After waiting for 4 hours at my local Apple store, I finally got my iPhone. Like everyone else, I was so excited and hurried home. When I got home, I started to play around with it. When I handled the iPhone, I noticed that the bottom felt hot. Without taking much notice of it, I continued to set it up and try all sorts of interesting things that can be done using this phone.
Then, suddenly the message “No SIM card installed.” popped up, and the phone function stopped working. A simple Google search found this thread, which is extremely helpful. People suggested taking the phone back to AT&T store and getting the SIM card replaced. However, it was late, and the store was closed, so I decided to try out some of the other suggestions to reset the settings.
First, I tried reset the Network settings. This is what I did:
- From the main screen, tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
After resetting Network Settings, my phone wass still not working. I then tried to reset all settings.
- From the main screen, tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
To my disappointment, it still didn’t work. Before I called it a day, I reset the network settings again, and it started to work again.
I don’t know if the problem will come back or not. Hopefully, this will fix the problem permanently.
[Update: 7/13/2008]
The dreaded “No SIM card installed” message came back tonight. I took out the SIM card and reseated it several times. I also reset all settings several times again. It is now working again. I think that I still have to eventually get the SIM card replaced at the AT&T store.
[Update: 7/15/2008]
How can you live a day without the SIM card problem?! I experienced the problem again yesterday morning. I noticed a pattern. The problem always occurred right after I took it out of my pocket, and I usually place the iPhone in my pocket upside down. I think the SIM card tends to come loose when the iPhone is upside down.
I have thus changed the way I put the iPhone in my pocket, and I have yet to come across the same problem since yesterday morning. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
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So, I just came here searching because I had the same problem. I did everything you did, with no joy. Then I got to the part about how you were putting it into your pocket and, on a whim, banged the bottom of it against the heel of my palm. Worked like a charm. So… thanks? Yes. Thanks!
that same happened to me too
I have two iPhones, one has the No Sim problem often, the other never has the problem. What I noticed with the one that has the problem is that the gold contact section of the sim card is off to one edge of the sim card so a section of the contacts is almost completely covered by the edge of the plastic carrier. On the one that never has a problem, the gold contacts are perfectly centered on the card and are not obstructed by the plastic at all.
Perhaps when people get their sim replaced by AT&T they are just getting one that is centered better.
I upgraded to the 3.0 version through iTunes and my phone was just stuck! Couldn;t do anything cuz on my screen there was just an icon of iTunes and a picture of a USB cable and an arrow directing it. So i tried everything, rebooted the phone several times but nothing helped. Then i found some application on the internet that is supposed to solve this problem and it did solve this problem but it created a new one – NO SIM CARD INSTALLED. I tried with 3 different sim cards to no avail! I am really upset about this and dunno what to do. I should also mention that i tried all the methods i read about in this thread but no success! Any ideas / suggestions, please?
Thx
O M G so I tried everything to get it to read the sim card again and nothing…until I taped the sim card to the tray and guess what it worked!!
worked for me too,However clicking on carriers will show automatic and the country carriers only. Mine is a factory unlocked and used to see all carriers in the world before 🙁
eevun, plug your phone into itunes(latest version) and proceed from there.
Having a iPhone 3G with O/S 3.0, I had the same problem; sudden loss of SIM card.
After anormal synchronization (iTunes) the issue was resolved (did not reappear for the last 4 days now). Not sure what is causing it..but perhaps this helps.
John
alan, i wanted to ask how your ‘no sim card installed’ situation has turned out. i’m also facing this problem with my iphone, especially when i flip the phone upside down. sometimes the no sim notification appears even when i place my iphone flat on its back. do you suppose it’s because the sim card slot is loose? i remember this happening to me once before, but i restored and unlocked it and it worked fine. but now that i’ve upgraded to 3.0, it doesn’t seem to be the solution anymore. i’d very much like to hear how your iphone is treating you now and if you’ve found a solution to it. thanks.
Thank you so much for this advice. I reset the Network settings (as suggested) and my iphone is now working again.
My iphone is unlocked and is on pay as you go, it has an orange SIM card innd is now saying No SIM.. I have just tried to reset my network settings, then all settings and then network settings again and it is still saying “No SIM” , do you have any other suggestions???
Thank you! I freaked out when my phone gave me this message!! I looked up the error and this was the first thing to pop up and it fixed the problem. Hopefully for good and without a trip to the apple store! Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Brandy
turn it off then back on it worked for me
Just had this very problem today and quick reboot took care of it. Just hold the power and select (square) button at the same time for 5-10 sec. The screen will turn to black with the apple logo. Wait a minute or so and the screen will turn off completely, then just handle it like normal.
Activated my iPhone on Saturday and found the “no sim installed” message this morning. Resetting the network settings fixed the problem.
hi Eevun i hav the same problem with my iphone it is stuck with a usb cable and an arrow pointing to itunes can u send me the link that u found to solve the problem thank you
thank u so much u were so helpful!!!
