Surely everyone has come across a situation where the SIM card in the phone stopped working. Here is a simple algorithm of actions that describes what to do if the phone stops seeing the sim card.
To start a little common words to be imbued with respect for the SIM card. Many perceive it as a piece of plastic or piece of iron, which can sometimes even “demagnetize”. In fact, a chip is hidden under the plastic, which contains a processor, RAM, read-only memory, communication lines, etc.. All this is powered by operating system, there are files and programs that this operating system and processor processes. And this is not a phone device, but just a small piece of plastic that is inserted into it. The phone communicates with the sim using a special protocol and communication channel. Modern sims support contactless payments. This is about the same as home computer or a smartphone, but low power, without a keyboard and mouse monitor. Now imagine that in the event of a breakdown, you say that my computer (tablet or phone) is demagnetized. Agree, it sounds strange.
Before following the steps, you need to make sure that the phone, in principle, should see the map. For example, I've seen it before. Make sure that the card of another operator is not inserted into the device locked for a specific operator. Trouble can be if a sim card adapter was used or the card was cut. The card may move slightly or not compress. In this case, the contact of the leg may disappear or even worse, bridge with another. It is better to immediately exclude this option and insert a card of a known correct size.
Step-by-step instructions on what to do if the phone does not see the SIM card:
1. Gently remove the card and, without touching the contacts, rub them and the contacts of the phone with an eraser. Fat from the fingers is detrimental to contact. You can also wipe with alcohol with a slight effort. The eraser is good because mechanically, by friction, removes the resulting film. Then you should remove (NOT HANDS) the grains of the eraser, if any, and place the card in the phone. For reliability, you can walk after the eraser with high-quality alcohol.
2. Insert another, obviously working SIM card into your phone. If the phone works fine with other SIM cards, you need to contact your mobile operator to replace the card.
The card may fail due to mechanical failure, internal breakdown, automatic internal blocking caused by exceeding the limit of inclusions (switching between networks). This blocking was done to prohibit the cloning of the card. When cloning, there is a selection of options and multiple inclusion of the card. It is these failures that are popularly called "degaussing" sim.
3. Try inserting the card into another phone. If it does not work there either, change it in a mobile phone shop.
4. If the SIM card is working, but the phone does not see it, it says "insert sim card" or "no sim card", you need to check the pins of the sim receiver if they are visible. Contacts must not be bent or pressed. For the card to work, a good fit is required for each contact. Bent contacts can be gently straightened with a needle.
5. If the contacts are not visible, for example, the SIM card is inserted from the side or there is no certainty that they fit snugly, you can try to press the sim harder by laying an additional small piece of thick paper or cardboard on top.
6. The last hope to solve the problem yourself is full reset phone to factory settings. In this case, you need to make sure that all information and contacts are saved somewhere outside the phone and they can be restored. It is better to find how for your model is done " hard reset". It is usually called by clamping certain keys when turned on. If you have enough skills to figure it out, flash the phone with a newer, current, or stable version.
7. Contact the service center. After the above steps, there are reasons why the phone may not work with a sim card. For instance, mechanical damage cardholder or board in a place that is not visible without disassembling the phone. Failure of elements on the board that ensure the operation of sim. Failure of the radio module of the phone. Detection of such breakdowns is carried out at a specially equipped workplace.
Good luck and sim visibility to your phones.
In most cases, the reason similar situation is a hardware problem, that is, either the SIM card slot is damaged, or the contacts on the card itself are damaged. This option can be excluded if the phone sees the SIM card, but it seems to be in flight mode. But in any case, except when one of them is 3G, and the second is 4G, it makes no sense to rearrange SIM cards in places.
What to do if the phone does not see the second SIM card?
If the problem is observed on a phone with two SIMs (dual SIM), then the cause of the breakdown may be that the SIM card is turned off. Such a function is present in them in case when it is undesirable to use only one of the two SIM cards. In this case, just go to the settings and turn on the card you need. But sometimes it also happens that after turning on the SIM card it still does not work and is displayed as being in flight mode. This can be easily fixed, just try to send any message to any number, but from this SIM card. If it is disabled, then system message, offering to enable it, after which the card will be restored.
