No sim card error - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I have the ATT Galaxy S4 and it's been great, but lately it randomly has No Sim Card Error, and askes me to insert one, the only fix for it is taking out the sim, and putting it back on.
Anyone having this problem?

Can you provide more information about your phone?

Ninja Samurai said:
Can you provide more information about your phone?
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what is there to provide? samsung glaaxy s4 for att black 16gb

How long have you had the phone for?
I read on another forum, back in early May someone with an S4 also getting the No SIM Card error.

pham818 said:
I have the ATT Galaxy S4 and it's been great, but lately it randomly has No Sim Card Error, and askes me to insert one, the only fix for it is taking out the sim, and putting it back on.
Anyone having this problem?
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Click to collapse
Is your phone modified in any way? Root? Customs roms? Etc. Perhaps there's a problem with your sim card. I would start with that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

nthknd said:
Is your phone modified in any way? Root? Customs roms? Etc. Perhaps there's a problem with your sim card. I would start with that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is running a custom rom, but it happened with stock touchwiz also, im trying the tape method, hopefully it'll fix it.

Try getting your company to exchange the sim card and if issue still happens just replace the sim tray yourself unless you got an insurance plan that covers free defective hardware or ship it off to samsung for repair.
Here is a link to a sim tray for the s4 that I bought for someone to repair their sim tray.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-SIM-SD-C...-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-IV-AT-T-i337-/151079175235
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

Febby said:
Try getting your company to exchange the sim card and if issue still happens just replace the sim tray yourself unless you got an insurance plan that covers free defective hardware or ship it off to samsung for repair.
Here is a link to a sim tray for the s4 that I bought for someone to repair their sim tray.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-SIM-SD-C...-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-IV-AT-T-i337-/151079175235
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
alright thanks, ill try my tape method first, and if that doesnt work ill do that.

Please insert SIM emergency calls only
I bet I have more experience with this than anyone else with a Samsung Galaxy S4 for AT&T 16 GB
This hand set was run over by a large SUV and I was amazed it survived and kudos to otterbox.
Since then, I've been having this SIM error as well, at random. I see it reported that pulling the SIM out and putting it back in was the only thing that worked, I'm glad simply rebooting works for me, so I don't have to peel apart the otterbox all the time.
I tried the tape and it didn't fix it so I replaced the SIM/SD card tray. The new part on Amazon cost me $14 and the YouTube video showing the operation of peeling these things apart was helpful. I didn't see a video in particular about how they're glued down but I managed to peel the original SIM/SD card tray off, scrape off the adhesive that was still stuck on the motherboard, and install the new SIM/SD card tray.
I still get random SIM errors. No change. Putting a layer of tape on the SIM chip was easy, replacing the tray was difficult, and neither one of these efforts to fix it worked.
My SIM errors are the definition of random, I get one error right after another in just a few minutes, or it will stay lit up and working for hours.
So I put my wife's SIM card in there to make sure it wasn't the SIM itself making the problem. She's never had a problem with her SIM in her Note 2. Guess what, she let me use her SIM in my S4 and it wasn't very long and there it was again. "Please insert a valid SIM" emergency calls only. I gave her back her SIM as soon as I saw the error, as she was not happy about having the cover off the back of her Note 2. I did not get the error when I put my SIM into her Note 2, but was not able to test it for very long, as I got the error on my S4 with her chip so soon.
Next I am going to peel it apart as thoroughly as I can and look for any connector plug that can be unplugged and snapped back in. There was only one little ribbon with a 24 pin connector from the new tray to the motherboard. I'll pull that off again too, and inspect it with a magnifying glass.
I will report if I am able to figure out how to fix this problem.
My wife thinks it's because I flash it, but I doubt returning to stock is even worth the effort. I've never heard of a ROM being the culprit.

