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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

Nov 28, 2011 2:27 AM in response to ptnik

I just came on to find out if there's been any update/info on this as mine started having this happen yesterday. I had it once, rebooted, worked. This morning I woke up at 4:30, checked facebook, composed and sent an email, came downstairs and bam, invalid sim card.

I've been on 5.0.1 since it came out so that's not a fix for me. So very disappointed. And a little nervous because I use my cell phone as my main number. I hope to heck the school doesn't try to call while the phone is throwing a tantrum.

If you do happen to come across a fix, would love if you post what worked. 🙂

neott

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2011 3:12 AM in response to momneedscoffee

Settings -> general -> network

Turning off mobile data seems to make mine more stable.

I can't get my email or anything but at least I can be contacted in an emergency ;)

iShamim

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2011 3:19 AM in response to ptnik

I used to get INVALID SIM 3-4 times a day. Last night I did a restore using iTunes....no Invalid SIM message for last 18 hours. But still I am not able to do any SIM PIN activity.

neott

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2011 3:28 AM in response to iShamim

Full restore or from an older backup?

Nov 28, 2011 3:34 AM in response to neott

neott wrote:

Settings -> general -> network

Turning off mobile data seems to make mine more stable.

I can't get my email or anything but at least I can be contacted in an emergency ;)

Thanks for this. I'll definitely try this if the restore doesn't work for me.

ptnik Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 29, 2011 2:38 AM in response to momneedscoffee

This night tried to disable the cellular data, and... no change whatsoever. I was greeted by the usual INVALID SIM in the morning.

However, I found some more data that might point to the real issue:

When my iphone gets stuck in that "limbo mode" - showing full bars and 3G, but unable to access the internet or make phone calls, I'm still able to receive calls!

If I try to make a phone call, it goes through the "call failed -> no service -> searching network -> signal back" process, and *then* I can make a phone call; though the mobile data never gets back (only after reboot.)

Anyway, that made me believe it could really have something to do with the 3G/2G data modes being messed up somehow?

Anyway, this is definitely a bug (or actual hardware issue), as I have a friend with a 4S from the same "batch", and using the same operator, and that works with me - so, in the same places where I'm usually in - and he's not experiencing any problems at all.

Is there anyway to force a check/recheck of the iOS 5.0.1 system, to really make sure the iOS is as it should and that there wasn't any "bug" during the OTA update process? (Without iTunes if possible)

Nov 29, 2011 6:03 AM in response to ptnik

Prior to this happening, I was getting a "searching" note then it would show a 310-345 number then connect to the network. The funny thing is that my husband has the 4 and he'll have full bars and be on 3G and my 4s will be searching for the network, 1 bar or no service. And I'm standing right next to him.

I did restore my phone yesterday AM (9:06am to be exact). *knock on wood* I have not seen the invalid sim card error just yet. We're almost on a full 24 hours.

The funny thing is that this ALL started for me the other day when I couldn't make phone calls. I had called AT&T up and she had me reset the phone (I was getting dead air but I could see the call connected because the phone started it's counter). Of course she passed me off to Apple, but I knew it was a network thing so I hung up (and later saw the announcement of an issue noted on AT&T's site). Anyway, it was later that night that the first invalid sim card error appeared.

Perhaps it is related to the OS in some way? Resetting via the phone caused issues, but restoring the phone via iTunes has appeared to fix it for the time being.

ptnik Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 29, 2011 6:14 AM in response to momneedscoffee

Thanks for sharing. I'll be sure to give it a try if the upcoming 5.0.2 doesn't fix the problem (or - as this is getting more frequent each and every day - even sooner!)

Nov 29, 2011 12:17 PM in response to ptnik

Hi! I am experiencing exact same problem as all of you. Just got my iphone 4s from Canada last Friday and the ordeal started after the 5.0.1 update. I went to get a new simcard from my service provider and it seems the problem has gotten worst! I just got rid of my iphone 4 unlocked with gevey sim & now I am beginning to regret I upgraded to iphone 4s. I hope Apple comes out with a fix soon because this is just plain ridiculous! I can't send text messages, can't call nor receive calls unless I turn the airplane mode on & off and I only have a 30 second window to do all of that & it goes dead again.

iShamim

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2011 2:32 AM in response to neott

I did a full restore from iTunes...No INVALID SIM for last 3 days now....the WiFi upgrades used a file of 55 MB where as iTunes uses file size of 813 MB.

ptnik Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 30, 2011 2:42 AM in response to iShamim

I'll be trying that tomorrow... the Invalid SIM situation is getting worse every day. Hope it fixes it for me as well.

Nov 30, 2011 6:10 AM in response to ptnik

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I'm on 48 hours of being "invalid SIM" free after restoring. Definitely worth a shot! I hope it works for you.

neott

Level 1

0 points

Nov 30, 2011 12:41 PM in response to ptnik

Quick reply...

I tried a full restore from iTunes - This did not fix the Sim failure issue (For me any way!)

Restored using beta 5.1 (Using my legit developer account) - This did not fix the issue.

probably worth noting that if 5.1 does not fix it the much anticipated 5.0.2 probably won't either (I am guessing)

Finally, I took a punt and went to my local o2 shop (My carrier for you non UK readers) and got a new sim card for free.

My name is neott and I have been "sim failure" free for 8 hours.

To summarise, the only thing that worked for me was a brand new sim card. I have read many many threads on this since my phone went south and have read about 64k/128k old/new gen sim cards etc, Not really my area of expertise simcards, but I will have a look later and try to determine what kind I have if it can help anyone else 😉

Glad this is sorted, my next plan was to travel 60 miles to my nearest Apple Store at the week end.

If you can go to your carriers shop and get a new sim it's got to be worth a go 😉

Cheers for all your help wether it be directly, or by posting your own experiences and enabling me to trouble shoot all options.

ptnik Author

Level 1

1 points

Dec 2, 2011 1:51 AM in response to ptnik

Finally got fed up and tried a full restore from iTunes yesterday.

As it was said, it downloaded and reflashed the full iOS 5.0.1 again. And for a while, I think that would be it... Everything seemed to be working ok, until... 5 hours later... a new Invalid SIM error popped up.

This morning, a friend of mine that got his 4S at the same time as I did, and that had never experience this issue (was my "comparison reference"), also said he got his first Invalid SIM error.

If this is happening to him, I suspect it might begin to pop up more often to lots others - which at least might force Apple to acknowledge there's a real problem - whether it's software or hardware.

Guess the only way we could try to narrow it down would be for force a downgrade to 5.0.0 and see if that helps - though even then, there might already be some kind of configuration messed up in the SIM card or whatever.

My last resort will be to try and get a new (different) SIM from Vodafone... but, again... I wouldn't expect that to be it: my last SIM was working firn for over 1 year, 1 month in the 4S. Now my friend also has his perfectly working SIM misteriously go bad in his 4S?... Sounds really weird to me, and worst of all... it's a very worrying pattern. Who's to say that even if I get a new iPhone 4S, it won't happen again a few weeks/months from now?

Dec 2, 2011 4:42 AM in response to ptnik

im fed up now i was on IOS 5 and got the invalid sim no sim messgge constantly i tried everything and ended up updating to IOS 5.0.1 hoping that something would help but i still have the same problem no sim constantly my iphone 4s is just an ipod now its useless and i feel cheated out of alot of money apple havent even aknowledged us yet. i hope a fix comes soon.

but just to let you all know its not just people on 5.0.1 its also 5.0 and i serously think its a hardware problem!

Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)