I'm sure plenty of you have had the dreaded "Sim card removed" error (as shown in the attached image) on your S4. I started getting this message mere months after purchasing my secondhand AT&T S4 (no warranty). But fear not, with about 20 minutes of your time and less than a dollar worth of parts, you can fix it!
(1st attached pic)
Why Does This Happen?
This error is usually due to a faulty connection between the motherboard and the SIM / MicroSD card tray. Likely it is due to a bad solder job on that connector.
Does a new SIM Tray fix it?
Extremely unlikely. Purchasing a new SIM tray will likely be wasted money. (EDIT: A new motherboard may fix the issue, and several people have had success with a new SIM tray)
How do I fix it already??
This is what you'll need:
Your S4
A micro Philips-head screwdriver
Scissors
A foam earplug (or something of similar texture)
Step 1: Disassemble your phone. Pull off the back cover, remove the battery and cards, then unscrew all 9 of the micro Philips screws. Then, take your fingernail and pry off the bezel from the rest of the phone, and slowly work your nail around the bezel until it pops off. (Don't force it!)
(Attached images 2, 3, and 4)
Step 2: Use your scissors or a razor blade to cut a section off of the foam earplug which is about the width of two dimes. I also cut a 1/4 segment out of mine so you don't see it sticking out when you put the bezel back together, but you don't absolutely need to do that.
(Attached images 5 & 6)
Step 3: Press down on the connector for the SIM / SD Card Tray until it "clicks" into place. (It may not click if it is still somewhat in place) This is the connector which has a bad connection.
(Attached image 7)
Step 4: Place your piece of foam on top of the connector in a way that it is right beside but not overlapping the camera (as pictured)
(Attached image 8)
Step 5: Replace your back cover, making sure not to move the foam you just installed, press down on it in multiple locations until it pops back together all around, and screw it back down. Note: if the bezel appears to be bulging out, your foam is too thick! This won't cause any problems, but it will be a noticeable bulge on your phone.
(Attached images 9 & 10)
Step 6: Replace your back cover and enjoy! Note that if you continue to receive the error, you may need either a thicker piece of foam, or you may need to reposition the foam, or even just press down on the connector a bit more before installing the foam.
Thanks to the folks over at Android Central in the thread entitled: Galaxy S4: Major problem - SIM card not detected for info on how to fix!
After applying this fix (took me three times to get it right) I have not seen the SIM card removed error in almost two months!
Post your success stories!
EDIT: A year after I posted this, and people are still using this thread to iron out their issues. I'm glad I could start up a conversation about this problem, with many good suggestions as to possible fixes. I don't use my S4 anymore, but it makes for a great backup phone!
Anyway, I just wanted to let anybody who is looking for the answer to this problem know that my fix may or may not work for you. It worked in my case, but several commenters have noted that the problem has remained in their situation. I would like to point out a few helpful comments and possible fixes right here so you guys don't have to go searching through pages of comments to find different solutions.
Best solution by far is by @Gonemad to re-flow the solder to that connector and to the NFC chip using a heat gun. See post #98 on page 10 and Post 114 on page 12, with a guide on post 122, page 13.
A replacement motherboard may fix the issue as well, but that's assuming you're getting a new one and not a used one. With used, the replacement board may do the same thing!
many of us have shimmed the connector 1000 different ways and still get the error. oddly enough, for me the only thing that has reduced errors was removing my sd card.
iateshaggy said:
many of us have shimmed the connector 1000 different ways and still get the error. oddly enough, for me the only thing that has reduced errors was removing my sd card.
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Click to collapse
That's interesting, and a shame. There's not enough room on my phone for all my stuff, I need that extra 32gb!
"Does a new SIM Tray fix it?
Extremely unlikely. Purchasing a new SIM tray or even a new motherboard will be wasted money."
It did in my case. I got a sim/sd card tray from a Verizon S4, put it in my AT&T S4 and it worked great!
This problem is extremely annoying. Purchased a new tray too, and for a couple of days thought the problem is fixed. Nope. 5 days later same stupid message. I had already tried putting more support on the connector which did not fix the problem. They could at least make a cancel button on it instead of just "reboot". Will try without sd card. Apparently this happens on ALL high-end samsung phones. I am adding crapsung to the "never again" list (in addition to LG now).
