Sim Card Failure No Sim with iPhone 4S Anyone Else?

Got the new 32GB iPhone 4S today from AT&T, activated the phone was working all morning, I started experimenting with Siri and a couple minutes later the phone was hotter than usual and I get Sim Card failure, and Bad SIM messages. The phone now only says No Sim. I get home take out the SIM card and put it in my previous iPhone 4 and it works just fine. I then put in a blank micro SIM into the new iPhone 4S, but it still says NO SIM. Thinking the SIM reader got fried some how already.



Anyone else have this problem maybe a bad batch out there, or I just got an unlucky lemon?



I made an appointment for the genius bar tomorrow, but I seriously doubt they will have replacement stock of the 4S already. Guess I will find out what my next course of action will be tomorrow trying to get a replacement since new orders are taking 30 days to ship I am afraid I will have to wait awhile to enjoy the new features of my already paid for phone 😟

Posted on Oct 15, 2011 1:53 AM

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1,365 replies

Dec 9, 2011 5:47 AM in response to robsdoghouse

I have the same problem with T-mobile NL(works for some time and then gives message "Invalid SIM"). I cut my own SIM card first and when I had the problem, I ordered a new SIM but the issue continued.


The guys at T-mobile tell me that there is a slight difference in micro-sim card between iPhone 4 and 4S and I should get myself a new SIM. Ordered a new one then and there, will update you guys when I get the new SIM card and see some results.

Dec 9, 2011 6:01 AM in response to robsdoghouse

How many of you are here still waiting for a Apple´s solution?


Have you tried do use another carrier´s SIM on your iPhone? A lot of Carriers around the world choose not to use a 3G certified card because his a high price. I tried a PRE PAID "3G" chip from other carrier and my iPhone is working perfect..., I´ve contacted my carrier and, until now, they dont use a 3G SIM...

Dec 9, 2011 9:53 AM in response to robsdoghouse

Hello everyone. my new 2. iphone 4s just turn back to service and they are changed my phone with new one.Now it's working with ios 5.0 and there is no problem since 9 hours.no sim failure no searching service,every problem solved with new phone.But i think it's a 5.0.1 problem cause i really check around all around the world-wide forums,sites etc.... And who is using phone with 5.0.1 problem with service.but who is still using with 5.0 there is not problem with any service trouble.And by the way im using 64kb micro sim card with my 4S before also i was using same micro sim card with my old 4S who has updated 5.0.1.but right now with 5.0 with same micro simcard(64kb) no problem working pretty good.Just let u know guys.

Dec 10, 2011 8:32 AM in response to frank46

Im really sure 5.0.1 the problem. Also my phone right now %50 percent battery with 2 hours 55 minutes using and 23 hours 10 mins waiting mode and im using myphone with 7/24 whatsupp,facebook,twitter accounts are online.When it was with 5.0.1 everytime the phone was searching for service and trying to connect service when i try sent text or try to call everytime drop the network.Also that's way to much battery killing to try searching service.Now it's pretty good.If u can guys make it like me.and never run 5.0.1. Keep in 5.0 before 5.1 come.And also i ll wait again if same problem keep going on i ll not update again.But in this forum 70.000 around people talking about that problem but from APPLE no one making something.Apple should solve this problem ! Are they trying to solve problem ? nobody knows about that. Are they gonna present 5.1 when ? We really not know !! APPLE should accept that and make something !!!

Dec 10, 2011 8:51 AM in response to OLGUNOZTURK

Apple is quite active on the "SIM ERROR". I filed Apple Bug-Reporter ID: 10490301 a while back and sent crash dumps to Cupertino (I guess it went there).


However, I don't see the battery issue quite often. It happend once that within 2 hours the iPhone 4S went from 100% to 78%. But that was a one off - usually the battery is good for a long day incl. calls, text messages a bit internet usage.


HTH

Stefan

Dec 11, 2011 1:10 AM in response to robsdoghouse

I waited a long time to abandon my Blackberry to finally jump to an iPhone, the new 4s got me (as I got tired of Blackberry/Apple sync issues and other things)...I'm an Apple user since the beginning, so was happy to finally get this thing... I had my 4s for 20 hours before the 'no sim/no valid sim/no sim installed' messages started to appear, with a dead phone... One full reset brought back service before shutting it down for the night. But after that, the next morning, nothing worked, including removing, cleaning and reinstalling sim, 3 times. Went to AT&T store, they popped in new sim (claiming not to know anything about this apparent wide spread problem), and the phone has been working now for the last 30 hours or so with no glitches. Who knows the issue, faulty sim card manufacturing or iPhone issue... I don't think anyone can blame anyone too fast... it really needs to be sussed out....and I would think Apple should be the one to test it and find out the problem since they are the ones most people like to blame first (although my friend that works for Apple swears he knows nothing of the issue either!). No one else I know with a 4s has had an issue thus far, I was the only lucky one (besides all of you)... We'll see! Hope this sim keeps working! (Battery life does suck tho IMO)

Dec 11, 2011 6:40 AM in response to nockab

Thanks a lot for the tip.

