How to Fix SIM Card Not Detected in Android

It can be very frustrating when your phone doesn’t detect the SIM card, especially when you’re expecting a crucial phone call. This can happen to anyone at any time, but the good news is that there are methods you can try to fix it.

The reasons as to why your Android phone doesn’t detect it can vary. Hopefully, whatever is causing the problem on your device has an easy fix.

Simple Fixes For SIM Card Not Detected in Android

Before you get into any fixes you would rather not try, you can always try rebooting your phone. If that didn’t work, you can turn off your phone, remove the SIM card and battery (if possible) and keep it off for about a minute.

Another simple fix is to remove the SIM card and clean out any dust that’s gotten in there. You’d be surprised how much dust can get in there.

You can also try testing another SIM card on your phone. If it works, then you may have to replace your current SIM. It’s also possible that the SIM card has not been firmly placed, therefore causing an error message. Android users have tried things such as applying tape or even putting a piece of paper small enough to secure the SIM card.

You May Have the SIM Card Option Disabled

Even if you’re sure that you have it on, it’s best to check. Maybe you turned it off for some reason and forgot to turn it back on. To check if you have it enabled or not, go to Settings > Network and Internet > SIM Cards.

If the SIM card is enabled, the slider to the side should be in blue; a grey button means it’s disabled. If you have a phone that supports double SIM, the second SIM should be right under the first one with its respective slider.

Enable Airplane Mode for 30 Seconds

To turn on Airplane Mode, you can swipe down from the top of your display and tap on the option. Or, you can open Settings and go to Network and Internet and toggle it on.

Leave Airplane Mode on for about 30 seconds, and when you turn it off, your device will start looking for a network. Hopefully, the SIM card issue will be fixed.

Did You Insert the SIM Card Correctly?

The reason why your Android device is not detecting the SIM card could be because it wasn’t inserted properly. Adding the SIM card is an easy task, but if you’re upgrading from an older phone or you’ve never added one before, it may seem a bit confusing.

There are three types of SIM cards< Standard SIM, Micro SIM, and Nano-SIM. When you get your new phone, make sure you know what type of SIM card it uses. If you’re not sure, you can always look at your phone’s specs; it should be listed there.

Newer model Android phone will have a small tray on either side of the device while the iPhone will have it on the right.

Before you insert the SIM card, make sure to turn off the phone. The SIM card tray will have a hole where you’ll need to insert the SIM removal tool or a paperclip/pushpin to open it. Be careful when inserting the SIM removal tool; it shouldn’t be forced.

Newer Android smartphone will have a slot for a Micro SD card and one or two SIM cards (depending on the model). The bigger slot is for the SD card and the smaller ones for the SIM cards. If you have a dual-SIM phone, but you’re only going to use one SIM, for now, insert the SIM card in the first slot. Remember that the SIM card should have the gold chip or logo facing up. You shouldn’t have to force the slot back in.

Older Android Phones

To insert the SIM card on older Android phones you’ll need to remove the back cover and battery. The slots should be there and when inserting the SIM card make sure that the logo is facing up, just like in the newer Android phones. Once you’ve incerted everything, put the battery back in its place and place the back cover.

Conclusion

Having to deal with this problem requires patience since may need to try a method or two before finding the one that works for you. It’s always best to try out the simple fixes before going for anything more complicated.