If removing sd card doesn't fix it then it will either be new mainboard (they go for around $100 CAD shipped) or a new phone if I have the money. Nexus 6 looks good now. Don't buy crappy Korean brands. Even Chinese brands seem more reliable.
Question: Since you say that you've already replaced the sd/sim tray and the problem returned, did you try putting another sim card in there to make sure that it's not the sim card that's the issue?
Yes, new sim did not solve it. Now i am actually trying earplug thing. So far so good (2 days), but as with any other method the message is expected to pop up again. I am thinking i did try to add support before, but only for the connector part. Earplug will press on all the components around the connector and the connector itself. Will see. I did cut out a thicker piece than in the OP, and made a cut on the camera side instead of oppoate (like in OP).
Buyimg new mainboard seems like a waste of money now too. Since so many devices have this problem chances are another mainboard will be the same.
Edit: with or without sd card - same thing.
It's known that the IMEI numbers with the last 6 digits in this range: 000000 - 560000 have been known to have this issue. Mine was in that range and had the issue. I think the mainboards outside this range are fine.
Mine is not in that range.
Thanks a lot
It took me quite a few tries with the earplug foam to get it right. Finding the correct thickness and shape was the biggest thing. Eventually I got it right and I haven't had the issue return even once since. I'm glad some of you were able to get your phones to work by just swapping the SIM tray, that's pretty easy to do. I don't think I would even consider swapping the motherboard on a 2 year old phone, might as well just get a new phone at that point.
Sean89us said:
It took me quite a few tries with the earplug foam to get it right. Finding the correct thickness and shape was the biggest thing. Eventually I got it right and I haven't had the issue return even once since. I'm glad some of you were able to get your phones to work by just swapping the SIM tray, that's pretty easy to do. I don't think I would even consider swapping the motherboard on a 2 year old phone, might as well just get a new phone at that point.
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Click to collapse
Good to hear that this is working for some users. I just went with the M9 about a week ago and am going to give my mother my S4. She wouldn't have any idea how to handle any sim errors so when I get some time, I'll be buying an earplug or two.
It has been 9 days and the error hasn't returned. Today i put in a thiner peice to get rid of the bulge on the back. Will see how that holds up, but so far so good. Thanks to the O.P.
As for the mainboard - I never loxk myself into a contract with a discounted phone, not that Wind Mobile Canada has an option for it. So i paid almost 600 CAD for this puppy and expected it to last. For me $100 is not bad for a fix compared to at least $600 for a new phone. Only if it was for sure, but is seems like a gamble to buy a new board. BTW my phone was locked to rogers so I had to unlock it and enable AWS band.
I would get(have tried other phones) but for all its bad the S4 is hands down the most durable and usable phone I have ever owned. I like my nexus 5, but it is a very fragile unit, and on its second screen replacement due to minor drops that the S4 takes with aplomb. I like the phone so much I have bought a used one off ebay just in case this one ever fails. MHO
fargonaz said:
I would get(have tried other phones) but for all its bad the S4 is hands down the most durable and usable phone I have ever owned. I like my nexus 5, but it is a very fragile unit, and on its second screen replacement due to minor drops that the S4 takes with aplomb. I like the phone so much I have bought a used one off ebay just in case this one ever fails. MHO
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Click to collapse
I'm right there with you. I still love my S4, despite the SIM error and somewhat slow updates from Samsung / ATT. It's getting older but my phone is still very fast, has a beautiful 1080P AMOLED screen, takes awesome pictures, and now it's even running Lollipop! The only thing that might convince me to switch phones anytime soon is if the 2015 Nexus 5 refresh has a 5" - 5.2" screen (5.5"+ is just too big!), USB Type-C and the specs blow me away. Since that probably won't happen, it looks like I'll be using my S4 for a few more years.
I don't have these earplugs foams at home.. Which other material can I use for that?
I can't say anything else will be the same material. Just buy earplugs at a dollar store or something. They are cheap.
Mine had gotten really bad, to where it was giving the "sim error" message a good six or eight times a day. Did the earplug thing...didn`t fix squat. I took a narrow strip of a business card and "shimmed" the sim card in it`s slot (like many others have), but I made my shim extra long and folded it over a few times on top of the sim card receptacle as well. Been two days and so far so good. We`ll see how it holds up.
