Galaxy S4: Major problem - SIM card not detected

[Sh0nuff1967]

Re: Galaxy S4: Major problem - SIM card not detected FIX

Hello,

When my Samsung S4 gave me repeated NO SIM CARD errors, I thought I would have to sell my phone for parts. BUT I was able to get it working. It has been up for three days. No problems.

1 - I did an online chat with Samsung. Not much help.
2 - I went to the Rogers dealer and they gave me a new SIM. It worked for about 12 hours. Then the error came back.
3 - Some sites suggest doing the VOL + HOME menu / Clear Cache and / or factory reset. That did nothing, other than waste time.
4 - I placed a strip of business card behind the SIM. That would work for short periods, but I think that was a fluke.

What DID work was the following:

You take apart the phone, including the white interior back plate, including the eight or so little screws.

Turns out that there is a heat related issue that makes it so that the ribbon cable connector that makes the SIM card and the microSD card tray NOT communicate with the mainboard. Maybe there is some slight warping. Anyway. Look at this image:

View attachment 151038

Literally, I trimmed a piece of a guitar pick, and glued it to the black strip on the plastic phone backing. Then, when the phone is reassembled, it puts enough pressure on the ribbon cable assembly that the phone begins working. It was a ten minute fix, and it seems to be holding up just fine. I would try that fix before replacing the SIM tray.

This fix looks to have solved my issue where the phone would show "cannot find sim card". Glad I found an actual physical fix and not just "reboot into safe mode", or "uninstall this program and then install this one" stuff. Not to bash those that have found fixes via a software update. I personally prefer hard fixes. Especially when a device is giving me a "cannot be found" or the device randomly reboots itself. Loose connections and bad cards are the culprits about 90% of the time IMHO.

 

[Mark Powell2]

Been having a similar problew with my Samsung s4. Took it to my service provider and they noted that the battery was a very tight fit. He replaced the sim card adapter (tray you put small sim cards in before sliding into the phone). The battery easily went back into the phone and now works perfectly. He said that sometimes the adapter can be warped over time resulting in the sim card not lining up perfectly. The whole process took less than 5 minutes to fix and was free of charge.

 

[mossman14]

I had the same issue with my S4 where at least everyday it was saying "SIM card not detected". So I did what many said seemed to work, put a small piece of double sided sticky foam tape cut about 3/8" long and 1/4" wide and stuck over the SIM/SD Card reader RIBBON and snapped the plastic back on. It's been weeks now (about 3 - 4 weeks) and not once has that error message popped up! What a fast and simple fix. If it pops up again, I will probably repeat the same method as the foam may flatten out some over time. I was going to use the earplug foam but figured the adhesive foam would be just a bit more "firm" to apply a more even pressure. Try it, what do you have to loose!

 

[TimJWL]

I had this problem with my S4 shortly after one of the updates. I was convinced the update caused it and I felt like the phone was hotter than it should be under load. Anyway I reluctantly tried most of the quick fixes like card in the right place and non worked. Still convinced this is software related, I took someone's advice and installed "Bluetooth connect & Play" from the play store and ran it once. To my amazement I had no errors for a week. After a week I thought I would see what happened if I took it off - the phone lasted all of thirty seconds before the error came back. I reinstalled the app and over 2 weeks later and no error! Too much of a coincidence I think! Anyway I registered just to post this and maybe help someone else out too

 

[richwalls]

Hello all. I have had this problem with my S4 for months and tried every solution I could find. I believe I found a solution. The problem seems to be with the sim card holder. You can either replace this piece, which may the best solution, or do what I did. The Sim card holder needs to have pressure put on it to keep the connection. I have an Otter Box case so I was able to roll up tape to about 1/8 of an inch thick and place it in between the phone and the Otter box, above the sim cards location. I waited 6 weeks before posting this to be sure. I've only lost sim card recognition once in this time. I recently removed it to see if the problem returned and it happened 12 times that day. I hope this works for you.

 

[Lizandro Llancafilo]

STEVE,

I have followed your solution. It worked perfectly.
Thank you very much!!

Lizandro

 

[Chris NA]

I think you are correct. My s4 started doing this after the new update, and i really think heat is causing this.

I thought it was a particular ago, but i keep all my apps closed now, but i tend to notice the phone hot with the problem. Any way to downgrade to the software to the, my phone is not rooted.

But I'm also thinking my batter my have expanded and possibly cause this issue too. I may buy a cheapo knock off to test.

 

[Chris NA]

Wow you save me a lot of trial and error.

What I did, so far

factory reset.
downgraded firmware back 2 revisions.
put in a brand new OEM battery

all without progress. My serial ends in 431829 it seems to be in the problematic range. My phone is out of warranty but this looks like a design flaw.
Any progress for you?