In some cases, when you try to turn on the SIM card, the phone freezes for a while, and then closes the window for enabling the card, without activating it. This may mean that it has faded Phone IMEI. You can check it in the following way. V standard application"Phone" dial *#06#. A system message with a fifteen-digit number will appear. This is your phone's IMEI. Compare it with what is written on the box or under the batteries. If these numbers do not match, then you will have to reflash the phone.
Sim card not working on single sim phone
If the above does not help, or if the phone is single-symbol, then you should check the following:
Firstly, the contacts of the SIM card, or the slot for it, could become dusty or, on the contrary, fog up after being in a dusty room, or in a room with high humidity. In this case, it is enough to wipe the contacts with alcohol. In no case should you use perfume or cologne for these purposes, as they contain oils in their composition that can settle on the contacts, creating an obstacle to the passage electrical signals film.
Secondly, old SIM cards may simply be incompatible with new phone models, both on Android and iPhone. In this case, you will have to contact the nearest office of your telecom operator to reissue the SIM card.
If none of these methods helped you, then you will have to take the phone to a service center for repair.
The phone does not see the SIM card? This is one of the most common problems that everyone has encountered. This misfortune always happens unexpectedly, and, despite its apparent evidence, there can be many reasons - as well as solutions.
It happens that the phone simply refuses to see the map. Sometimes the SIM gets stuck in roaming mode, which makes it impossible to make calls. Let's figure it out, it's in the phone itself or the card. If this is the first option, then it will be possible to avoid running around to the operator's salon. You can decide for yourself by poking around in system menus and trying to figure out all the intricacies of Android.
System or software malfunctions
Often it all starts after reinstalling the operating system. If there is any suspicion, it is better to install the OS again, as well as restore the factory settings.
Android updates and installation failures lead to severe crashes. Often the user has to carry the device for repair.
Switching on the SIM card
Do not rush to blame the smartphone for all the troubles. Much more often, the cause of the malfunction is obvious - something with the SIM card. SIM may refuse to activate for various reasons:
- Dirty contacts. The first thing to do if there are no signs physical damage is to gently wipe the contacts with alcohol.
- The holder is broken. If you have a brand new device, you are in luck: you can inspect the SIM card holder yourself. But almost all modern gadgets they are deprived of such an opportunity - if all the methods failed, they will have to be sent for repair.
- The card is “missing” because the phone is “locked”, that is, modified to work with a single carrier company. Such phones can be “hit” if you buy them from your hands or cheaply from abroad, where the practice of limiting the choice of telecom operators is the norm.
Problems with NVRAM
If you are lucky enough to become the owner of a device with an MTK processor, you risk catching a characteristic NVRAM error. NVRAM stores IMEI - international mobile equipment identifier, a unique device number. If something with NVRAM, then IMEI also cried.
For diagnostics, open the dialer application and dial "*06#". If IMEI is not displayed, it becomes clear that NVRAM is junk.
The message "NVRAM WARNING: Err = 0x10" when connected to the Internet also indicates this malfunction. It is possible to solve the breakdown of NVRAM by your own means.
SIM issues after update
Updates are an unpleasant process. Because of the hesitation, both minor failures and complete inoperability of the device can occur. If the trouble started because of the OS, try reinstalling / restoring the factory settings. Insert, but still does not work? You'll have to turn to the experts.
Phone problems
It is difficult to say which is worse - when there are difficulties with the phone or with the card itself. Depends on how you prefer to solve the difficulties that have arisen. What can happen to a mobile phone:
- junk holder;
- it is locked;
- NVRAM problems;
- dirty contacts;
- water has entered the slot/physical damage has occurred.
As a rule, the master will be able to fix the problems of the phone itself. You better not understand.