I had actually contacted Samsung about the problem and they claimed they had no knowledge of it`s occurrence. I emailed back and they said "we really have no idea what`s causing it. Sorry." I would call it a design flaw as every single person I know personally with an S4 has the problem, and there are hundreds upon hundreds of tales on the ol` internet about it, and even Samsung can`t fix it.
I've used this solution after my s4 gave the "sim card removed" error 5 times this morning. I used a piece of power sponge i.s.o. an earplug. Since then no error. If error occurs i'll respond again.
Thanx Sean.
I was having this problem. I did this fix but just used some folded up plastic wrap. Hasn't happened again yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app
Related
Just noticed that the micro SD card won't stick in the slot, the spring retainer latch seems to be defective suddenly on my (~1 year old) Sensation. I push the card in, it 'clicks in' for a second, then springs back out again. Anyone else experiencing this? Can't see any easy way to open/repair this, so I think I can see a bodge repair coming up, unless anyone has any other better ideas of how to resolve this?
acesabe said:
Just noticed that the micro SD card won't stick in the slot, the spring retainer latch seems to be defective suddenly on my (~1 year old) Sensation. I push the card in, it 'clicks in' for a second, then springs back out again. Anyone else experiencing this? Can't see any easy way to open/repair this, so I think I can see a bodge repair coming up, unless anyone has any other better ideas of how to resolve this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hoping for your sake its just clogged up with crap. If so you could try a very light spray with lubricant like WD-40 or CRC, or similar.
Sent from my CMX Sensation using XDA Premium
Having poked around it seems the micro-spring retainer on the reader housing has lost it's strength, if I push down on it with a pin and insert the card, it clips in normally, when I release the pin, it pops out. Cheap components. When I fashion a 'fix' I’ll post it here so others can do the same should they also come across this problem.
I am also suspecting this to be the cause of random reboots that have happened in recent weeks, any apps stored on your SD card won't be too happy if the card is half out whilst trying to run!
Cheap internal mechanical components
OK so I've fashioned a temporary fix to hold the sd card in using is small sliver of plastic packaging taped to the card slot and sim slot. It will have to do as I don't see any realistic way to disassemble the card reader without destroying it. See attached images for detail.
While I was doing this, I very gently checked the silver contact on the side of the phone that grounds the case, the contact that is attributed to people having touch screen issues, amongst others, this contact just fell off! It seems the build quality of these phones may not be up to much I'm afraid. Mine is an early model, so perhaps newer ones have better components, but just a heads up that after a year of usage, it is starting to fall apart I am not especially rough with the phone and haven't attempted to take it apart of mess around too much with the internals....
acesabe said:
OK so I've fashioned a temporary fix to hold the sd card in using is small sliver of plastic packaging taped to the card slot and sim slot. It will have to do as I don't see any realistic way to disassemble the card reader without destroying it. See attached images for detail.
While I was doing this, I very gently checked the silver contact on the side of the phone that grounds the case, the contact that is attributed to people having touch screen issues, amongst others, this contact just fell off! It seems the build quality of these phones may not be up to much I'm afraid. Mine is an early model, so perhaps newer ones have better components, but just a heads up that after a year of usage, it is starting to fall apart I am not especially rough with the phone and haven't attempted to take it apart of mess around too much with the internals....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got that sd card lock problem also. My sd card also won't stick on the SD card locker of my Sensation. What I've done is bringing it back for repair to a special in repair shop from Vodafone . That was about 4 months back. The repair was free of charge for me. Hopefully it can repairs yours as well.
Send from my HTC Sensation Z710e with Tapatalk
Got mine sim free, so repair under warranty not an option for me...
So two days after acheiving s-off with the new method for the s4 variant with the jb ota, my dad got the random simcard not detected error. After attempting various firmware flashes, it started getting worse to the extent that it showed the simcard icon and the x over the signal bars more often than not, so I tested his simcard in my amaze, and it worked fine. So we figured that it was a physical issue, so I read on another forum that the One X guys were fixing it by applying a layer of clear tape on the back for a tighter fit. So I had a roll of clear duct tape, applied one layer, and for a few minutes, it seemed to work. After handling the phone, the error came back, so I pulled the simcard and applied another layer of packaging tape. Now, its a tight fit, but I was careful that I was inserting it in the best possible angle so that I wouldnt damage the simcard slot. Popped it in there, played with the phone, so far so good.
