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

Well after spending a couple of hours of reading thru all the comments - here is my scenario which may help shed some light or further confuse the issue:

I have a IP 3G (yes I am still on my first IPhone, I have had it for 3 years now). About 3 weeks ago I got the now famous msg "No Sim card". Knowing that there is no chance that Apple would even look at my old phone, I turned it off, and turned it on again, and voila - it worked. Since then this has been a recurring issue at random intervals - sometimes 3 times during one day, a week without a problem, in other words - no detectable pattern. A couple of times one reboot did not help - had to do it twice.

So today, I finally decided to google "No Sim card', and that's how I got here. Since this is a iphone 3G, it runs on IOS 4.2.1 (BC148), and you can't do the reseating of the SIM card as easy as on the IP 4 (the SIM card is not user accessible).

Maybe it is a coincidence, and my phone or SM card are just old, but maybe there is a connection. At this point I am trying to hold out until the IPhone 5 ( or whatever the name will be) comes out, As long as I can "fix it" with a reboot, I stick with it.

Any ideas?

I had the same problem. And they are making million excuse not to switch the phone with me. Carrier problem, software problem, fix it by new update, ... etc.

It is one of the worst electronic products I ever have and it is expensive.

Most of my friend switch to Samsung Galaxy Note and a lot better on connection and reaction.

NO more apple product! It just die with Steve Jobs. I bet the stock price will drop sharply soon and market share will move to Samsung.

same here, have the problem with factory unlock 4s 32gb, didn't want to work with simple mobil, only redpocket ,sent to apple, came back with same problem, call on the phone, after 40 minute the call got drop(land line) when to apple store, at 67 and broadway, lame excuses, my factory unlock was lock to a carrier, I really was not in the mood for arguement , but, seem like they saw my face like i dont know what i was talking about,

apple store at 67 and broadway, customer services at the phone, and tech in california, all doing at excellent job, remember, customer always wins, and all this complaint, will be at you back eventually.

I have had my 4s about 3 months no problems at all, updated the OS when it came out. Used it al ot no issues, last weekend noticed it started to "search" for the network, did all the usual removed SIM put it back, did not solve it eventually I get the invalid sim message, I have found that If I turn it off and leave it HOURS (not minutes) it will find my orange network, but I have also found the sim will go "invalid" in anything from a few minutes to a good few hours, since experiencing this last week my phone is off the network more than on. I am waiting for a new SIM from my phone company (orange) who told me this morning they are sending out to many SIMS to 4s users. Google the problem and ended up here "bugger" I dont think a new SIM is going to resolve this.

hi yonmons.

i had the same problem and i am with "orange" it took a replacement iphone 4S and the 3rd sim card to rectify the dreaded "invalid sim" problem. one thing i did notice after all this,may make a difference,then again it may not.i noticed that the orange sim software was orange UK 11.0. when i got my 3rd sim card,i noticed the sim software had changed to "orange UK" 12.0.

coincidence or just luck? who knows.

Bought the Iphone 4S after my Iphone 3GS died after only 2years and 3months. To that time I was disappointed of the quality of that IPhone already. The only reason I bought an Iphone again was, that I have an Apps called LogTen Pro which only works on Apple products. Not only was this Apps ****** expensive, it also keeps track of important information. Long story short, the new IPhone 4S permanently looses signal of the SIM card. As I read in this forum it seems to be a typical IPhone 4S problem. In my job I cannot afford to be without mobile phone, not answering the phone while on Standby duty can cost my job.

Sorry Apple, you let me down again. This might mean the end of Apple products in my household!

I second hallohanno. iPhone was once meant to be international right? Now it is only domestic? I can't even purchase some apps because they say certain apps are only available for accounts set up in certain countries..? If I change my account settings, I will lose new updates on some apps ..so I have to choose which apps to let go..then why did I pay for a smart phone that only limits my life and give me endless hassles? My iPhone is now a iPod touch with restrictions. Unfixed no sim error, unreasonable geographic restrictions on apps, no service, no exchange, and duh what else can be next? does apple only wants money from us or are they willing to spend some of their profits to make dependable products?

Called tech support, online support, carriers, forums, and even wrote to apple but what's the answer I get..? Silence or the shrug of shoulders, if i am lucky. Bye bye iPhone.

I have the exact same problem Yonmons! Been using my 4S (32g Factory unlocked) for about 4 months. No issues. Updated to 5.1. No issues. Last weekened i got a SIM card failure notice. I turned my phone on and off and i would keep getting SIM card failure or invalid sim or no sim messages. After taking my sim in and out and resetting network settings it finally worked.The problem has since occured again twice. I've noticed it occur when i'm in my garage where i lose my reception. Once i've lost reception it goes straight to SIM card failure.