SIM card and phone incompatibility
Cell phone not accepting sim card? It can be locked, which is why all the SIM cards of a "foreign" operator are not accepted. It is possible that the card format is unfamiliar to the phone slot. There are such types of cards:
- Mini-SIM;
- Micro-SIM;
- Nano SIM.
Often a fresh phone refuses to understand an old-fashioned card, and it must either be replaced or cut off. Check the documentation to understand which card is right for your device.
The problem with the contacts of the slot and SIM card
Very often, everything is solved very simply. If the card has been in use for a long time, then its contacts could become dirty. Wipe with alcohol and try again.
If the reason is related to the smartphone, then it is more difficult to figure it out. Modern phones very monolithic, without free access to the card slot, as it was before. To check the contacts, you will have to disassemble the mobile, which is fraught with even greater complications. It is better to have the diagnostics in the repair center.
Wrong Firmware: Consequences and Troubleshooting
If there is a malfunction in the software, pay attention to the firmware. You may have tried to install custom firmware on your own, which caused something to go wrong during the update.
The phone does not see the SIM card of operators, such as:
- Megaphone;
- Beeline;
- Tele 2;
- Yota.
Regardless of which operator you have, the solutions are the same. Let's highlight the main reasons if the card refuses to be detected:
- Expiration date has expired
Often a Sim simply dies of old age. It happens that external signs There is no “age”, and the map just crumbles. To get a new one, you have to go to the operator's salon. If you are in Russia, do not forget to take your passport.
- The operator blocked the card
If you leave the card for a long time, it will be blocked by the operator. Contact him and ask what to do for resuscitation.
- Water/Physical Damage
If water gets on the card, it will deteriorate. With the constant pulling out of the SIM card from the phones, wear and tear can happen - you have to change it.
- Unsuccessful pruning
Bought new smartphone, not supporting old sim card? You'll have to reduce it. But this is a delicate process, and if you mess up, you can lose your card. Operators offer circumcision services, but they cost money. If the SIM was damaged, you will have to demand a new one.
- Damaged phone contacts
If the SIM slot has been damaged, look for a master.
- Locked phone
Bought a super-cheap phone from abroad, but he does not see the network? It was probably stitched specifically for one operator. Often you can get on such a device by buying it from your hands. In Russia, getting on such smartphones is not easy, but still possible. It is possible to unlock; the process is risky - it is better to trust the masters.
Why the second SIM does not work in the phone
Smartphones with dual SIM support have ceased to seem rare and have become the norm. One card works and the other doesn't? It's okay: sometimes the solution is simple.
Why the second SIM card may not work:
- It is not activated. Some mobile models offer to disable card slots. Find in the settings "Manage SIM cards and enable the desired slot"
- The map is in flight mode. Try to do something from the map - send a message. It might activate it.
- Your card has been blocked. Contact the operator and he will tell you
- Because of the two radio modules, IMEI flies. You can fix it by flashing it - the service center will help.
Has anyone at least once, standing in a communication salon, listened to a drop dead story about degaussing a SIM card? I listened twice.
For the first time, a five-year-old Megaphone SIM card failed, one day it simply stopped showing the network. The consultant said memorized: “you have a card demagnetized”- and in a couple of seconds he made a new one. By the way, no money was taken.
This is not an exclusive "chip" of the green operator, most recently MTS gave me a new SIM card that didn't even turn on. The diagnosis was the same, a piece of plastic was replaced and wished all the best.
Of course, one can refer to the incompetence of regional employees, but just the other day in official account Megaphone has a tweet:
But now there will be a sensation and a breakdown of the covers: SIM cards are not demagnetized! Never. Here at all.
To those who have always known about this, respect, I shake hands. But a small survey on the tape of friends showed that the majority had never thought about this "phenomenon". But often they ask for money for replacing a SIM card. The amounts, of course, are small, something around 100-200 rubles, although, in most cases, the card can be restored by hand.
But first things first:
There is nothing to demagnetize!
