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Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)

Seems to be a widespread problem, from what I'm seeing in the discussions:

I have an unlocked iPhone 4S (bought in France) and use it with Vodafone in Portugal. I was using the same SIM card that worked perfectly fine for over a year on my previous iPhone 4, and it also worked just fine in the 4S... until I updated to iOS 5.0.1.

The very next day I started having connections issues and invalid SIM card errors - requiring a reboot to temporarily fix it for a few minutes, until it lost connection again - the iPhone would still show it had a few bars strength, but was actually unable to make calls or use data. After a while it would go back to invalid sim message.

I replaced my old SIM card, and I though that was it... It was working fine.. until after 3 or 4 days, I find once again that I had a Invalid SIM message.

I've read reports suggesting that this might actually have to do with using other chargers than the official Apple 4S one - it sound kind of crazy, but just in case, I was also using a 3rd party charger when those issues arised for the first time. Anyway, I was now using my previous official iPhone 4 charger when I got the new error with the new SIM card.

Also, although the iPhone recommends using a non-locked SIM Card, mine has always had a PIN, and always worked through activations without a problem.

Other than being a real hardware problem with my new iPhone 4S (crossing my fingers it isn't!) my guess is that this is a software related incident - as this has just popped up after upgrading to iOS 5.0.1, and it would have been an amazing coincidence for SIM cards to go bust, or for the iPhone 4S to suddenly malfunction, afterwards.

Hope you guys can fix it soon, as well as the phone numbers not showing up the callers name in the contacts (that was a problem I was having from the very beginning, with iOS 5.0.0).

Posted on Nov 16, 2011 2:18 AM

366 replies

Jan 3, 2012 5:16 PM in response to joembaguio

im running on 1.0.14 too 9a406. also with invalid sim erors

Jan 3, 2012 5:45 PM in response to ptnik

hi emmanuel!

im suspecting that units with firmware 1.0.14

are the one having this particular problem... 😟

Jan 3, 2012 7:17 PM in response to joembaguio

I'm also on firmware 1.0.14. After restoring twice over the weekend the SIM failure was still present. Had to restart the phone multiple times this morning in order to get it to register. Went to the Genius Bar tonight and they were able to replicate the issue. Gave me a new SIM card. Hoping that resolves the issue.

Jan 3, 2012 7:23 PM in response to joembaguio

Guys im trying the Restore without backup. its working pretty good so far its been runnning without invalid sim or signal drops. no real progress yet but ill keep everyone posted.

joembaguio i really think its the IOS my friend. the 5.0.1 IOS is **** and has many errors. ill try to update you on how my phone goes. and im trying to get a hold of a new sim, but apparently my city dsnt have stock of micro sims yet. ill see if this works and it might work for you 😀

Jan 3, 2012 7:52 PM in response to ptnik

we also tried full restore with back-up and w/o back up.... it will work but it's not giving us a consistent performance. it wont hold an 8-hour or 24 hour without sim failure / unable to send sms...

putting them on/off is making the sim active again...

right now im using and observing them again.... and i will buy a 128k microsim (if none) i will buy a regular 128k sim and will cut it to for testing...

@emmanuelbacolod... thanks for the update, God bless... hope to resolve this problem soon 🙂

Jan 3, 2012 8:21 PM in response to joembaguio

@joembaguio well i havent synced it to the computer yet and i havent really put anything on the phone but numbers w/o backing up. it seems to be working well right now 0 bugs since last post. ill update you over tonight on what is up and whats happening to my phone.

if this does fail im getting the new micro sim and if that fails then ill resend the phone.

most people say that there are just phones that are duds/lemons. so i guess we're the unlucky ones. well we'll see how this goes and yes i hope apple finds an update or fix to this quick. im getting really impatient.

Jan 3, 2012 8:37 PM in response to ptnik

thanks emmanuel

i hope

Jan 3, 2012 8:46 PM in response to ptnik

Hi guys, as per the information in the discussion i have restored my 4s to the new version of 5.0.1 but there is no change in the status of dropping signals then started searching for network then make calls and again down the drain. as for the sollution i just put my iphone 4s into the box and started using an old nokia as every body called me asking why your phone was turned off. i request apple inc. to resolve this problem earliest as endroid phones are gaining market quickly due to this mess from ios 5.0.1, i love to use apple products but this is not the way a bigger company like apple inc. make this blunders.