Obviously this is a bandaid, but I already damaged the simcard slot by sticking a ghetto converted sim to micro simcard in, and because I cut it too narrow, it slid in kind of diagnally, and it bent some contacts, so these micro sim slots are very sensitive if not outright defective. I say this because for the past two days, I have searched google for thebproblem, and although this isnt unique to htc, there is a very high rate of simcard slot failures for the entire "One" line, including the new 'One'. I may contact htabout this, because this seems like a wide spread problem, and I already had to order a new slot, and it cost me $80 to have it soldered by the guyd at the Jacksonville,Fl branch of CPR, and as good as the technician was, it took him a second try to fix it, and weeks later, it started happening randomly, even though nobody touched the simcard. So thats the info that I have, if you have any questions regarding this issue, post it here so that everyone can see it for future referrence. Goodluck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuewklttaSc&feature=youtu.be
Awesome. Not bad. I wish the back panel wasn't attached with adhesive. Makes it much more difficult to change it out on a whim.
sooooo get moto care is what i'm thinking after watching that
I get a warranty match by buying the phone with my visa card, so one year from moto one year thru visa. I skipped moto care
After watching that I cancelled my Best Buy order which still hasn't shipped. I refuse to buy another phone that basically has to be thrown away when the battery craps out. Glued on back is just ghetto.
demi9od said:
After watching that I cancelled my Best Buy order which still hasn't shipped. I refuse to buy another phone that basically has to be thrown away when the battery craps out. Glued on back is just ghetto.
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Sorry to say but it seems like most manufacturers are starting to go this route...the same with weeding out microSD support.
iazybandit said:
Sorry to say but it seems like most manufacturers are starting to go this route...the same with weeding out microSD support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's a shame. I'll probably end up sticking with my M8 or picking up a G4 once a fully functional AOSP ROM is released. I do hope HTC can pivot and release and more Nexus/Moto type budget flagship next year with the M10.
That's not nearly as bad as I imagined.
As soon as I figure out how to solder in the mod chip, I'll be set.
Did they discover if the pure has dual sim hardware?
It has a dual sim tray but not sure if the software or the sim reader on the US variant is capable of making any use of dual sims
That's what I mean if the teardown revealed if the phone has the hardware capable of dual sim operation ie multiple radios.
toyanucci said:
That's what I mean if the teardown revealed if the phone has the hardware capable of dual sim operation ie multiple radios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The video is just that...a tear down. If you watched the video, it doesn't go anymore in-depth other than opening it up and putting it back together
I looked inside sim tray slot for hardware for second sim don't look like it's installed
I'm thinking it might have the hardware to support it, the reason I say it is because the sim slot on the board is double the size of what it regularly is (even considering the fact it has an SD reader, its on the underside of it), and I don't think they would want to solder two different type hardware onto the board, its not cost or time efficient. I think if out of the box it doesn't work, it is probably disabled from the software, however I will pry off the plastic tab on the sim tray and try it myself with dual sims and see what I get.
Actually just took a closer look inside the sim slot, and there are solder points on the board where the pins to touch and read the second sim should be installed but they are not. All you would need to do I guess would be to take the metal shield covering that area off by using a head gun to de-solder the corners or by cutting it off from the top and then solder a second set of the pins onto the board in its designated slot. After that I don't see why it would not work.
Looks way easier than some phones I've watched. I wish he would have removed the battery Wonder if we will see any custom or higher capacity batteries in the future for modders to use. Also if you have motocare I don't see why they won't replace the battery just file a claim before the 2 years are up and say the battery is awful and get another. I don't see the battery life crapping out in 2 years.
I guess the S6's and Notes are ghetto since the glass backs are glued as well
Sent from my SM-G920T using XDA Free mobile app
Looks like room for a bigger battery and the housing design seems better suited with a replaceable battery design and cover. Seems an odd design decision since no unibody contraint.
