Level 1

1 points

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 6, 2012 3:17 AM in response to ptnik

I'd lovehimback, but myphone was boughtin theApple Storein the UAE inDubai.And Iam unable toget it back...Iturned to theApple Storein Russia,but they saythat the phone isdefectiveandnothingto do with himnot ...

Jan 6, 2012 11:24 AM in response to ptnik

From Mexico: I was unable to use the phone since I get it on December (4 weeks!). Yesterday I went to my provider (Telcel, in Mexico we don´t have all the support of Apple, like Genius line). The changed the phone for a new one, running iOS 5.0. Almost 24 hours without problem! So, I will not update until Apple (came on, you´re already late!) give us some answers! For me, it looks like a software issue... I´m using the same SIM card with no problems.

Regards to all the one, brothers in pain, who posted here... the comments are very useful, as the notion of not be the only one with this problem, as sometimes the technical services make us felt.

Mexsys

Level 1

0 points

Jan 6, 2012 1:21 PM in response to arturofromméxico

Hola Arturo.

Tengo el mismo problema que muchos de aqui, uso un iPhone 4S 32GB Telcel, que fué necesario que hicieras para que te dieran garantía en Telcel?

gracias.

tenampa

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2012 9:17 PM in response to ptnik

Mismo problema, actualize a 5.0.1 (9A406) y persiste el problema, invalid SIM.

Same problem in Mexico with iOS 5.0.1 (9A405) & (9A406), still invalid SIM error twice a day

Carrier: Telcel (Mexico)

iPhone 4s 64 GB

Jan 8, 2012 11:36 PM in response to ptnik

I still don't believe this, I loose voice/data connections within an hour and once I get 'invalid sim' I have to reboot the iPhone to get it working again.

This is really frustrating and what's worse, is I don't see Apple responding to any of this and no dead line to fix it.

patelk7

Level 1

0 points

Jan 9, 2012 10:44 AM in response to Boiling Ice

Ok guys, I didn't have a look at the modem firmware on my original handset so I'm not sure but my current one is 1.0.13. This has been mentioned and people have said theirs are 1.0.14.

Everyone currently experiencing the problem post your modem firmware versions and mabe we can narrow down the problem.

I am going on 11 days since i got m replacement handset and no problems thus far.

Jan 9, 2012 9:19 PM in response to patelk7

I'm on 5.0.1 (9A406), Modem (1.0.14) and almost every hour I get this "invalid sim"...

I was in US few days ago and T-Mobile sim worked without any issues, not even a single failure. But now back home (Bahrain), I'm getting this, I requested a Mobile Engineer support from my provider (Batelco) which I should get today or tomorrow and we'll investigate to find out a workaround. I will keep you guys posted.

Jan 9, 2012 10:01 PM in response to patelk7

same with patelk7

i replaced my iphone 4s(black) firmware 1.0.14 to iphone 4s(white) with firemware 1.0.13. so far so good i've been running a day without invalid sim not even waking up to an invalid sim. i also noticed my iphone(black) had writings at the back that said designed in california made in china. and now its just designed in apple california and alot of chinese characters at the bottom (WHITE) and i've also changed sims, apparently it works for some users the change of sim card, but i opted to changed the iphone instead. So i suggest people with Invalid sim problems either wait for 5.0.2 thats coming out soon or jailbreak 5.0.1 (it might have a fix for this) or like in my case just change the **** thing. I hope you guys get a fix soon or someting cause i agree this Invalid sim error IS just plain annoying.

Jan 10, 2012 1:27 AM in response to ptnik

Hi everyone,

I bought my iPhone 4S (white) more than one month ago and I'm getting errors since 2 days ago. I'm on Version 5.0.1 (9A406) with Modem Firmware 1.0.14 and I get this "Invalid SIM" error 3 times a day.

I used vodafone IT (Italy) cutted SIM card for the first three weeks without any problem. For christmas I went to Spain for two weeks and I used Simyo microSIM card without any problem. I went back to Italy two days ago and since then I'm using the original vodafone IT cutted SIM card with problems.

I tried to restore to default settings without any SIM card inside but the problem persist.

I asked to apple support and the give me a Genius Bar meeting for next saturday. They want to ensure that the problem is of the iPhone and not of the SIM card.

Now I installed the Spanish microSIM to see if I get the same error.

Lets see, I'll write again the next days.

Good luck!

Jan 10, 2012 1:30 AM in response to igaritano

igaritano,

I almost have your case, iPhone 4S was working fine with me here with Batelco, went to US used T-Mobile and was fine, came back to Bahrain and started getting issues with Batelco.

I did all kind of restores, but still no hope

please keep us posted with your results

Baaleos

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2012 1:37 AM in response to Boiling Ice

Has anyone tried iOS5.1 beta 3?

I'm scared to upgrade to this after the genius bar telling me that the beta software probably had defective code in it that was in the 5.0.1 build that caused this issue.

So far, since replacement of my handset, I haven't ha this problem.

ozden258

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2012 5:02 AM in response to ptnik

I have updated to iOS 5.0.1 9A406 today. It looks like working for now. I hope I wont wake up with a no service message in the morning.

guru_g

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2012 9:00 AM in response to ptnik

Hi everyone

I have also updated to iOS 5.0.1 9A406. now these days i am using my iphone 4s in pakistan, i cant understand whats happening with my phone when i use Warid Telecom micro sim it gives invalid sim error but when i use other network sim like Zong Tel every thing goes fine. Does any one have this issue ?

Jan 10, 2012 10:36 AM in response to guru_g

i got it with iOS 5.0 on it and it was working fine!! i was using it with warid tel in pakistan!! and then i updated it to 5.0.1 it started giving me problems and then i updated it to 9A406 it gave me problems!! i bought every sim and i was unable to make it work!! Zong didnt work as well! so i have sent it back to UK to get a new one now!!

Jan 10, 2012 1:44 PM in response to Mexsys

Hola Mexsys, presento el mismo problema que tu, tengo un iPhone 4s blanco de 32gb, qué sucedio contigo y telcel?

En un principio pensé que era cosa de mi sim y fui a cambiarlo , pero nuevamente empiezo con estas fallas.

¿Qué sucedió?

Gracias!

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Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)