-connection if you have problems with your sound. i went to the at&t store but they were no help. people say all you can do is get it checked out and then they might tell you to buy a new one, but for me, this helped and now it works fine.
February 10, 2011 at 1:21 PM
A little bit of tap makes the sim card work!
February 17, 2011 at 11:40 AM
I’ve tested about everything suggested. It seems there are more then one cause to the symptoms. In my case, the real cause – not told anywhere – is that the SIM card must not be inserted or removed with the phone turned on. If so, the SIM gets damaged and then starts the messages, initially less often – as you try to fix the problem and remove/insert the card, the problem increases.
What to do: get a new SIM card and ALWAYS TURN OFF THE PHONE TO INSERT/REMOVE THE CARD.