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User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: 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

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366 replies
User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: Level 1
1 points

Nov 21, 2011 6:57 AM in response to ptnik

Just some more info, in case some Apple people are monitoring this and using it to track down the problem:


I disabled the SIM PIN... No change, still got Invalid SIM;


I used just the supplied 4S charger/cable... No change, Invalid SIM. (I even removed the bumper, just to make sure it wasn't affecting the cable connection somehow)


I tried placing a tiny strip of isolating tape over the SIM contacts that might touch the microSIM craddle, also no change.



So... I think I've run out of ideas other than doing a full wipe-restore, which I'm not to keen on doing...


A couple of times I caught the exact moment of the Invalid SIM message popping up, with the iPhone just sitting idly by, not connected to any charger, nor doing anything.


Also, the Invalid SIM message is now popping up more and more: when I got the new SIM it went ok for 3 or 4 dyas, then it started popping up every couple of days... then every day... and now it's getting closer to 3 Invalid SIM errors per day!


I can hardly trust to be connected now, and have to constantly glance at the iPhone to see if its "invalid" or not...


Hope the upcoming 5.0.2 fixes the issue.

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User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: Level 1
1 points

Nov 22, 2011 4:08 PM in response to ptnik

Yet another thing I've tried today.


I've tried using the microSIM "tray" from my old iPhone 4, and strangely enough the cell reception seemed to be a lot better (from 3 bars went to "full strength"). Which prompted me to believe it could be indeed a hardware issue - although both trays are exactly the same as far as I can tell visually.


But, even with better signal reception, in the middle of the day I got yet another Invalid SIM error... so, there goes my theory.


It made no difference, although I can swear the strength indicator does change and is affected dependending on which SIM tray I use... weird, right?

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User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: Level 1
1 points

Nov 24, 2011 8:39 AM in response to ptnik

A few more tests...


Having tried my old iPhone 4 SIM tray in the 4S, I noticed I had a lot less Invalid SIM errors, but I often would have no connection even though it showed bars/3G connectivity. When trying to place a call it would do nothing... then fail after a while; then show no signal; then searching... and then finally back to real connection.


Today, I did a few more tests: using a friends 4S tray and also his SIM Card. (Though, as you would expect, I wasn't able to try it for more than a couple of minutes - so, no real data regarding if it might be SIM related or not).


However, when placing my SIM card (which still had some parts "taped over", as some suggest) in his iPhone 4S - it couldn't even recognize the SIM card (which was working "ok" in mine).


So, I ditched the tape over my SIM card, and at least it was recognized in his 4S. When I put it back on mine (no tape) - it is now behaving just like it was in the "4" sim tray: meaning, instead of frequent INVALID SIM errors, I'm now getting the "no service/search/connection found" issue.


... Which leads me to believe this might indeed be some kind of hardware error - although it's very strange to vary with simple remove/reinsert SIM Trays/cards...


The only thing I noticed - at close inspection - is that the sim tray seems to have a tiny layer of material over the place making contact with the micro SIM (in my case, it actually touches the chip contacts), and in my 4S tray, that layer isn't as "perfectly placed" as it should.

However, if that was it - then it should have given no error when using my old iPhone 4 sim tray, which is "perfect" in that sense.


So... I'm still at a loss - still hoping that this is some firmware bug of sorts... but growing increasingly weary if Apple is actually giving a **** about all this - or simply ignoring it all. I was hoping the 4S to be my best iPhone ever (having all previous ones that were available in Europe)... and as it is, I can't even trust it to be always within reach of someone wanting to call me. 😟

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User profile for user: janba
janba
User level: Level 1
8 points

Nov 24, 2011 8:54 AM in response to ptnik

I was little bit thinking


Me and my two friends bought the same day iPhone 4S.

Mine is having these issues with SIM card after 5.0.1 update, and their DON'T


BUT:


I have activated my 4S in the Apple Store. Everything was fine but for some reason I switched my SIM back to my older iPhone 4 and was using it for few days. Then I switched iphones so I put the SIM to my already activated iPhone 4S and I was starting having these issues of losing signal, and "invalid SIM" etc.