more tape
It occurred to me that the tape making the SIM chip thicker seemed to help the problem and less SIM errors.
I will also mention the replacement tray was identical to the one I thought was bad.
I was about to take apart the S4 again when I decided to try lots of tape! I stacked 4 or 5 layers of transparent scotch tape on the back of the SIM chip and it was very snug to slide into the slot.
It was so snug it barely returned from it's "in click"....
I am pleased to report an "up time" of over 16 hours, and that's the longest "up time" achieved since getting run over by a full sized Suburban on Olympic Boulevard.

fukenbiker said:
It occurred to me that the tape making the SIM chip thicker seemed to help the problem and less SIM errors.
I will also mention the replacement tray was identical to the one I thought was bad.
I was about to take apart the S4 again when I decided to try lots of tape! I stacked 4 or 5 layers of transparent scotch tape on the back of the SIM chip and it was very snug to slide into the slot.
It was so snug it barely returned from it's "in click"....
I am pleased to report an "up time" of over 16 hours, and that's the longest "up time" achieved since getting run over by a full sized Suburban on Olympic Boulevard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How many pieces of tape did you use? I have been having the same problem and one piece helped for a little but but it has since occurred a lot more often.
Any fixes?

I guess I dropped my phone one too many times... started getting the no sim error last week. A reboot fixes it temporarily but the error always comes back (sometimes I'm good for 5 hours sometimes its 5 minutes). Tried the tape method without much luck. Went to the AT&T store to swap out my sim... still no worky. Looks like my only options are replace the phone or fix the hardware. I'd rather not send in for warranty repair/replacement as I don't want to lose the ability to run a custom recovery.
Anyone have any personal experience with replacing the sim/micro sd tray or sending in for third party repair? Found this tutorial on youtube. It looks pretty straight forward and the part is fairly cheap (~ $9) but not sure its worth the risk.

ssn713 said:
I guess I dropped my phone one too many times... started getting the no sim error last week. A reboot fixes it temporarily but the error always comes back (sometimes I'm good for 5 hours sometimes its 5 minutes). Tried the tape method without much luck. Went to the AT&T store to swap out my sim... still no worky. Looks like my only options are replace the phone or fix the hardware. I'd rather not send in for warranty repair/replacement as I don't want to lose the ability to run a custom recovery.
Anyone have any personal experience with replacing the sim/micro sd tray or sending in for third party repair? Found this tutorial on youtube. It looks pretty straight forward and the part is fairly cheap (~ $9) but not sure its worth the risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took the plunge and replaced the sim/micro sd tray myself following the tutorial above. It was pretty painless and only took about 20min. Everything is working and no sim error messages over the past day. :good:

ssn713 said:
Took the plunge and replaced the sim/micro sd tray myself following the tutorial above. It was pretty painless and only took about 20min. Everything is working and no sim error messages over the past day. :good:
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I might keep this in mind, but will wait to see if you really fixed it.
I haven't had a sim error in over a week now, and before that it was over a week as we (just that one time in between).
Sony know what made the problem go away but so far so good.

Goliath27 said:
I might keep this in mind, but will wait to see if you really fixed it.
I haven't had a sim error in over a week now, and before that it was over a week as we (just that one time in between).
Sony know what made the problem go away but so far so good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well crap... insert sim error just came back (probably jinxed myself with my post). Not sure if it's hardware or software but it's definitely not the sim reader itself. May try to revert to stock just to rule out some variables.
Long story short, don't bother wasting your time, money, or taking the risk of replacing the sim tray.

ssn713 said:
Well crap... insert sim error just came back (probably jinxed myself with my post). Not sure if it's hardware or software but it's definitely not the sim reader itself. May try to revert to stock just to rule out some variables.
Long story short, don't bother wasting your time, money, or taking the risk of replacing the sim tray.
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Click to collapse
Me too. Happened twice yesterday.
Is there a possible tasker setting that we can make to restart the sim card if it gets disconnected?

possible fix
So guys I found a solution that worked with my phone. It seems that the ribbon connector that connects the Sim and microsd is really temperamental so just push down on it and reboot and signal should come back. As a permanent fix I took a 1/4" piece of foam rubber weather stripping and stuck it to the top of the ribbon cable (where it attaches to the mother board). This kept permenant tension on the connector when I put the plastic back in place.