Jan 4, 2012 2:50 AM in response to joembaguio

HOPELESS. my try with no sync + restore didnt work. nor did the new sim.

so guys now im just gonna send this back to the seller and ask him to ship me a new one. ill get back to you on this once i get it. and oh btw i think that @joembaguio is up to something with the firmware, i have a firend with same phone 4s firmware .13 no errors at all while me .14 i get signal drop, searching for signal, and cant make calls nor send messages. but i think this isnt a sim error but more on a hardware of software error. ill update this page as soon as i get my new phone and tell you guys how it goes.

Jan 4, 2012 3:25 AM in response to ptnik

thanks for the update emmanuel !

i hope apple could still provide a solution for this problem 😟

as of now the 16GB white 4s is not working...

the other one -32GB black 4S is working at least ...

Jan 4, 2012 12:35 PM in response to ptnik

I'm sorry to read that many others than me have this problem. Had hoped to find a solution here :'(

I hope Apple will solve this problem soon!!!

I received a new sim card - no changes....I've restored my phone....no changes!

Frustrating!

Jan 5, 2012 9:48 AM in response to ptnik

Hi emmanuelfrombacolod!

if you haven't send yet your iphone to your seller for replacement, you may want to try this:

What TO DO:

REMOVE your SIM
Connect your iphone to iTunes

(using your USB cable, it should syncautomatically)

DO the FULL RESTORE
After the full restore, your iphone will RE-START/ REBOOT
Once RE-STARTED, you may notice that it will try to connect to iTunes
Your iPhone may ask you to insert your SIM (you iTunes will askyou also)… so you may now INSERT your SIM
Then REGISTER your iPhone and do the SET UP as NEW IPHONE
Finally DISCONNECT your iPhone from iTunes

Try sendingsms now… I just did this and mine is working now and under observation. If yourregular network signal is not so stable, try also to turn your CELLULAR DATA ON….(but try to modify your APN if your not in an unlimited data plan, so that youwill not be charged for your 3G connection)

I hope thisprocess will work also for you J

MyLocation: Philippines

SIM USED:Smart

Jan 5, 2012 11:35 PM in response to joembaguio

hey joembaguio!

i actually did that. it only worked for me for a few hours or so. it was working smoothly the whole morning but as soon as it hit 130pm the first real signal drop started. then after that it just kept going on and on.

thats the reason why i decided to just send the **** thing back to the seller. Im a globe user and i've tried changing sims restore w/ sim,restore w/o sim, restore w/o back up, restore w/ back up. almost everything. and it hasnt helped me.

But thanks for trying to reach out to me man appreciate it. i hope you're enjoying your fully functional 4s man! and i must say you're one of the lucky people to get it to work thanks to the restore. 🙂

Jan 6, 2012 2:58 AM in response to ptnik

Good dayto all!I haveexact sameproblemon theiphoneitself4S.Tried everything,nothing helps.At the momentI can not useiphone4sas a phone,becauseno signalsim card.I bought it for$ 1000.Many times IwrotetoAppleasking for ananswerhow to fixthis problemorwhen there will bea new updateITS.Inirazunotreceived a response.

$ 1000 is not the sum for which I shall hear the silence in response to their questions. My opinion - Apple do not care about these issues, the company zarabatyevaet money and spits on his reputation. I'm disappointed. YOU THAT HARD to give people the answer? I have my own company and I do not answer never silence on issues of their clients. I understand the strategy Apple - A LOT A LOT OF MONEY AND I do not care AT ALL. I hope someone from Apple reads this forum and read my letter.

Jan 6, 2012 3:02 AM in response to Russia-161

I agree with you russia 161

Apple has not been doing anything to address this issue nor have they assured their customers of them being able to fix it or are currently trying to fix it. i suggest you just try to send your phone back and demand for a new one. we are just a few of the hundred or maybe thousands of unlucky people to get useless Iphones. i mean its called a phone then why aren't we able to use it as one. 😟

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Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)