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No SIM card installed keeps popping up

I have been using my wifi/cellular iPad mini without a SIM card for the last eight months without a problem. I 'upgraged' to os8 a couple of days ago and now I get a pop up telling me there's no SIM card installed every few minutes. It popped up twice whilst trying to type this message. I have looked everywhere in settings for a way to disable it, thinking that perhaps certain apps were prompting it. Will I have to put a sim card to avoid this? I was told when I bought it, that without a SIM card it would be just like a wifi only ipad. or will I have to reset it to factory settings and load everything again? Thanks in advance.

iPad mini Wi-Fi, iOS 8, IPad mini wifi/cellular

Posted on Sep 20, 2014 11:47 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 20, 2014 11:52 PM

Turn off cellular data.

235 replies

Jan 10, 2015 8:04 AM in response to Andryel

Same model iPad and software, and I get "OK, I found this on the Web for 'Disable Cellular Network'", followed by a list of search results. For "cellular network", Siri says "OK, here's what I got", followed by a list of search results.


Perhaps because there is no "cellular network" setting on my iPad. "Cellular data", "Network", and "Carrier" are all off, and I still get the error message.

Jan 14, 2015 10:25 AM in response to sunnyinlondon

Hi all,


same problem for me with my iPAD 3. iOS 8.2.1 worked fine for weeks and then i tried to install my SIM card. I got a message that there are Carrier updates and if i would like to update my iPAD, so i pressed yes (nothing new so far). My iPAD rebooted and then it went to "Activation Required". Since then, and even that i have restored it as new device 2 times already i cannot use my SIM as it infinitely checks for the PIN validity and when i leave it locked, i get the "Locked SIM" message every minute and when i remove it i get the "no SIM card installed" message every minute...


So to wrap up:

I already tried a fine working SIM and it does not proceed after PIN check (iPAD is carrier free ie purchased unlocked)

I already tried keeping the SIM locked and it does not work since i get the "Locked SIM" message every minute

I already tried removing the SIM and it does not work since I get the "No SIM card installed" message

I already tried restoring my iPAD as new device two times and it didn't work

I already tried Airplane mode, no luck

I already tried turning Cellular data off, no luck either

I didn't tried the SIRI option but i doubt it would make any difference


IMHO this is a serious bug that came with iOS 8 and Apple needs to address it immediately so please APPLE do something to help us all, who trust your products!!!

Jan 14, 2015 11:51 AM in response to aNodyNos

Update #1: i restored my iPad for the third time as new device only this time i did it via iTunes on my iMac. So far without the SIM card installed i don't get the message anymore. I only got it once after the initial boot which is normal. I will give it another go inserting and removing the SIM to see how this will work and give an update with the result.

Jan 29, 2015 12:37 AM in response to dreifois

if its a matter of no importance to pay 10 bucks for a sim to have to put in an ipad that has cost 950 plus tax each maybe Apple can pay it. This bug has gone on for months now with no repair. It makes all devices owners wish to use without cell service unusable. Why not place this warning in ads for the cell chip containing iPads? We were told to buy the cell chip containing iPads to get functional GPS which unlike most android tablets apples wifi only model does not have the GPS chip. Now they are deleting posts? Is it possible this is not a bug but some sort of way of pushing people to use cell service who decide not to? fact is this should not take months with no response: if this was a bug it would be something fixed right away. By forcing people to pay to put in a SIM chip they push you to make the unit ready for cell service. With my old AT&T ipad one it had no sim just turn on service in settings.

Feb 5, 2015 9:49 AM in response to sunnyinlondon

I have the exact same problem and I keep hoping that software updates would fix it. I don't use a SIM card in my iPad... never did. I bought the SIM-capable iPad and mini-iPad in case i ever change my mind and eventually get a SIM but I have been perfectly happy with wifi. That is until version 8 came out and this most annoying popup reminder that no SIM card is installed --->> I KNOW ALREADY!


This has become so annoying and it pops in the middle of application interrupting productivity. If this is some kind of incentive-driven punishment to force consumers to buy SIM and purchase unneeded service plans with phone carriers, I will soon abandon Apple for other platforms. I really don't need this aggravation.

No SIM card installed keeps popping up

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