Galaxy S4: Major problem - SIM card not detected

[Draudt]

Now that I think about it I started having this problem when I tried to mirror my phone to Amazon fire stick. I removed all amazon apps. I'll follow up in a few to see if this helps at all.

Thanks

 

[KStPierre]

I've had this problem off and on since getting my s4 more than a year ago. It has seemed to occur more when updates happen but usually goes away when I reboot. This week it seems to be worse... still doesn't see the SIM after rebooting but did come back after booting in safe mode. I have noticed that it mainly happens when auto switching on or off wifi. For example when I leave my house and the home Wi-Fi disconnects or when I arrive at my office and the office Wi-Fi connects. Seems to be worse if updates are happening at the same time. I'm using Bell service in Canada. Going to try turning off the Wi-Fi auto connect and see what happens.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[zenith1966]

i have also tried this method a couple of days without the mesage but has started again now. i change my battery when flat as i have a spare and noticed now the sponge is pretty flat and probably not pushing down as it was when first fitted.:-\
just an update i fitted another foam piece in place and have again had no rests asked where before i was getting one everytime i put in my pocket so as far as i am concerned itd is defintely the ribbon needs pressure to be kept on to stop the reset message.will have to fit something hard plastic to keep constaint pressure to ribbon connector point.

just an update from post above stuck slither of plastic on sim tray ribbon now for two months no message dropped several times too and in pocket(when it happened a LOT)had to take middle base off to stick plastic on to the sim card ribbon but as i say touch over two months no message.i am on the kitkat 4.4.2

 

[Mithan Kitara]

In the last 2 weeks, I have been having this problem with a S4 i337m I purchased on Dec 4, 2013 and use a lot.

Frequency:
Started out about once a day, then go to the point where it was happening every couple of hours.


What I did:
1. I put double sided tape over the SIM card holder initially, thinking it was just sliding around in there and that was the problem, but this did nothing to fix it.

2. I opened the case, reseated the two ribbons.

It has been 18 hours now and has been good, hopefully it stays that way.



I also uninstalled Google Remote Desktop, thinking maybe that had something to do with it (I doubt it).



My guess is that the phone is just getting old enough where the tape ribbon copper connectors are becoming oxidized and not connecting as well as it used to be. SIM cards are designed in such a way so if they are "removed", the phone reboots. This is to prevent cloning, unauthorized use, etc.

 

[Johnny Greene]

After 1,5 year performing just perfectly, my S4 started showing this SIMcard issue a week after upgrading to Lollipop.
Just typical behaviour: sometimes 5 times in a day, sometimes 3 days without the issue, making you think the problem was solved.

- Vodafone support in the Netherlands said it was a known issue - I had to reset to factory defaults > this did not help at all.
- Vodafone support now said: "It is a known issue, please contact Samsung Support."
- Samsung said: "It is a known issue, please take your phone to a repair point." (Dynafix in the Vodafone store in Maastricht)
- Dynafix employee said: "It is a known issue, in the past we've tried to replace the SIMcard-slot, but that didn't work. We'll have to send it in to Dynafix repair centre." - He didn't now what they were going to do to fix it.
- I've just received news from Dynafix, they've examined my S4 and guess what? They've discovered that my phone had moisture damage and because of that warranty was void! They didn't even make the effort to make me an offer to have it repaired.
Now we all know this "moisture damage thing" is just "stieren poep" (=Dutch for bull droppings). The picture, they've included, indicating this "supposed" damage is no-where near the SIMcard holder flatband cable connector.

But what can one do?
When I get my phone back from repair (unrepaired), it's directly off to the guitar-store to get me some picks.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mithan Kitara]

Ok, 2 days after my fix, and its doing it again.

I opened the case again, this time I reseated the cable from the SIM card assembly (I reseated the motherboard cable on the right and left side before).

We will see if this makes a difference.

I put some double sided tape over the SIM card as well, it is now pushing down harder than before.

I ordered a new SIM Card assembly from EBay for $10.

I am planning on upgrading to a new phone soon, but wanted to give this to my mother so...