Goliath27 said:
Me too. Happened twice yesterday.
Is there a possible tasker setting that we can make to restart the sim card if it gets disconnected?
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Click to collapse
Not a bad idea but I've never played with tasker. If that doesn't work maybe we could find a sympathetic dev to write a few lines of code. Might even be a way to make the system query the sim card to reestablish the status and clear the error without rebooting?
I'd definitely be willing to throw in a few bucks for a fix but I don't think there are enough people suffering with this issue to put together a bounty and/or get anyone's attention. I did manage to grab a logcat if we can find someone willing to assist.

Just purchases an S4 on the good ol craigslist with this problem. It was unlisted as an actual problem of course, however I am 100% certain that's why it was for sale.
I too get the No sim card inserted message. I took everything apart, testing out a few variables. I have isolated it to the actual ribbon cable as someone mentioned above as well. It seems if I reconnect the ribbon cable and reboot it, the phone will read it until the error comes back. Which happens more often than not. I can't even get the plastic housing on without the error coming back.
- I have tried the tape method as well. On the sim, on the top of the ribbon connector, on the back of inside phone shell.
- I have determined it was the ribbon cable by applying pressure to both the Sim and ribbon locations, both at the same time which is the first time I got the phone to read the Sim. Then isolated each area with pressure and a reboot. The ribbon cable and pin connector seem to be the issue.
Reading over some of the other posts in this thread it appears people have already tried a new sim/sd card piece with no improved results. That makes me want to lean towards this is not the SD/SIM side of the connector but more so on the motherboard side. If it is the motherboard I then I am pretty much at a loss and it is not deemed worth investing another 150$ into the phone for a new motherboard.
Will continue to see if I can do anything to improve this issue. Currently the phone is unusable as I fear for any movement on the device before it disconnects the sim, and I remain on my S3 while I continue to investigate.

ssn713 said:
Not a bad idea but I've never played with tasker. If that doesn't work maybe we could find a sympathetic dev to write a few lines of code. Might even be a way to make the system query the sim card to reestablish the status and clear the error without rebooting?
I'd definitely be willing to throw in a few bucks for a fix but I don't think there are enough people suffering with this issue to put together a bounty and/or get anyone's attention. I did manage to grab a logcat if we can find someone willing to assist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, did it fix it? I took the plunge and replaced my reader as well...but still randomly getting that error. I do have an i337m and running an M919 rom though. Im wondering if it might just be the rom but i have tried two different M919 roms...

Related

anyone mess up their SIM doing the FFC mod?

Long story short, I broke my phone. I had taken out the FFC and gone back to stock, everything was fine. Well tonite I put the FFC back in and I get the "insert SIM" error on reboot. I used a different SIM with the same message.
I can't seem to figure out what I did wrong this time.
Any hints?
Did you put any pressure on the SIM casing when you were removing the back cover? Might've damaged it some, try putting some pressure on it while its on maybe reconnect some leads that got lifted.
SIM is in backwards?
Nothing that easy.
I think it has something to do with the white wire that runs along the battery compartment. It has a funky snap on connector and I think I bent something in there.
No not the white wire
That's the antenna, if you were too hard on the phone maybe you jacked up the sim-slot but this is an easy mod. Sorry to say but my guess is you gorilla-handled the phone.
That is unless you put in the sim unside down
oka1 said:
That's the antenna, if you were too hard on the phone maybe you jacked up the sim-slot but this is an easy mod. Sorry to say but my guess is you gorilla-handled the phone.
That is unless you put in the sim unside down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well WTF? I pinched that wire the first time I did the mod and got this same error. I reseated the wire and then I was good.
And I really wish my SIM was unside down
Thanks for keeping me from focusing on that wire. I'm on a mission to figure this out now.
I got it!!!!
There is a clip on the underside of the motherboard that I had never saw before. I guess it was luck that it worked the first couple times.
WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

microSD cannot be read.