In fact, a SIM card is one of the varieties of processor " smart cards ”, which differ depending on the supported system mobile communications. Further, we will focus on SIM-cards operating in our GSM networks.
To date, four standard sizes of SIM cards have been established:
- Full-size (1FF), the size of a bank card;
- Mini-SIM (2FF), the usual large SIM;
- Micro-SIM (3FF), those that were in the iPhone 4;
- Nano-SIM (4FF), thin SIM cards that are now in most smartphones.
Buying a card now, you get a chip on a universal piece of plastic that meets all these standards. And whatever the form of SIM cards, they have one thing in common: it is a real miniature computer. In a small chip with six contacts (previously there were eight), almost the same components fit as in a conventional system unit. The SIM card contains:
- Processor (CPU);
- random access memory (RAM);
- Read Only Memory (ROM);
- I / O controller;
- File system.
Of course, there is no battery or some kind of human interface, they are simply not needed. But a small SIM card has its own operating system, which allows you to store vital data for the phone, user files (contacts, SMS) and even Java applications.
Due to the desire to reduce the cost of components, operators issue cards with a minimum of memory, but technically, SIM cards can be placed gigabytes of information. Of course, no one needs this, there are no terminals operating in this mode, and it is easier to operate a large amount of data via USB.
Now do you understand? This is a board with contacts. There are no magnetized elements here. The principle of data recording has nothing to do with magnetism. Accordingly, there is nothing to demagnetize.
What causes the phone to lose network?
Usually due to wear and tear. It’s like you’re thinking: “what’s the point of breaking here?” - but in reality, a SIM card, like any other electronics, can be damaged by:
🔨 Mechanical damage
Here the spectrum is wide: from the banal displacement of the SIM card in the socket, to cracks and bent contact "whiskers". Her contacts could wear off from frequent replacement. Most damage is fatal to the chip, making it impossible to use the card for its intended purpose.
💦 Corrosion or contamination
Metal tracks in motherboards subject to oxidation. But, in the case of a SIM card, the cause may not be water ingress or accumulated condensate. Remember how you usually change your SIM card - rarely anyone is embarrassed to touch it for pad. And greasy fingerprints also cause corrosion.
⚡ Static voltage
Discharge static electricity fatal to most electrical components. Perhaps you are lucky squared, and the tension has arisen due to friction in your pocket. There are only a few such cases, but this outcome should not be dismissed.
💭 Limited memory resource
Even fancy modern SSD drives are designed for a certain number of write cycles. The resource of SIM cards is also not unlimited, so be prepared to replace the SIM card in a few years, when it finally exhausts itself.
How to restore a SIM card?
If the card breaks down, catches a static discharge or runs out of resources - alas, nothing can be done. Moreover, the numbers and SMS stored on this chip cannot be restored. You will simply be transferred to a fresh, empty SIM card. But in most cases, the problem is in contact. Here's what you can do:
✏ Clean contact pad
Pollution and small oxides are simply cleaned with an ordinary clerical eraser. It quickly removes the resulting film or dirt, the main thing is not to brush off the crumbs from the gum with your hands. For reliability, you can wipe the contacts with alcohol.
🔍 Check receiver contacts
Perhaps the small chip is not to blame, and the socket itself is damaged in your phone. Contacts could be bent or jammed due to inaccurate use. Alternatively, bend these "antennae" or put a piece of paper, but only if there is Free access. V modern smartphones side-loading, slots for sim cards are soldered into multilayer boards, and such handicraft can turn a pipe into a brick.
📲 Transfer the card to another phone. And vice versa
Such an elementary test will immediately reveal the “guilty”. Just put swap SIM-cards with another phone and see whose device is working.
What is this all for?
As a rule, activation of the MTS SIM card occurs automatically when you first connect to the network or is carried out by the seller of the starter kit. However, sometimes subscribers encounter a problem when the purchased SIM card is inactive. In such a situation, it becomes necessary to find out how to activate the MTS SIM card. Of course, the operator provides for the possibility of activating the number, and the attention of subscribers is provided with several options at once.
