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iPhone 5 and "NO SIM CARD INSTALLED" error

I got my iPhone 5 today and everything worked beautifully for 3 hours. I made one phone call and about 10 minutes later when I stepped onto and airplane I noticed the phone saying "NO SIM CARD".


What's going on here??? How can I fix? I've read about this same thing happening to the 4 and 4S. Are those fixes the same for the 5?


I'm on a trip and won't have access to cellular networks unless this is FIXED. I'm kinda ****** since this is a BRAND NEW IPHONE 5.


Someone please help. :-/

iPhone 5, iOS 6, NO SIM CARD INSTALLED errror

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 5:30 PM

Reply
234 replies

Mar 15, 2017 3:37 AM in response to deggie

Deggie, Darling you don't seem to be understanding Something Very Vital- No- one is trying to Say, that they have the Best Phones- They are simply Stating what type of Phone they are using because that was the Type of Phone it happened on.. A phone doesn't define who you are, we are Simply Sharing Problems here. Hoping we can help eachother out.. Please don't waste anymore of this Groups Time with your Banal Questions, The only reason I answered you is because I'm a bit Bored and getting ready to go to work- Jaden-

Sep 21, 2012 5:59 PM in response to Interface7

I needed a paper clip to pop SIM card out and back in.

Found one in my bag (I'm in an airplane btw...35,0000 ft up) Woot!

Popped it SIM card out. Blew on it for dust and in the slot. Popped Back in. Restarted phone.

Worked!!! No more error.


Just says "no service" cuz I'm in the air.


Now...when I land ill see if I get 4G LTE and make sure the problem doesn't persist.

Sep 22, 2012 12:07 PM in response to Interface7

Crap!! I was first in line at the apple store for launch. I wanted this phone so bad!! Got the black 64Gb iPhone 5 and after 1 hour of using it. "No SIM card". Power off and it worked again. For at least 45min. Then "no SIM card" again. This time removing card and cleaning, powering off, everything I can think of and still does not work. Well looks like Genius Bar for me.

Sep 22, 2012 3:19 PM in response to Interface7

I had the same problem. Last night, when I went to charge my iPhone 5 for the first time, I had an error message displayed, "No SIM Card Installed".


This is what I did to solve the problem.


Powered the phone down.

I removed the SIM card.

Use a small paper clip and insert in the sim card hole and push firmly. Don't use a large paper clip. While they fit the hole, are too large to push on the mechansim that pops the card up.

I lightly cleaned the SIM card contacts with an alcohol prep swab (the kind they use when you get a shot). Just so you know, I did try dry cleaning the card with a soft cloth at first, but it didn't work for me. Try it, if you don't have the prep swab, it might work for you.

I then made sure the card was dry of the alcohol before I reinserted the card in the phone.


Restarted the phone.


This solved my problem. The phone booted up normally.

I hope it solves your problem too.

Sep 22, 2012 7:27 PM in response to Interface7

I've had my AT&T white 32Gb iPhone 5 for two days now and all of the sudden its like it went crazy. Within a few minutes of each other I had it send out a jibberish pocket-email, compose a ransom-note inspired emoj email and if that wasn't scary enough I got the dreaded "No SIM car installed" error. Rebooting the phone didn't clear up the problem, at least initially, but on he third attempt the card seemed to work again.

Sep 23, 2012 7:02 AM in response to Interface7

I too had the same problem with the NO SIM CARD error. Tech support had me reboot several times and remove the SIM card, and blow into the slot. Nothing brought the phone back. They told me I needed to go to the Verizon store to get a new sim card but I needed to wait until Monday since they did not have any now. This morning on Sunday after reading about cleaning the SIM card with an alcohol wipe I tried that and phone is now working.

iPhone 5 and "NO SIM CARD INSTALLED" error

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