I found one very old (4-5 years old SIM card) and gave it atry and to my amazement it worked. I was able to make call after call, SMS after SMS with no issues what so ever. Then I called my operator/carrier and asked them to get my number transferred to that SIM and when I told them why they simply said no need for it since they’ve been working on this issue and will be sending new SIM cards to iPhone 4S owners to correct this problem.


When I asked what happened they explained to me it’s both 4Sand certain SIM cards, so this particular operator (Tele2 of Sweden) decided tofix the problem for Apple and will be sending new SIM cards to all of the owners of 4S who have registered with them for a new SIM, so if you’re with Tele2 of Sweden and have this issue get in touch with them and register for anew SIM.


Funny thing with this old SIM card it’s 2G but I get 3G access, go figure…

The SIM card in question works just fine with my old iPhone4 so it has to be iPhone 4S NOT accepting certain SIM cards.

I even noticed the improvement of battery while using this other/old SIM since the iPhone doesn’t have to search for the network all the time.

As soon as I get a new SIM and try it I’ll be updating you guys.

Dec 11, 2011 11:16 AM in response to big.jim.888

You are very lucky with your carrier. My carrier velcom in Belarus will not do a thing. Now I am pretty sure that sim failure and lost of connection due to mixture of 5.0.1 and sim. I took my 4s on business trip in Austria to test it with local carriers. Now, after 72 hours I can say, that with A1 (Austria) sim card no problems with sim failure and connection errors.

This proofs, that no hardware error, just mixture current carrier + sim card. But apple for sure done something with baseband software. Bettery problem still exists even with this new sim card. During the night on standby mode battery drained about 20% in just 6 hours.

Basically, in 5.0.1 we still have our iPhones 4s bettery issues + very critical to sim card types.

Dec 11, 2011 4:48 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Hi all. Yes , yet another failed iphone4s. I got mine direct from apple as an open sim. Stayed with orange. Got new sim and installed. Worked for 24hrs, now getting sim card failure / no sim. After switching off then on again it finds my sp. but after a few hours, same thing happens again. Called orange. Did a few tests, including putting sim in my Samsung S3. Works fine. And so far, 4 days later, No issuses. So it's got to be the iphone. Will be calling Apple later today for a refund. Not impressed. Will stick with Samsung phone now. May be if we all do a mass phone in to Apple, people power may do something about it. I think apple have got too big for their boots. Time they thought of their loyal customers.

Dec 11, 2011 9:01 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Same problem! In North Florida, USA with..

Unlocked 4s 5.0.1 on T-Mobile

Keep loosing service and dropping network, says searching 50% of the time in and out with a new micro sim.


I will try to see about the 128KB Micro sim to try that first.

I think it is a combo of the new firmware and hardware(Sim)

Ultimately it's apples product and firmware that is not working for millions of people for its intended use.

I really hate going in the busy apple store to not be greeted, wait 45min, get tossed around and be treated by the punk/cult staff with an attitude of smug superiority.

Dec 12, 2011 1:25 AM in response to capt.alex

I PURCHASED A FACTORY UNLOCKED IPHONE 4S WITHIN THE US AND PAID $706 FOR IT AND WHEN I SHIPPED IT OUT INTERNATIONALLY TO MY FIANCE BACK AT HOME, SHE CONNECTED THE PHONE TO ITUNES AND SHE IS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE IT. IT DOES NOT GIVE THE MESSAGE "YOUR PHONE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY UNLOCKED" AND THEREFORE IT SAYS NO SERVICE ON THE PHONE. THE OPERATING SYSTEM ON THE PHONE IS THE iOS 5.0.1. FURTHERMORE, I GOT IN CONTACT WITH A SENIOR ADVISOR FROM APPLE AND HE TOLD US TO RESTORE THE PHONE AND THAT MIGHT HELP. SHE TRIED RESTORING THE PHONE AND NOW WE CAME ACROSS ANOTHER PROBLEM WHICH GIVES HER THE ERROR 1630. PLEASE CAN ANYBODY HELP???

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Sim Card Failure No Sim with iPhone 4S Anyone Else?

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