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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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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 15, 2011 4:55 AM

I'm having the same issue... 😟

1,365 replies

Jan 1, 2012 10:48 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Hi, I had the same problem when I moved my dad from the iPhone 4 to the 4s. I kept getting invalid sim and no service. I had restored the iphone from itunes from his back up.

After seeing this issue I erased the iphone and set it up as a new phone. Then put back all his info and media. The problem seems to have resolved itself. Trying setting up the phone as a new phone and then syncing to iTunes. Remember, complete iphone set up on the phone first.

Jan 2, 2012 12:57 AM in response to robsdoghouse

I don't know if that is the software or hardware problem. But in ios 5 my 4s works well. In 5.0.1 it didn't work with any sim except the one of my mother. It is a sim with big yellow chip. I tried another one with big chip but it did not work. I lended it to my mother and used the 4.

I think Iam lucky because my nearly 1000$ phone can make call with a sim. Many others cannot do it.

Apple should do sth more agrressive. I could not see any value from it since Steve went away.

Jan 2, 2012 4:09 PM in response to robsdoghouse

I have this problem with my iPhone 4. I have had it a little over a year, and no problem. Suddenly, about a week or so ago, it started not recognizing the SIM. And it is getting more frequent, it seems. I have tried a new SIM card, I have erased and reinstalled the software via iTunes, I have rebooted and gone airplane mode. Nothing works more than a little while.


This must be due to the new software. There is a new build of the software for the 4S. But not for the 4! Is this a brewing scandal? Are they--is Apple--going to fix it for the 4???


My AT&T clerk tells me that since it is beyond warranty . . . I am out of luck....

Jan 2, 2012 10:34 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Guys, I think I finally got something that works. My 4s was having the issue of iinvalid sim or no service. I was on iOS 5.0.1 (Build 9A405). Then I read that Apple has 2 Builds for iOS 5.0.1. When I restored my phone and upgraded to new build (9A406) I have had no issues of "invalid sim" "no service" or simply dropping the signal and going on search. I think the new build has finally got my issue resolved.

Jan 3, 2012 8:21 AM in response to robsdoghouse

got my Iphone4s from Globe Telecom here in the Philippines.. I did all that I have read from blogs... I had a change of micro sim and a restore to 5.0.2 (9A406).. I still experience intermittent, sometimes becoming frequent signal drop and invalid sim display... had to reset and reboot just to get a signal. I am s doctor and will definitely be a hassle if I have to make a phone call or recieve one when the signal is off or my phone is not working. I want to believe that it is only a temporary glitch and that Apple will do something about it soon. We dont have apple stores here that can immediately replace our handset... we are at the mercy of our service provider on what to do with regards to this issue. My iphone 4S is just 2 weeks old and it seems that it may not be the best iphone yet. I am an Apple product loyal since 2002, with all my gadgets, all from APPLE... Please do something about this problem in iphone 4s. Thanks.

Jan 3, 2012 9:41 AM in response to robsdoghouse

Im having the same issue too

i have two iphone 4S's, one is not yet updated to 5.0.1 and works without any problems

the one that ive updated to 5.0.1 9A406 gets an invalid sim every ~10 min

its a real pain and im very disapointed


since my other 4S works fine, is it possible to downgrade the ios back

i mean if im formating and starting the process as a new phone again from the start without using the itunes/icloud backups

will still be the same 5.0.1 ?

this could be a viable solution for me until a real fix from apple

Jan 3, 2012 3:17 PM in response to aucilla

I'm sorry to hear you are having the "No Sim" issue. I first had mine when the iphone 4 came out so long before IOS 5 , kept happening every few minutes. it was only just over a week old and there were numerous suggestions about taking the sim out , adding selotape to the sim, rebooting, erasing and then re installing etc.


In the end the best one was taking it back to my local store and getting a replacement and never had the issue again and haven't since updating. I am very suprised this is happenin the 4s as well and I'm due an upgrade for a few weeks and based on what I am reading think I will leave it a good while and by which time maybe the 5 will be out but again I'm wary about being one of the first as that normally comes with issues. Having said that are Apple willing to write off your future custom by not sorting something out for you? I would ask them , you never know!

Jan 3, 2012 5:41 PM in response to robsdoghouse

my iphone 4s is working fine

- white 32 GB

- 5.0.1 (9A405)

- 1.0.13 (MODEM FIRMWARE)


I have 2 friends that experiencing this problem


Friend 1

- iphone 4s

- white 16 GB

- 5.0.1 (9A406)

- 1.0.14 (MODEM FIRMWARE)


Friend 2

- iphone 4s

- black 32 GB

- 5.0.1 (9A406)

- 1.0.14 (MODEM FIRMWARE)



does the MODEM FIRMWARE is being updated/upgraded whenever we update the iOS software build?


we have been tried restoring them

change sims

the "tape solution" etc....


we will try to get a 128k sim card


do you have any other solutions?

thank you




Jan 4, 2012 12:29 AM in response to joembaguio

Yes, the modem firmware is updated with the build 5.0.1 9A406.

I've done all the thinghs below before to replace my iPhone.

The new one is running fine ( 5.0.1-9A405 ) since ONE WEEK!😝


update ( restore ) to 5.0.1 9A406

2 different Vodafone sim ( Italy )

tape on the sim

new sim tray ( "stolen" from the iphone of my friend )

no sim pin

"manual selection" of the operator

reset network settings

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

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