You can activate the MTS SIM card:
- By dialing the command * 111 # on the phone ;
- By calling the operator at 0890 ;
- By contacting the MTS communication salon.
Please note that the above methods are relevant if you need to activate a new SIM card. If you need, then check out our separate review. It describes possible reasons blocking and unlocking methods. As for activating a new SIM card, any of the above methods will help you, including the USSD command. In rare cases, this option does not work. If you run into problems when trying to activate a SIM card, or you need to activate from a modem, then read the article in full.
MTS SIM card activation: all methods
Not activated number completely useless. With it, it is impossible to make calls, receive calls, access the Internet and use any other mobile communication services. The only thing you can do with an inactive SIM card is dial the emergency number. Of course, immediately after the purchase, the subscriber thinks about how to activate the MTS SIM card. In fact, this question does not come up very often, because in most cases, the activation of the number occurs automatically. That is, you just need to install a SIM card in your phone, turn it on and you can immediately use cellular services.
Unfortunately, the automatic activation of the SIM card does not always occur. We don’t know what exactly can cause the number to not be automatically activated, but you definitely shouldn’t worry about this. You can independently activate the MTS SIM card. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to go to the nearest MTS office, everything you need can be done remotely (with the exception of rare cases).
You can activate your MTS SIM card in one of the following ways:
- Install new SIM card into the phone and immediately after launch, dial the command * 111 # . After some time, you can use the number as usual;
- Call the help center. You can call the MTS operator at 0890 ;
- Contact any MTS office and ask to activate the SIM card. Be prepared for the fact that the employee will ask for a passport.
We have given the ways to activate the SIM card in the sequence that should be followed. That is, if the number was not activated after entering the USSD command, try. If you call a specialist help center if it does not work, contact the MTS office. The experts will definitely help you.
Why the MTS SIM card does not work
As mentioned earlier, usually the activation of the SIM card occurs automatically. If this does not happen, you need to use one of the above methods, and going to the office can be attributed to an extreme case. As a rule, it is enough just to type the command * 111 # , well, or call the operator. If both of these methods did not activate the SIM card, then there may be some problems with the SIM card. To fix the problem, you need to find the reason why it arose.
The SIM card may not work for the following reasons:
- A lot of time has passed since the purchase of the SIM card;
- The SIM card has been damaged;
- An attempt to activate the MTS SIM card occurs in an area where there is no network;
- The phone itself is faulty.
These are the most common reasons why a SIM card may not work. Of course, there may be another reason. It is most often possible to find out the exact cause when visiting the office. By the way, here you can replace the SIM card for free, while the old number will remain. We also advise you to pay attention to the presence of a network, often the problem is precisely in this. Therefore, before activating the MTS SIM card, make sure that you are in the network coverage area. Again, if everything is in order with the connection, but you can’t activate the SIM card, take your passport and go to the nearest MTS communication salon. Even new SIM-cards can be faulty and they can be changed without problems, of course, except for those cases when the SIM card was bought in the transition without registration.
How to activate an MTS SIM card on a modem
In rare cases, a SIM card and a modem are bought separately. As a rule, when buying a modem, the subscriber is provided with a SIM card for free. Although, by certain reasons the subscriber can buy a SIM card separately. However, when activating a SIM card from a modem, it does not matter at all whether you purchased it separately or as a set. To start using the Internet, it is enough to follow a simple procedure. Rather, just connect to the Internet and the number will be activated automatically. If this does not happen, use the instructions below.
To activate an MTS SIM card from a modem, follow these steps:
- Connect the modem to the laptop;
- Open any browser and follow the link https://login.mts.ru/ ();
- After clicking on the specified link, the SIM card will be activated.
By the way, you can immediately register in personal account. Required instruction can be found on our website, in addition, there are hints on the registration page. If even after that the SIM card has not been activated, take it along with the modem and go to the MTS communication salon.