Bill, I'm curious...Are you using a pretty "heavy duty" case such as an Otterbox Defender? You mentioned that your problems occur, not exclusively but often, when using a navigation app in your car and when going relatively fast. Navigation apps work the processor pretty hard and the faster you go, I'm guessing, the harder they have to work to keep pace with the changing terrain. Couple this with the hot dashboard of a car and a cover like the Defender (which does keep heat in...I own one) and it is possible your phone is getting out of its recommended temperature operating range. I'm doing a lot of guessing here as I don't know what case you have and if you live in an area where dashboard temps are relatively high at this time of the year.

iOS 5.1 has solved many SIM problems, but everyone on this discussion forum needs to remember that SIM issues are relatively common and can occur from a multitude of causes. What is generating your SIM problem may have nothing to do with what was generating the SIM problem that iOS 5.1 was designed to correct.

If you're up for an experiment, and your iPhone is currently in a case, you could try removing the case and see if the SIM problem persists. In addition, or if that doesn't appeal to you, try turning ON the air conditioning in your car and direct the air flow out the defroster vents on the dashboard instead of the normal vents on the front consol. Get some cool air blowing on, or near, your iPhone to lower it's operating temperature.

Today's smartphones are better characterized as mini-computers than phones. Like computers, they can get pretty toasty when the processor is pushed hard and continuously. Couple that with a warm dashboard and anything is possible.

If you give this a try, let us know what happens...and good luck! Best, Mr. Luigi

Just had his problem start today. My phone just randomly changed to saying No SIM on the menu bar and after turning it off and on a lot and re inserting the micro sim nothing has changed.

It's been constantly saying No SIM installed for about 3 hours now.

I'm on Orange in the UK and I have an iPhone 4S that runs iOS5.1.

Is it best to phone orange and ask for a new SIM?

Hi karate1990,

Based on other's experiences in this forum, I would do exactly as you suggest. Ask Orange for a new 128K SIM card for your phone. Right now, that is your most likely suspect and is the first thing you should address as you troubleshoot your problem. Just make sure Orange provides you with a 128K card as there is enough evidence available to suggest that the 4S reacts poorly to a smaller capacity card.

Good luck and let the forum know how things go so folks can learn from your experience.

Best, Mr. Luigi

No problems here with a Brand New Verizon Wireless IPhone 4S which was purchased from Apple.com, oh and yes Apple did put the Sim Card into my IPhone before they shipped it to me, just in case I ever go Over Seas with it, I also agree that HSPA+ is NOT true 4G, I have a 4G LTE USB Modem on my other Verizon Line, and it is much faster than AT&T's HSPA+, I hope that eventially when the IPhone 5 comes out this Fall (according to a Quote from a Fox Conn Spokesperson), that it will actually have 4G LTE just like the currunt IPad 3!

karate1990 you will have no problem in getting a replacement sim card from orange. i had the same problem,but it did take the 3rd sim card to rectifiy the problem. what is your orange sim card software version? look in settings-general-about-scroll down-carrier.

I have tried everything under the sun. Soft restarts (several times a day - bordering on insanity), full backup & restore from backups, restore as new, SIM swaps, EVERYTHING!!! And I'm already on the most up-to-date version 5.1. I'm at my wits end now. This is absolutely ridiculous!! It shouldn't even be happening!! My phone is only 4 months old. Apple needs to sort themselves out. You can't keep doing this to your customers.

If anyone has any other ideas about what to do - I would greatly appreciate some advice.

I'm in the UK and on Orange. I spoke to Orange and they said this is a well known issue to Apple and that their advice is to do a full restore as new which is meant to solve the problem for about 90% of the people who have it. Well, it would appear I'm in the 10% for whom this doesn't work. Any other suggestions???

Hi voila_72,

Wow! I can see why you must be going crazy. Before I suggest strongly that you return your iPhone to Apple for a replacement, I have one question. When you said "Sim Swaps" did you mean...Orange replaced my Sim Card with a BRAND NEW 128K Sim Card? If the answer to this question is, "yes" then take (send) your phone back to Apple, explain all the steps you have taken to return your iPhone to good health, and ask (demand) a new replacement phone. Considering all your efforts, you should have no problems getting a replacement phone. However, when you swapped Sim Cards you did NOT replace it with a New 128K Sim Card from Orange, then ask Orange for a New, 128K card. Install it and see if that solves the problem. Take heart, others have been in your same shoes and most have found relief via installing a new 128K sim Card, or replacing the phone with a new one. If you end up getting a new phone, don't use your current Sim Card!!!

Let us know how things turn out. Mr. Luigi