Tried the reboot on the No Sim Card scenario… WORKED! ALLAH BE PRAISED!
Ack!–I mean GOD be praised!
Hey Guys !!
I Kindda Havin The Exact Probleme as Euven n Sophie… It Stuck with the iTunes Logo n that Cable- NO ACCES TO NOTHING-!! I mean i tried everything… rebootin, restorin again, unpluggin… NOTHING POSITIF.
I’m Willing for any usefull help plz ! Thanks All !
If all else fails as did in my case. I noticed that the sim tray offers no support for the sim that keeps it pressed against the sensor. So i simply and neately covered the back of the sim along with the back of the sim tray with scotch tape. I put three layers so that it would be snug ( not tight ) and now my Iphone works perfectly.
I believe that if the sim looses contact for even a split second then you must reset your phone for it to identify with it again. This keeps this from happening.
I’ve tried rebooting, cleared the network settings, doing everything i can think of to save losing all my data (which is what would happen if I replace the SIM, right?) …so any other ideas before i break out the scotch tape? I’m really hesitant, cause with my luck I’ll get tape stuck on the inside of the phone.
Oh, and forgot to mention, I took a SIM card out of ANOTHER iphone and put it into MY phone. Mine didn’t recognize the other SIM card either…what gives?
iphone also stated “no sim” so i added 4 strips of scotch tape on back plate of the sim tray (not where the circuit is), reinstalled my sim card and works like a charm!
I also noticed, that problem “no sim” occured, whenever I took the phone out of my pocket. Scotch tape seems to be the answer – on my 3G anyway. The SIM card had room to move up and down the tray. Now it’s firm, and it seems to have solved the problem. But as alex says: on the back plate – not where the circuits are!
Try calling your provider. I got the “no SIM card installed” message and tried reseting, removing SIM ect…didn’t work. So I called 3 and got through to some “iphone expert” who said I might need a new sim but he was going to just try something else first. Not sure what he did, he told me to take out the sim card, give him the numbers on the sim card, he reset something and i put the sim back in and it worked again. Saved me waiting till tomorrow to go out to a 3 store and get the SIM replaced.
I’ve had the same problem on two occasions. The first turning the iphone off then on again solved it. The other time- just now after reading the posts I turned it off and on – that didn’t work. So I turned it off again and slapped it against my hand a few times (not that forcefully) turned it on again and it worked. I tend to agree that the card has enough space to move a bit and not be in full contact with the connectors.
OMG i was having kinda the same problem- only i had dropped my phone and half of the sim card tray broke off and fell out… after careful examining of where it had broken off and how it was to be replaced i reinserted the sim card and try and everything worked for oh… 2 days. so then i start searching for quick fixes because 1- i bought my iphone 3g refurbished and 2- i had dropped it and its obvious so i knew apple wouldnt replace it… i found this site and right before i was about to pull out the scotch tape i RESET NETWORK SETTINGS and VOILA! it works! i dont care if i have to do this 30x a day bc i’ve been using other phones the past few days and i missed my iphone!!! lol
hi guys, today my iphone has decided to leave me with the message NO SIM CARD. So i reboot it, and now the only thing i can do is an emergency call. On the screen there’s jus a cable and the itunes logo.. Itunes says \please put your simcard in\. How can i reset the Network Settings if i can’t do nothin without the sim? Please any advice?
Thanks a lot. I reset the Network Settings 4 times. Then it worked. The question for me is how did it get in to this mode? Another important tip for people in marginal AT & T coverage. Operate your phone inside a case. The direct contact with the body made my phone drop signal strength lines. I put the phone on the table and signals would pick up again. Eureka!
I meant to say that after I put the phone in the case it was OK in my hand. I was able to move around with it and did not have a problem for two weeks till this NO SIM issue occured.
I have the same problem after corninna! omg I hate this iphone, I know the latest update is the cause! how cannot even restore my iphone from itunes.
I had this problem and was all ready to got to the AT&T store to replace the sim. Resetting the network settings once did the trick for me. Thanks for saving me a trip and a lot of hassle!
Same problem with no sim card reading I’ve tried everything but it’s not working I’ve reset multiple times and used multiple sims nothing works any other ideas?
You’d better take it to the store for repair.
I live in the SF Bay area, which has notoriously bad 3G network service, and my iPhone is about 9 months old. I went to sleep listening to music on my iPhone and woke up to the “No SIM installed” message.
I’m in favor of starting with the least invasive solutions first, so I did a few hard reboots. It didn’t work.