 

[Kavan Sidhu]

My friend has a tmobile s4. It is cracked screen but still works. It has 4.4.4 and he never touched it he swears. It came like that. Any it works. He never complained of no sim card. So maybe upgrade to 4.4.4 or lollipop.

 

[Johnny Greene]

Today I picked up my S4 in Maastricht.
Opened up the phone, unscrewed the gray plastic back cover and stuck a small piece of plastic just where is presses on the SIM/SD unit-connector. Just like many of you have done before.
I'll report back in a week.

 

[Velander]

I have had this same problem with my S4 since the software update last year.

I have tried every suggestion without any improvement: software reinstall, new SIM card, piece of paper on top of SIM card.

What really annoys me is that some Samsung engineer decided to display an error message when this happens with only one choice, Restart. If that is the only choice then just restart the Dan phone when the error is detected so it doesn't sit in my pocket for hours with the error message displayed while I miss phone calls and messages, and then have to wait to reboot before I can use the phone.

What if there was an emergency? I think this is a safety issue so Samsung should either correct the software or replace all defective phones, even if they are out of warrantee, like mine.

This is my third Samsung phone, but it will probably be my last.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Kryste Odonnell]

this was the solution for me. but i just uninstalled my last apps before it stopped working and tried to start it in safe mode but it didnt work. but when my phone started the the sim was working. yay!!!

 

[Mithan Kitara]

this was the solution for me. but i just uninstalled my last apps before it stopped working and tried to start it in safe mode but it didnt work. but when my phone started the the sim was working. yay!!!

What was the solution?

 

[Ivonvle]

I have the same problem till yesterday....now the message is permanent...and the phone is not working as phone anymore....went to Tmobile and they said that probably is the sim card reader broken...anyone try to replace it so far?

 

[Cody Heimpel]

I guess this forum is still wondering about this issue...

In order to fix this issue you need to replace an IC on the mainboard. I work for a Samsung Warranty Repair Center. There is no other permanent solution. In warranty Samsung will replace the board. OOW you need to find a shop sophisticated, trustworthy, and equipped to perform BGA or Surface-mount IC repairs.

hiatthe

 

[Ivonvle]

And how much would cost aprox this repair?

 

[Cody Heimpel]

We haven't finalized our price yet but it's approximately $200 CDN

 

[Mithan Kitara]

I guess this forum is still wondering about this issue...

In order to fix this issue you need to replace an IC on the mainboard. I work for a Samsung Warranty Repair Center. There is no other permanent solution. In warranty Samsung will replace the board. OOW you need to find a shop sophisticated, trustworthy, and equipped to perform BGA or Surface-mount IC repairs.

hiatthe

When you say an IC, are you refering to a chip, capacitor, resister or broken trace or something similar?
Is there actual information out on WHAT part is broken? (Picture with a circle or something).

 

[AlexV182]

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.

YOU ARE YES YOU ARE ******* AWESOME!! THANK YOU!
I play guitar myself too but right now I'm too short on picks so I just taped several tiny layers of ducktape on this black thingy on the plastic cover and it did work!!! An infident amount of kudos to you mate!!

 

[Johnny Greene]

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

It is mote than 10 days ago that I applied Steve Cormier's solution (piecse of plastic behind the connector).
These last 10 days my S4 didn't suffer anymore of those N0 SIM card errors.
Steve's the boss!!

 

[amidaeus]

My friend has a tmobile s4. It is cracked screen but still works. It has 4.4.4 and he never touched it he swears. It came like that. Any it works. He never complained of no sim card. So maybe upgrade to 4.4.4 or lollipop.

My son and I have the exact same phone (S4i337m), the same age. I have been suffering the "sim card removed" issue for the past 10 months with no apparent solution. My son has never had an issue. We both have similar apps. The only major difference I noticed is that his case is a thinner wrap around open case and I have the large Otter box enclosed case. So the last 3 days I have not been using the case and guess what? no more "sim card removed" issue. It is definitely a heat related issue. It could also be the pressure exerted by the case in certain areas. But it is the CASE. Hope this helps others.

 

[mmoxham]

If you don't have 4G just use gms/wcdma