Samsung Galaxy S4 - " Sim card not detected - reboot "

[Justin5609]

Has anyone else had an issue with their Galaxy S4 constantly coming up as the sim card not being detected and having to reboot?

My phone started doing it on the very odd occasion, but now it seems to do it 12+ times a day, sometimes 4 or 5 times in a row on a bad day. Sim card isn't loose. Works fine after a reboot (most of the time, sometimes keeps having to reboot).

Seems to happen more often since I upgraded to KitKat, but might be irrelevant. Google doesn't seem to help besides sending it off for repair which I'm pretty close to doing. Has anyone found any solutions besides?

 

[Daroncam]

HOLY CRAP THE PIECE OF PAPER TRICK WORKED!!!!! I can't believe it thanks! I got a new phone today anyway but hopefully this should suffice until it arrives. It wasn't even recognizing my SIM card at all!

 

[Mateii]

Installing "sim card info" app stopped the errors for my s4. I hope it helps others too.
LE: it only worked for 2 days... the error is back....

 

[cliftonphotographer]

I did the "slice of earplug foam, inside the grey plastic bezel, directly on the connector" thing. Meaning, I unscrewed and took it all apart, put the foam on carefully, then carefully reassembled and screwed it all together.

For 14 days, no sim card errors. On day 14, I got my first one. Another 5 days later. Another one day after that. Sigh. Phone is out of warranty and I'm not the original owner (bought off swappa maybe 8 months ago).

Not sure what to try next. I could try an even thicker slice, though the one I used was thick enough to put good pressure down.

I'm still trying to fix mine(just replaced the SIM card reader with no success) but of that might work for you,I only paid $9 with the little tool kit on eBay. Going to open mine up again tonight and try to put foam or something over the new one, maybe even but another one without the tool kit this time(I can get that for less than $5)

 

[ravklein]

I turned off the "Power Saver Mode" and my problem went away.

 

[dsilvapt]

Replace the sim card/sd card reader...... that will permanently fix your issue. You can get the sim card/sd card module from amazon for about 4 bucks and its with free shipping. Not everyone might be technically inclined to pull it off. But pull up a you tube video.... pay the 4 bucks and fix it yourself. All you need is something flat and plastic and an eyeglass screwdriver or a phone repair kit that you can also find for about 2 bucks. Never did it before took me about 5 min. Fixed.

I had the issue fixed just by replacing the SIM/SD card module. I tried almost everything before without success!
I only had the issue twice in 48 hours after the part replaced.I guess I have to change the mainboard as well!

 

[Erin__]

You can try to use another SIM card.

Another sim card wont work. I just put a new 32 gb in and it still does it. Im gonna send it to samsung and let them deal w/it..

Sim card -- not memory card. I came here because mine had done this too, 3 times in the past 3 days.

 

[lestatar]

In over 20 years of cell phone usage, this issue has to be the single most frustrating problem I have ever encountered. Absolutely incredible the number of Samsung owners who are having this issue and totally ridiculous that no official solutions from either Samsung or Google have been issued.

Over the last couple of months [~ 1 year old S4 Mini Duos i9192 international version], I have been experiencing this insane problem. I have read nearly every post and thread available online about this matter. I have tried all of the offered solutions without long-term success [with the exception of disassembling the phone and placing foam on the SIM tray ribbon].

However, I have finally made a single change on my i9192 phone settings which, for the last 48 hours, seems to have stopped the problem from recurring.

Phone details:
Samsung S4 Mini Duos i9192 [int'l version] - Android 4.2.2 Rooted - Baseband i9192XXUAMF9

The single change I made is under Jellybean Settings > More Networks > Mobile Networks > Network Mode...for both my SIM cards.

Originally, the network mode was set as GSM/WCDMA (auto connect), especially for main SIM 1.

I changed the option to GSM Only.

That's it.

No clue if this will be a long-term solution to the issue or why it would even make a difference at all. I can only report that 48hours+ and I have not had a single recurrence of this pathetic SIM CARD REMOVED error since making this change to GSM ONLY.

Just throwing this out there for anyone else who may be having this issue to possibly try out.

Good luck everyone...
-lestatar

UPDATE:

Well, it has been 5 whole days since I made the change above and the amazing news is that I have not had a single recurrence of the issue.