I read about resetting network connections as a solution and was about to do that next when I read somewhere to try putting the phone into “Airplane Mode” and doing a hard reboot, then taking it off “Airplane Mode”. THIS WORKED for me. As soon as I took it off “Airplane Mode” it redetected the network.
hi…i tried ur suggestion as to reset and i did that..and it worked for me…u know my iphone was in no sim card installed for 3 month but now its working after ur sugesstion,,,,thanks alot…
Started doing the no sim thing about 2 months ago. At first, the reboot thing would work for a few days, but it would keep doing the “No Sim” thing after a few days, a few hours, or even a few weeks later. Tried the airplane mode thing, worked from time to time – I believe this has the same effect as rebooting. Tried the reset network settings, which also worked from time – again, I think this has the same effect as rebooting. Tried rebooting everytime, and again this would work from time to time. I’ve had the problem for a while now, and I believe the major cause of this, for most people, is that the sim tray is designed very poorly in that it has leeway to move around. This problem has happened to many people, as there are many threads on various forums. 5 minutes ago, I did the scotch tape thing, and taped my sim card snug with the sim tray. This has fixed the issue. Note that 15 minutes ago, I tried all other solutions multiple times (reboot, reset network settings, and airplane mode).
You just saved my night, thanks!
it happened to me today, I felt a little vibration, took my new Iphone 3gs out of my pocket and the “No Sim” thingo came up!!!
This is how I fixed it: I pressed the on/off and the menu button at the same time, ignored the “slide to turn off” message and wait until the phone black out and when it start again the Sim should work again… Good luck to all
Great thread, thanks so much!
I noticed my Sim coming loose last night, would work on and off. Read through this, tried resetting the network but it did not help.
I did however put a couple layers of scotch tape (on the non-circuit side) on the sim and tray to make the fit a little more snug… and IT WORKS!
Thanks everyone for the help!
Thank God for this post. 🙂 Saved me from a huge heart attack. -whew-
hi guys, my phone is coming up with no sim installed, i have tried everything on this theard but still does not work do you have any other idea what it chud be thanks luke
Your SIM card might be bad. Take it to your provider to get a new one.
friend i also have same problem can anyone help me it is not showing sim installed is their any thing for it to work
Luke try using a thumbtack to push through the sim card hole until it won’t go any further. Then when you pull it out, the sim card should come out with it. Make sure you use the type of thumbtack with the elongated grip (not the flat ones you use to press with your thumb). Then obviously replace it back into your phone. I tried everything else as well, even took it to a local AT&T store where they replaced it with three different cards, and still didn’t work. But this worked for me. Good luck, let me know if it works
Hey if anybody is still having this problem go to an Apple Store and get your sim card tray replaced.
I just replaced my phone under warranty because of huge issues and never had a problem with the “No Sim Installed” message on that 3G.
The new one is terrible though, get “No Sim Installed” all the time. I put a sliver of cardboard in the little gap in between the Sim card and the sim card tray and now it doesn’t slide and my phone stays working.
I believe the problem to be the size of the sim card isn’t a perfect fit for the tray and it slides around like mad. The best solution is a new tray. If you can’t get a tray find a way to stop the card from sliding around and it will be fine.
I tried everything from resetting settings to tape behind the sim card in order to “push” it up a bit. What solved the error with no sim card installed was – Alcogel 85%. Cleaned the sim card and put it in while still “wet”. Voila.
hi had the ‘no sim installed’ appear on my 3gs, i tried reseting all the settings etc but nothing happened, so i took everyones advice and wraped the sim tray in gaffer tape over the sim card and it worked a treat!!fingers crossed!! thanks for the advice!!!
Worked for me! 🙂 But I didn’t even realize some of that stuff was default settings. Like my screen was much dimmer than usual.
Thanks so much. I dropped my Iphone and it hit the ground on the top left corner (with a leather case surrounding it). I stumble onto this sit, hit tht bottom of it on the floor and it started working!
Thanks for the tip!
Quick Fix – Goto settings > airplane mode on > airplane mode off. I found this to be the quickest way to getting back online. My phone goes through spurts of no sim card
Thank you!!! thought the thing was toast, this worked awesome. thanks a million
Thanks, reset the network, came back. I’m too lazy to make it to an at&t or apple store, so right side up in the pocket for me.
Hi. I think the problem is a physical one with the seating of the sim card. If you press with your thumb to the right of the speaker on the upper front of the phone the message “No sim card installed” always comes up. I have now cut a way a very thin slice of the sim card to center it and put two layers of tape behind it. So far it works – but i think the problem will show up again. But – as i said it is no use doing any software stuff – because this seems to be a physical problem.
i have iphone 3g .i tried to unlock it..using cydia..and i installed ultrasnow..so now am trying to insert sim cardz to check whether it is connected to the network or not ..but after seeing 2 or 3 sim cards which are just showing searching status of the network but atlast saying no service…so after inserting another sim card of reliance..it is showing some call symbol besides battery symbol on the home screen..plzz plzz plzzz help me out in removin tht symbol
Hi i am having a huge problem.
I put some scotch in and pushed my sim in but now the sim wont come out its stuck
You might have to disassemble your iPhone to remove the tape.
I had this happen to me today (Australia) and my phone is about 10 months old. Turns out it needed a new sim card.