So...
I own a Bell Atrix. My carrier is Bell.
I flashed my phone with OLYEM 1.4.2.
Rooted it with Seven's script.
Made sure ADB was allowed to su.
Installed GingerBlur.
Phone got stuck in a reboot loop.
Re-flashed with OLYEM.
Now, I cannot mount my microSD. The settings show as unavailable and the manual mount is greyed out. I have tried a battery pull, a different microSD etc. My microSD works flawlessly in a different phone. I really do not know what crapped it. Was it GingerBlur, the flashing or just bad luck...
This means I cannot root the phone anymore and im stuck with OLYEM and a defective phone.
I took the phone to Bell for repair. They said it's been over 30 days from the buy date so they have to send it to an external firm to have it checked... I just hope they will not come back to me saying I voided my warranty.
Please let me know if you have had this problem or if you think there is something to be done if worst comes to worst.
Thanks!
I had the same issue but it wasn't related to updating. I had to take the sd card out and press down on the metal piece that holds the card in place to get it to have better contact. This worked for a while and then i pressed down even harder and it wouldn't read at all so I had to stick something under the metal thing and pry it back up and now it works great.
Just semantics, but it should be "micro SD", rather than "mini SD" (which is a different card type).
brucewee said:
I had the same issue but it wasn't related to updating. I had to take the sd card out and press down on the metal piece that holds the card in place to get it to have better contact. This worked for a while and then i pressed down even harder and it wouldn't read at all so I had to stick something under the metal thing and pry it back up and now it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you stick under it to pry it back up? I may have to do this myself so I just want to know,
M.k.s said:
What did you stick under it to pry it back up? I may have to do this myself so I just want to know,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the semi-pointed but round end of a nice pen to press it down and when I had to reverse it I used the nail file part of some little finger nail clippers. Just stuff I had sitting around at my desk at work
Thanks for the suggestion! If I get it back and it's not fixed, I will try that. Bell rep told me it would take from 3 to 6 weeks. Yeah... 6 weeks.
Meanwhile, they gave an HTC Desire Z. I really like SenseUI. It works so much better for me when I compare it to Motoblehh. However, I do not like the feeling of the phone. The movable parts do not appeal to me.
Thanks again!
The Bell rep also told me it was the first Atrix they sent back for repair...
Ok, going really basic and this probably is not your issue, but I just had the same issue with a camera and one phone not recognizing one of my cards. I had to reformat it in windows and it has worked perfectly since. Probably because I was switching between so many devices or just coincidence, just passing this on.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
i just get this issue i want to try gingerbreak and i couldnt find my micro sd i reboot and so on many times, perhaps i make it work you need push pretty well, and try moving when its on the phone
brucewee said:
I had the same issue but it wasn't related to updating. I had to take the sd card out and press down on the metal piece that holds the card in place to get it to have better contact. This worked for a while and then i pressed down even harder and it wouldn't read at all so I had to stick something under the metal thing and pry it back up and now it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two metal plates that need to make contact - if they don't the card isn't detected.
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/JhXk4VIeX3CahwaY.huge
In the lower left of the sd card slot you can see the two plates. When the card is in the slot, these two plates should touch. When I got my phone, they were not touching, so I bent them slightly to make the contact.
If the link doesn't work, just go to the iFixit teardown and look at the pics at the bottom of the first page.
Fixed
I just got my phone back. Looks like the firmware flash was what broke the phone. The repair slip shows a software update only.
Im just happy they repaired it. I think I will wait for a Bell SBF...
Thanks!

