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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

Oct 19, 2011 9:26 AM in response to robsdoghouse

Had the same issue this past Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was wierd, got the invalid SIM message but once I entered my house and the 4S latched onto my network everything was cool. Sunday it just quit for about an hour and a half. Since my AT&T store closed I did the re-seat of the SIM card. Took about 4 times and than it came back, haven't had any issues since Sunday. Probably just jinxed it though!!!!

Oct 20, 2011 8:53 AM in response to robsdoghouse

Same problem here. AT&T Black 32gb 4S, Delaware USA


Bought first day available 8 am and worked fine first day. Second day, didn't receive any calls, very unusal. Get email from friend to answer my **** phone. No received calls or vmail on phone. Pick up phone and attempt to call, everyone I touch on name in address book gets an immediate called failed. Reboot phone, works and have 7 vmails. Run restore from iTunes, phone works fine.


Next day, about half the calls made, my voice is muted and other end cannot hear me. Reboot phone several times, and restore phone from itunes again.


Third day, start getting "SIM card failure" message. Phone totally locks up twice. Hard reboot a couple of times and finally restore phone for third time.


This morning go to BestBuy where they replace SIM card. They were going to charge $20 for card, but two AT&T reps in store and has extra SIM cards. They stated SIM card failure is a problem. Suggest to replace card first, if still have problems, then replace phone.


Appears to be more than SIM card failure with phone locking up.

Oct 20, 2011 3:18 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Just incase anyone has this issue:



I got a replacement iPhone 4S from Apple which seemed to be working fine.



I plugged it in to charge overnight (on my old iPhone 4 charger), when I woke up - SIM Failure.



At this point I can only blame the iPhone 4 charger, and will be using the 4S charger from now on.



If I still get the issue, I will head back to Apple and get another replacement.

Oct 20, 2011 3:53 PM in response to robsdoghouse

It's been four days since new sim card, still holding up fine. Original one died in two days. Phone did freeze a few times while using imessage and when trying to sync to pc but I am sure that a software update will resolve all of those bug type issues. I have to laugh at some of the posts blaming charger or hardware. For this problem it was clearly the SIM not the writer, charger or any other hardware. Instead of speculation do some research....One guy posts that he was using his iPhone 4 charger instead of the S charger and blamed that...RIDICULOUS. I was as unhappy as the rest of you when this happened, problem fixed, no worries now. Go to AT&T store and get another SIM end of story. As for Apple or AT&T admitting there was a problem..not going to happen, they act like they never heard anything of this problem, typical corporate garbage, they admit nothing. Apple used to have my confidence as far as customer support...Not so much now.

Oct 20, 2011 4:14 PM in response to jainash

TO: droptop2k


Not sure why I can't reply your messages, but:


I have had 3 Micro SIMs, and 2 brand new iPhone 4S and had the issue. I know blaming something as stupid as the charger sounds stupid, but it's the only constant piece of hardware that exists in my whole scenario.


The first iPhone 4S I had 2 Micro SIMs that went bad with it. Now on my 2nd iPhone 4S with a third brand new Micro SIM is gone bad. I will go get one more Micro SIM today, and IF problems still persist after a new SIM, using the 4S charger, I will head back to Apple (again) for yet another replacement.


My iPhone 4S was bought outright from Apple, no Micro SIM was supplied with the phone.


The other potential cause could maybe be because I am restoring the iPhone 4S from my iPhone 4 backup.


The Apple team have been quite supportive with me on this matter so far.

Oct 20, 2011 4:40 PM in response to robsdoghouse

Hey Jainash...so since the release date you have had 3 sims and 2 phones??!?!?! NO WAY that is just not possible. First of all the timeline just doesn't fit. The phone was released Friday and SOLD OUT. Plus it takes at least a day or two for the card to fail, its only been 6 days since release. I'm not calling you a liar but it's just not probable (or even possible) within that timeline. Also they are not going to give you 2 new phones...at least not within a week they would never do that PERIOD. Your charger theory is still bunk. Its the same charger for all Apple products period... and "no sim" has nothing do do with the power source. And finally if Apple reps were so helpful then why do you still have no answer on a fix for you??? It seems you just want to dispell I what have posted. Well my 64GB works just fine through no help from Apple or the rep, she sent me e-mails she claimed pertained to the problem, meanwhile they were instructions on how to sync my phone to itunes...useless. I guess you can keep going back and eventually you will have had 16 sim cards and 25 phones LOL HILLAIRIOUS and completely unbelievable....

Oct 20, 2011 4:44 PM in response to droptop2k

Preorder iPhone 4S on 07/10/11 (using micro sim from my iPhone 4)

Received iPhone 4S on 17/10/11 (setup the same day)

First SIM Failure on 18/10/11

First replacement Micro SIM on 18/10/11 (Optus the carrier replaces the same straight away when you walk into their stores)

Another SIM Failure on 19/10/11

Called Apple support on 19/10/11 to organise a replacement at my local Apple store

Replaced iPhone 4S by Apple on 20/10/11, also got a second new Micro Sim

Worked great during the day - restored from iPhone 4 backup, charged with old charger (yes its a stupid reason)

More SIM Failures on 21/10/11 - hence the posts here


I did not buy the phone from a Carrier, I bought it directly from Apple.com and no SIM Card was shipped with the phone. I'm not sure how they do it in USA - but in Australia, when I buy directly from Apple they don't provide the SIM, only the carrier does. In the US you have to buy the iPhone on conjunction with a plan, that is why you get a SIM.


Whether you believe my story or not, I really don't care, although the Apple Service Requests, Support Emails, and Receipts I have will give you enough to see that I am not telling any fibs. I came here for support and am providing all the facts as they have happened to me.


I am happy that you got your phone to work, so kudos to you, I am still having that issue and cannot find any reason why it still happens - maybe my Aura is gimped and every 4S I touch gets tainted, who the heck knows.


I will give Apple one more chance on a replacement phone, if it happens again, I will just get my money back and look elsewhere.

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

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