It is looking like one cause of the problem may be this setting, which, if set to Mobile Networks GSM & WCDMA (autoconnect) may cause the error. Guessing this setting may have issues with local carriers and how they change each mode whenever needed due to limitations in signal range/etc....

At least in MY case for this issue.

Incredible...both the severity and widespread nature of this problem and also the seemingly endless "solutions" that have varying success for each case.


UPDATE 2:

Well, since I made that tiny change, I have now gone 9 consecutive days WITHOUT getting this ridiculous error. Confidence is getting high that for me the problem is now gone for good.

I am now convinced, at least in my case, that the problem was indeed caused by the phone setting for GSM>WDCMA automatic handoffs according to network availability was working improperly.

Amazing...just amazing.

YMMV...
-les

 

[yellop]

I also "suffered" from this issue and as the phone was still under its warranty (2 years from Samsung) I left it to the shop support for investigation and testing. The result was battery change. Since then, no issues yet. It has only been a couple of days.
Strangely enough, I read on some forums about a certain battery serial number etc..Mine was not and thought more about another hardware issue (sim card pin or cables to and from the motherboard).
So the battery replacement did the trick "so far"...

 

[Paulytrade]

You're right if the last 6 of your IMEI number falls in the following range you're at Risk.
000001-585557

Will samsung replace thus for free they are telling me since its not on the samsung site its not correct info and i have to pay for repair.

I have sent 7 g4s back to t-Mobil now there just going good to send me a different phone

 

[WinstonMaculai]

Do not waste your time it is a hardware issue

I tried everything... from the stupid pushing the connectors with a pen solution, installing the weird BT utility... nothing worked

On the other hand I replaced the SIM card holder, tried the folded piece of paper solution... nothing worked more than 3 days

Finally I got a motherboard replacement and intalled it. SOLVED.

Hope this helps

--
Winston Maculai

 

[lestatar]

Do not waste your time it is a hardware issue

I tried everything... from the stupid pushing the connectors with a pen solution, installing the weird BT utility... nothing worked

On the other hand I replaced the SIM card holder, tried the folded piece of paper solution... nothing worked more than 3 days

Finally I got a motherboard replacement and intalled it. SOLVED.

Hope this helps

--
Winston Maculai

Perhaps it is a hardware issue. Perhaps not.

All I can say is that in my own case with my S4MiniDuos, since I made the simple network change I specified in my previous post on page 2 of this thread, I have had ZERO RECURRENCES of this ridiculous issue.

Not a single instance of the SIM not found problem.

Bottom line for people experiencing this issue - in order of escalating difficulty, doesn't it make sense for folks to try what has worked in my case first before going to all the effort and trouble to have the motherboard replaced?

ymmv,
-lestatar

 

[Traceyo]

Donnyc is it possible to hear your fix/solution for the sim card error issue? I'm ready to take mine apart but not sure what to do. I have numerous parts, 2mother boards, mid chasis and several frames of gs4. A brief explanation would be very much appreciated. This is my 4th gs4 but first time having the sim card error issue.

 

[unsungguru]

There is a bad batch of s4's out there that are known to have this issue. Talking to the warranty department of your carrier they can identify if your imei falls in the range of this batch and get you a new one. It had nothing to do with the sim card, it's a hardware issue.

You're right if the last 6 of your IMEI number falls in the following range you're at Risk.
000001-585557

Looks like it may be even more widespread...the last 6 digits of my IMEI start with 9, and I'm having this issue.

 

[Henry_26]

You can try to use another SIM card.

Another sim card wont work. I just put a new 32 gb in and it still does it. Im gonna send it to samsung and let them deal w/it..

I'm not sure if you mean micro SD card instead of your SIM card. an SD is a memory card is what uses GB, because it stores information. by getting a new SD card, you have done nothing but lost any information (photos, videos, music, documents, etc.) that was on your previous micro SD card. I see that this was posted as while back, but if you still have this recurring prompt on your phone, I recommend going to your current carrier and requesting either a new SIM card or a non defective phone. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[caribconsult]

There is a bad batch of s4's out there that are known to have this issue. Talking to the warranty department of your carrier they can identify if your imei falls in the range of this batch and get you a new one. It had nothing to do with the sim card, it's a hardware issue.