[SOLVED] No SIM card... Emergency Calls Only

For some reason that is beyond my comprehension my TAB has decided not to read my SIM card anymore.
I just flashed OC 3.0.1 Wipe, with the modified P1000N kernel the same as always this worked perfectly. I rebooted and lost 3G, I rebooted again and lost SIM card recognition.
I switched SIM's at home, SIM works on other phone, got a new SIM at work, same problem. Somebody suggested an /efs problem, but I reflashed everything from scratch and nothing changed.
Any other suggestion?
EDIT: Ok it's fixed. Bent SIM connector in the TAB I guess I'm lucky I have a service Center at work.
Good info, maybe someone else facing the same problem can use this info.
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
That's really worrying me. I've had this happen often myself, and wouldn't like to pull it apart to try and unbend the connector.
Wonder if there's an easier way to fix it, or at least work around it (though jamming some paper behind the other side of the SIM card will probably only make it worse eventually?) Don't know.
Jyveafk said:
That's really worrying me. I've had this happen often myself, and wouldn't like to pull it apart to try and unbend the connector.
Wonder if there's an easier way to fix it, or at least work around it (though jamming some paper behind the other side of the SIM card will probably only make it worse eventually?) Don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just came across this same problem, the tablet knows a sim card has been inserted, probably because of the spring mechanism, but it nevers asks for the Pin Code and always indicates No Sim Card.
Can anyone tell me how many "Connecters" are in the sim card slot. With a strong light I can barely make out 3 close to the entrance and possibly 4 connecters further in. ( Their placement is strange though as it appears that they wold not match up with the Sim Card ( I could be wring though).
I don't not want to try and pull the tablet apart and therefore I too would like to know if it might be possible to bend the connectors, does anyone have any idea how I might possibly proceed.
Cheers Roy

jammed Sim tray/Sim not recognized now

So this is probably my worst case scenario and I'm depressed to no end, I literally got this phone 3 days ago and cut my micro Sim down to size going by guides and templates found on Google since my last phone got cracked an wasted the digitizer, I couldn't wait for my new Sim to get delivered.. (I'm sure everyone could understand)
Well, it worked great, fit about as good as I could expect for doing it without a cutter, BUT, today my new Sim came and I tried ejecting the tray and bam! It's jammed... (insert internal screaming here) looked up how to unjam it and I got it after a few minutes and I thought all was good, however the Sim that came out was dented on the contact side, and putting the new one in, or the old one back in, neither are recognized now.... Why it jammed in the first place is beyond me, maybe it was defected? Idk.
I'm so frustrated with myself that I could lock myself in a closest and I have no idea what to do, I never screw up my phones like this. I've contacted support but I was hoping someone here would have any ideas on how I might get it to work at least for a short time, or anything.
I really love this phone it's the first "high end" phone I've even owned :crying: thanks in advance for any opinions and ideas...
Sounds like you broke one or more sim contact pins. This is a common issue on poorly cut sims and adapters. If this is the case, then your options are limited. You may be able to find someone who might be able to repair the damage. Otherwise you might be looking at the need for a new board.

Stuck sim card tray. Asked around. They say they'll have to "open" my phone up?!

Stuck sim card tray. Asked around. They say they'll have to "open" my phone up?!
Hello.
My sim card tray has been stuck for a while now. After watching a few videos , I tried to solve the problem but with zero luck. I asked around some service centre and they say they will have to literally open my phone and remove the stuck sim card . If they try to remove the tray otherwise, chances are it will break.
The point is , I am not too confident about getting my phone sort of disassembled. I am worried doing so will affect the my phones performance.
Please from some one who know about this.. let me know what I should...
Thanks in advance ~
Toomuchonmymind said:
Hello.
My sim card tray has been stuck for a while now. After watching a few videos , I tried to solve the problem but with zero luck. I asked around some service centre and they say they will have to literally open my phone and remove the stuck sim card . If they try to remove the tray otherwise, chances are it will break.
The point is , I am not too confident about getting my phone sort of disassembled. I am worried doing so will affect the my phones performance.
Please from some one who know about this.. let me know what I should...
Thanks in advance ~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this issue and still do my eject dont work I have now broken probly 4 sim trays on s8 they are cheap as hell.
i use the tool in the hole and angle it and pry it out
But I but yours is broken inside,
Once I just finally ripped it out hoped for the best The sim stayed inside So with luck a toothpick and a dab of super glue I got it out as well....
I have been completely infuriated from since the first time my tray broke All over a samsung evo sd card which apparently has a slightly larger sim than most
But yea if none of the known ideas work in the end opening it up is the final solution

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