Galaxy S4: Major problem - SIM card not detected

[Alina Glover]

I also had this problem on a Samsung Galaxy S4 with the new dodgy updates from Samsung and with a SIM card from EE (I lost the mobile data functionality and got the message about the SIM not being in even though it was). The following fix worked for me (this same fix has actually solved a few of the problems caused by the dodgy Samsung updates):

1. Shut down the phone. Boot into recovery mode by holding down the on button and the volume up button at the same time, then releasing the on button when a message appears in the top left corner of the screen about recovery mode. Keep holding down the volume up button until it goes into recovery mode.
2. Run the option to clear the cache. Then restart the phone normally.

I hope this helps others too.

David

This really helped me and my Galaxy S4 from Sprint Thank you

 

[maryedel7]

try disabling the weather app

 

[Ryan Wigglesworth]

Hello man, i use such a program that autorestarts the phone when no sim notification appears. Download it from Google market, is name is macrodroid. All you have to do is to create a new macro command with the trigger "sim" and action "restart" and it will autorestart without a problem. But you need root for autorestart to work, good luck!

Please provide me with a little more info. I got the app but it doesnt have such an option and the one that is closest ( notification ) doesnt seem to work for sim removal, it does however work for sd removal. Which version do you use??

nevermind i had to set the notification trigger with the option contains and then the word sim. works fine. alternatively you can use the change of service state trigger also

 

[iupimen]

i'm glad you figured out...

 

[Dawid Lazar]

GUYS
I found the service, which is carried out repairs motherboard in the range of error which is discussed here. Total cost of replacement chip (reportedly it is usually damaged) is 150 PLN (~ 35 euros).
The guy from the service said that the problem lately intensified and an increasing number of these notifications.
So if the service proves to be in order and solve my problem, perhaps there is someone who wants to send me your phone and I will give it to the service

 

[weedsmacker]

Or maybe you could tell us which exact chip is in question and we could fix ourself.

 

[Dawid Lazar]

Probably this one

 

[djxhouse]

I have read plenty on this and have tried all the tricks. I have BTW fixed my phone.
It appears that a certain lot of S4 phones were more susceptible to this problem. IMEI numbers with the last 6 digits in this range: 000000 - 560000.

Hello.
I want to buy a used S4 I9506.
The imei number is 353224062300859
h t t p : // w w w . imei . info / ? imei =353224062300859
TAC: 353224 FAC: 06 SNR: 230085 CD: 9

So, my question is. Which number should not be in the range of 000000-560000
The serial number is 230085
TAC number is 353224
CD 9

so, which number should I check when I buy a used phone?
Thank you

 

[bubbbab]

This really is a design flaw, although I doubt that it's any kind of planned obsolescence. Of course it's not wise to state that a single fix will solve everyone's issue, but certainly my experience is that the inner foam reinforcement is the way to go in most cases. The key to this is to not do this just inside the case backing but remove the inner bezel as was suggested previously in this thread. The other important thing is adequate foam thickness. A minimum of 1/16th" is required. In my case and the others I've done, I used 2 layers of 3M heavy duty adhesive tape (red) cut to the exact size of the top of the on board sim card cable plug. A simple test is, that when you re-install the inner bezel it should actually bow up a little. Replacement of the 9 screws will bring it down. Also be careful when you remove the bevel. I haven't seen it but I've heard they can break. I've done my own and a dozen others and every unit is weeks into functionality with no sign of the dreaded message.

If you're reticent to effect the repair and you're in the GTA, look me up and I'll be happy to do it. Takes about 10-20 minutes. I'm not exactly an expert, but I do have a little unexpected experience fiddling with phones.

Feel free to contact sb@steveboyd.ca if I can answer any questions. The process is quite simple.

Steve...

 

[djxhouse]

bubbbab - thank you for your response, I have tried that method too, and still I have the "NO SIM" Error

 

[bubbbab]

Oh, sorry to hear that. I'm sure you did this well but just in case, I had two occasions where friends had done their own and the thickness wasn't adequate. After re-doing it, there have been no issues. Jut FYI.

 

[Lilly7]

I have the same problem with S4 “SIM card removed- restart” – every 20 minutes! It’s very irritating and very inconvenient! Requested a new SIM from my mobile provider but it didn’t solve the problem. It’s obviously a software problem and SAMSUNG should take a responsibility for selling this faulty model S4 and replace it with new phones. Why customers should suffer?

 

[bubbbab]

You're right it should be covered. But it's not a software problem. It's a hardware issue. The foam fix seems to do the trick on every unit I've seen.

 

[SonofThoreau]

@ Verngator: Great ''brute force" tip!

Just lost my still new G4 and had to fall back on an old S4 in the house. The No SIM message popped up a day or so after getting a new SIM for my old number. Turned out to be a contact issue... pressed down on the SIM cover plate as you suggested and presto, back on line!

As others have experienced.... the phone store attendant tried a new SIM, tried to upgrade me to a new phone--but that is too costly now--and then sent me down the 'replace motherboard' path.

Thanks for helping me to use my brains and try some brawn.

 

[bubbbab]

@SonofThoreau good that it works. I've seen many do that with temporary positive results. If the problem reoccurs then take out the bezel and apply the more permanent fix which references the mboard connector.

 

[weedsmacker]

Here's my two cents. I would go with the flow here and say it's shotty solder work from the factory. I read somewhere else they used a cheaper alloy solder on these boards, and if correct, over time with the heating and cooling, some joints will crack. I experience the problem about once a day, only if I do this. This time of year is cold here, below freezing, so when I get to work I go to my work truck, put my phone and stuff on the doghouse (dash) and start it to let it warm up. When I come back, 9 times out of 10 I have to do the restart. With the cold, metal contracts and any cracked joints are left making an even larger cracked joint, leaving it more of a chance it's unable to make a connection. When truck is up to temp. the solder/metal would expand back to a normal state to more solid connection and all is good. If I leave my phone in my pocket, I do not get this. For others that get this more often, it could be due to a more severe cracked joint or multiple cracked joints, and vice versa. Because of the cheap alloy solder used on these could be a reason why the problems re-occurs even a rehot/reflow, unless new solder is applied, which would be very very difficult to do on the small components.

 

[bubbbab]

With your issue being so temperature sensitive, a cold solder joint does seem to make sense. Speaking for myself and the few phones I've done, ambient temperatures don't seem to play a role, albeit operating temperature may or may not be part of the catalyst. In your particular case, which seems to be the exception not the rule, your diagnosis seems flawless to me.

 

[bubbbab]

A few of the phones that came in here had tried that unsuccessfully.

 

[LydiaXXIV]

I have encountered the same problem as well
During my classes i wanted to check the time on my phone when suddenly it popped on my screen this notification: no sim card detected so i had to restart my phone, it worked a little bit until my next class when it happened again...at first i got really angry cuz i haven't had any clue what could be the problem, also some of my classmates told me that it can be the sim card's fault but it wasn't, i tried another sim cards too and it was futile
The next day i went to a service and those guys told me that i have to change the hardware but it costs a lot and that is a common problem on samsung galaxy s4
Therefore i don't recommand you to buy a s4, maybe it runs perfectly, no lags, bugs but as long as you will encounter these kinds of problem in time is not worth to buy this device.

 

[xrko]

I have the same problem and these Samsung s4 are junk. I now understand why everyone is buying iPhone. I tried all the cures and the only thing that helps me is doing a factory reset and then, not using the phone for anything but calls. No wallpaper, no apps, no nothing. The popup always comes back and then gets progressively worse. I would have been better off with a cheap flip phone.