You're right if the last 6 of your IMEI number falls in the following range you're at Risk.
000001-585557

Mine is not in that range and I have that trouble.

 

[caribconsult]

Same here. My IMEI is above the range mentioned and I have the same issue.

 

[Gi-Force]

Hi
Same problem here and fixed it.
I have made a factory reset. Then I removed all updates from the programs I don't use which Samsung put on the phone and removed those or stopped them if that was not possible. That included the Samsung apps as well. After that I received for 4 days no error. Then I changed my SD card from 64Gb into 16 GB. After starting I received the error immediately. Shutdown my mob; removed the battery and took the SIMM as well as the SD card out and back in the holder. A week no errors. Then I opened my mob and unplugged the SIMM/SD cable (it's the same cable). Put some contact spray for electronics on the mother as well on the father side of the cable. Firmly put the cable back on its place. For some days no error. Then I changed the 16 gb SD card back into the 64 GB. Even after starting I received no error. Still for a week later I haven't received any error.
Hopefully this helps you.
Regards,
Gi-Force

 

[Wheatabix]

This worked for me. Used a small piece of an eraser (a snip off of one of those pen like erasers that retract)
Havn't had to reboot since going on 3 days and previously i was rebooting between 5 and 20 times a day.

Cheers!

Found the solution to this issue as I was having it also and it worked like a charm.

I take no credit for it and am only passing it along.

"applying pressure where the SIM/SD Card reader RIBBON is what makes the fix work, not the SIM card tray itself...

It doesn't really matter what you use, however I used a cut up piece of foam (earplug) to apply pressure to the area with the ribbon. My foam was about 0.4cm thick. See the below photo and please note that it was taken with a webcam so the orientation is reversed to what it really looks like."

http/forums.androidcentral.com/attachments/samsung-galaxy-s4/160714d1422254921-galaxy-s4-major-problem-sim-card-not-detected-1-25-2015-1-09-38-pm.png

The cheap soft foam earplugs work great because they apply even pressure to the right spot. Also it can be cut over thick and it still compresses perfectly to just the right size.

http/www.cvs.com/shop/personal-care/ear-care/ear-plugs/cvs-soft-foam-earplugs-skuid-694929

 

[Gi-Force]

This worked for me. Used a small piece of an eraser (a snip off of one of those pen like erasers that retract)
Havn't had to reboot since going on 3 days and previously i was rebooting between 5 and 20 times a day.

Cheers!

Found the solution to this issue as I was having it also and it worked like a charm.

I take no credit for it and am only passing it along.

"applying pressure where the SIM/SD Card reader RIBBON is what makes the fix work, not the SIM card tray itself...

It doesn't really matter what you use, however I used a cut up piece of foam (earplug) to apply pressure to the area with the ribbon. My foam was about 0.4cm thick. See the below photo and please note that it was taken with a webcam so the orientation is reversed to what it really looks like."

http/forums.androidcentral.com/attachments/samsung-galaxy-s4/160714d1422254921-galaxy-s4-major-problem-sim-card-not-detected-1-25-2015-1-09-38-pm.png

The cheap soft foam earplugs work great because they apply even pressure to the right spot. Also it can be cut over thick and it still compresses perfectly to just the right size.

http/www.cvs.com/shop/personal-care/ear-care/ear-plugs/cvs-soft-foam-earplugs-skuid-694929

I had read about this solution as well.
But you have to put something extra in your mob.
Have you think what can happen when the temperature is getting high?
A point someone else had mentioned as well.
What I have done doesn’t affect the mob.
And I had a lot of errors as well with three different SIM cards.
Now for 1 and a half weeks no error.
GRTZ
Gi

 

[Kevin_103]

My phone has this issue. The imei does not fall in the reported range. Even switched carriers.

There is a bad batch of s4's out there that are known to have this issue. Talking to the warranty department of your carrier they can identify if your imei falls in the range of this batch and get you a new one. It had nothing to do with the sim card, it's a hardware issue.

You're right if the last 6 of your IMEI number falls in the following range you're at Risk.
000001-585557