What was different what I did and what they did:


My friends did backup of their old iPhones, activated their new iPhone 4Ss, and did restore from backup and then HAVENT USED THEIR old ones ANYMORE!


And here is my suggestion:

Isn't there some security from Apple not to activate more than one iPhone with one SIM card?!


Maybe I am not right, but who knows:(

What are your experiences?


If anybody here activated with this "wrong" SIM card more than one iPhone, there is probably the answer.

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User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: Level 1
1 points

Nov 24, 2011 9:07 AM in response to janba

Well, you might have a point there... I might have also done something of that kind, switching back and forth with my old iPhone 4. But, in any case, I had my 4S working perfectly for weeks... and only began having problems when I upgraded to 5.0.1.

Since then I have already switched to a brand new microSIM, and still have the problem. (Though I haven't yet done a full wipe-restore... as I've been delaying to try out the upcoming 5.0.2 first. If that update doesn't fix this, I'll have to try the full restore - and if that doesn't work either, and Apple doesnt even acknowledges the problem... the only remaining option will be to return it and hope they give me a new one.

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User profile for user: janba
janba
User level: Level 1
8 points

Nov 25, 2011 9:14 PM in response to ptnik

FIX!!!


fix for droping signal and a "Invalid SIM" it would sound really strange, like Magician, but it WORKED!!!!

0. Turn OFF wifi on ur iphone 4S

1. open the tray with sim card and hardly push with thumb to clean the golden site on ur SIM card (i did it three times)

and pushed back


2. Hold power and sleep button EXACTLY for 30s without stop!!! then start ur phone and turn ON wifi on ur iPhone 4S

3. tick Airplane mode, wait 10s and untick Airplane mode


and I also did fron desperation point 4.)

4. activate Siri and say: "let my SIM card work!"



and Since did these steps, I had no Invalid Sim!!:))

at least 24 hours no problems (knock-knock)

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User profile for user: neott
neott
User level: Level 1
0 points

Nov 27, 2011 4:02 PM in response to ptnik

Yet another one here, been having "Invalid sim" since last monday 2- 3 times a day....


However I have been developing on this phone all weekend (plugged in via USB to my mac mini) - no errors for a good 14 hours on Saturday, unplugged it at 2am and went to bed.

when I checked it at 8am guess what? yeah "Invalid sim"


Its been plugged in again all day (15 hours) and no errors - I would be willing to put money on an "invalid sim" message when I wake in the morning after it has been unplugged.


Not sure what this really means, but I am guessing something around voltage drop or something when the phone is not plugged in due to battery discharge or something?


Anyone else get sim errors whilst charging overnight or does this just seem to be whilst running off the battery for everyone?

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User profile for user: ptnik
ptnik Author
User level: Level 1
1 points

Nov 28, 2011 2:09 AM in response to ptnik

Just some more updates:


I've tried all types of "voodoo" fixes - all without success: taping the SIM card (although it does seem to make "some difference" - just not better or worst); cleaning, reseating the SIM; etc. etc.


I'm seriously convinced this is not a hardware problem. If it was, would would it be possible for a reboot to fix the problem? (and why would it just start hapening after the upgrade to 5.0.1?)



Anyway, this is seriously annoying - to the point that I can no longer trust my iPhone to be connected to reachable. Thanks Apple, for ruining the trust I had in cell phones for over 15 years. At least until now I knew if I had cell signal or not, but now - besides having to reboot my iPhone 4S more times each day than I did my previous iPhones in their entire lifetime - I have to make some "dummy phone calls" every 30 min or so, just to ensure my iPhone really is "connected". And more times than not, having to reboot it once again.


I even got to the point that I'm actually surprised whenever I receive a phone call - as I just simply assume it would be in that "limbo mode", saying it's connected, but not actually.




Even more weird stuff: sometimes the iPhone can recover back to voice call signal: full signal (fake) -> call failed -> no signal -> searching -> strength indicator up again. But, even in that case, there's no data connection.


Desperatly waiting for an iOS 5.0.2 update - and hope that takes care of this once and for all...

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Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)

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