 

[Chris NA]

Re: Major problem - Sim card not detected

are you still up and working? i may try this fix soon.

 

[Mohamad Albeik]

Hi I really didn't understand how to put the earplug there can you explain to me how to put it please :-\

 

[Chris NA]

Well nothing I have worked has fixed my issue,
The only conclusion I can remotely come up with is that it is heat related, as it seems to crash more often when the battery temp is about 35oC

but I have seen it crash 1st thing in the mornig when the phone was cold, also I've now seen the phone reboot and it reboots as if no sim card is in the phone, I then have to reboot AGAIN and then it will work.

I'm reluctant on trashing this phone and I certainly will stay away from Samsung on my next purchase, if I they don't provide me a better resolution As to send it in for repair at your cost, and we are working on a solution.

For those who did the "working fix" of putting a piece of paper to put pressure on the sim has this continues to work? If this works then why would replacing the sim card slot not work?

 

[Justin Zablan]

Please help i have a Samsung Galaxy s4 i9505 from globe and it always forcing to restart due to "sim card remove" a week before it is just happening 2times a day but right now it cant detect any simcard please help

how to apply that pressure perfectly

 

[Craig Dyson]

The one that works is a peace of paper/tape over the sim/memory card to apply extra pressure

 

[onebayoubelle]

I have Samsung G4, using an Otter Box. Chasing down the SIM Card not detected error is very frustrating. I finally found a lasting solution after factory reset, foam insert, etc. did not fix problem. The SIM Card error message is a kind of false flag. Basically, the Samsung battery overheats, swells & removes pressure the back of the phone holds in place. Overheating also causes warping inside the phone. As usual, Samsung denies there is a problem. I came across You Tube video explaining this & found that replacing the battery with a non-Samsung brand fixed this problem. The battery is called RAVPower, available on Amazon for <$10. It is slightly longer life

 

[minos316]

I have a I9195 s4 mini LTE, its a piece of ****. Constant problems with signal dropping then it eventually stopped working and wouldn't power on. Fair enough samsung fixed this but none of the other issues, it has been with them 4 times now. My problem is different i have a problem with no sim card when the phone is first powered on specifically three and virgin mobile don't work.

The ones that do work the signal constantly drops. Samsung are awful I will never be buying another samsung phone again i paid good money for this piece of crap. Im going to give them one more chance to fix it if they don't I will be suing them i paid way to much money to let it fly and write it off. Ill pay for a professional report and then sue. **** Samsung.

 

[Shane94116]

My phone has been doing this for months and twice I've almost bought a new one. Why hasn't Samsung stepped up as a company and released a legitimate fix. I've read all the tricks how to rig your phone, but it is pathetic that Samsung hasn't just acknowledged the problem and fixed it by now...
I write this as my Sim can not be detected for second day in a row...

 

[djolelukas]

I have the same problem on my samsung galaxy s4 mini I9195.

I tried everything: wipe cache, putting piece of paper on sim card, pressing sim card, hard reset, blowing into sim card holder, deleting some apps idk, i tried with different sim card - same thing.

Sometimes phone recognise sim card, but after few minutes or less, again "insert sim card".

Then i noticed something - when i turn on my phone and phone recognise sim card the notification is not popping out as long as i am doing something on the phone - when something is happening on the display. I turned on youtube video 2 hours and nothing happened. But when i lock the phone and put it in my pocket or leave it for a minute or two, and unlock it again - notification is there, just waiting for me!

It has something to do with the display power.

 

[Reximus42]

Re: Major problem - Sim card not detected

I have had the same issue with the message coming up saying to insert a Sim card and with no other option but to restart the phone for the last 5 months. The issue was occurring on average twice a day. I have tried various things but nothing has worked until now.
There is a connector that connects the sim card reader to the motherboard, disconnect the cable and reconnect it. I did this 7 days ago and have not had the issue since.
There appears to be many different underlying issues that cause this.
Add this to the last of things to try.
I hope it helps.

 

[Omar Ahmad2]

[B]Problem is that when they write NO SIM CARD that i cant open network opertors[/B]
plz HELP

 

[Reximus42]

I have had some luck by uninstalling and reinstalling Vitamio. The SIM card not detected message was coming up multiple times per day. I uninstalled and reinstalled Vitamio and did not have the issue again for 1 week, I did it again and this time this issue has not come back for nearly two weeks (still has not come back as yet). I have no idea how this has anything to do with the issue, however I was getting a regular message advising that Vitamio had stopped. Since doing the reinstall neither message has come back.