It may be small, but your phone’s SIM card is massively important. It works a bit like your phone’s brain: it’s the bit that you need to go online, send messages, and make calls. No wonder then that you’ll feel anxious if your phone won’t read the SIM card. Luckily there are some tricks that can help to get your phone working again. Read our guide below to find out what you can do if your phone won’t read the SIM card.
The first thing to do is to try turning off your phone and turning it on again. Whether you have an Apple, Samsung, Huawei phone, they can all suffer software errors. Restarting your phone can put right several failures and faults, so your phone can read the SIM card properly.
If you’ve dropped or knocked your phone, the SIM card could have slipped out of place. Turn your phone off. Remove the SIM card and follow the SIM card installation instructions in your phone manual.
Another common problem that can stop your phone from reading the SIM card is dirt. Dust and grime can easily get into the SIM card slot. To resolve this problem, try cleaning the slot with compressed air. And invest in a correctly fitting phone case to help protect your phone.
The next step is to clean the contacts on the SIM card itself. The best product for doing this is rubbing alcohol, which helps to remove traces of grease. Use a soft, anti-static cloth with a little alcohol on it to polish the contact points.
If your phone still can’t read the SIM card, contact your network provider. They may be able to replace the SIM or send your phone off for a service.