Glass doesn't do clips. Glued plastic is ghetto. They simply want to sell new phones every year and planned obsolescence is the easiest way to do it.
iazybandit said:
Sorry to say but it seems like most manufacturers are starting to go this route...the same with weeding out microSD support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Needs to be banned.
---------- Post added at 12:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:13 AM ----------
demi9od said:
Glass doesn't do clips. Glued plastic is ghetto. They simply want to sell new phones every year and planned obsolescence is the easiest way to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also needs to be banned
After 5 months of use, I managed to break my screen....dam it! I've always been quite careful with my electronics, but managed to drop it today. And of course like a cat always lands on 4 legs, phones usually land face down.
Broke the top of the screen and the touch screen is rendered useless. Put an RMA in with Alcatel. I've read others on the internet have managed to get a claim in and Alcatel fixed it for a little better than $100. I would pay the $100, as opposed to buying a new phone.
Questions I have:
1. Since I can't get into my phone, is there any other way to get any data off of it? LCD is still visible, just can't get in.
2. Has anybody had a "positive" experience with getting a glass screen fixed on this phone yet? I've read a few breaks in the forum here, but it doesn't seem like too many have followed through with the repair experience.
3. Are, or is there any advice with regards to this phone and the broke screen?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Dang that sucks......so to get data you can plug it into a computer and the computer should let you pull all your info off. Also I can't help you with the getting the screen fixed as I never broke a screen on my phone.
kevin6876 said:
After 5 months of use, I managed to break my screen....dam it! I've always been quite careful with my electronics, but managed to drop it today. And of course like a cat always lands on 4 legs, phones usually land face down.
Broke the top of the screen and the touch screen is rendered useless. Put an RMA in with Alcatel. I've read others on the internet have managed to get a claim in and Alcatel fixed it for a little better than $100. I would pay the $100, as opposed to buying a new phone.
Questions I have:
1. Since I can't get into my phone, is there any other way to get any data off of it? LCD is still visible, just can't get in.
2. Has anybody had a "positive" experience with getting a glass screen fixed on this phone yet? I've read a few breaks in the forum here, but it doesn't seem like too many have followed through with the repair experience.
3. Are, or is there any advice with regards to this phone and the broke screen?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried using an otg cable and wireless keyboard/mouse?
Yes , I tried using the OTG , but the lockscreen needs to be unlocked for the computer to communicate with both the internal and SD card storage areas. The back door is locked.
I submitted an RMA to Alcatel and am waiting for further instructions in a repair. Hopefully it won't set me back too much. If it does then I'll just pick up a used one through Swappa.
Thanks for the help.
Sent back to Alcatel. $105 to replace the busted digitizer and ship it back. Hopefully they didn't wipe my phone with a hard factory reset, I requested they not.
Should have it back Tuesday.
Just a follow up with the replacement of the digitizer. Alcatel sent the phone back to me yesterday and they wiped the hard drive with a factory reset, despite my request not to.
Phone works very well now though, I must say. Mostly all my data and apps loaded right in with ease, just lost some texts and a small folder of downloads and photos that were on the phone. Not all was lost.
Don't seem to have SD card issues any longer now, like I had before, which I find interesting. Must be the hard reset that had something to do with that, but my 3rd party launcher always used to struggle to load app icons properly, the SD card would some times not read properly? All that seems much smoother now however.
Cost me $105, oh well...time to get myself a better glass screen protector and case. I had an LK case w/ a kickstand and a peel off screen protector prior. I'll be stepping that up a notch now. One more break of this phone, I'm moving on to a different device.
Peace.
Of course I'd do this with a $1300 phone..... I've looked at some other posts and they all say the mic is offset by 90 degrees. Those these were all on the older model phones. I thought I heard a pop when I put the pin in the mic hole but I may be losing my mind. Tested the speaker with multiple times and it seems fine. Any chance I screwed up the waterproofing?
P.S. Why in the world do they still make the hole the same exact size as the sim slot....
That horrible feeling when you realise...
You've two options - the first (and probably more sensible) - doubtless they've already allowed for this and don't put anything delicate in the path so you won't have damaged anything - use your device and you'll forget it ever happened.
Or... put your note in a bucket of water for a bit to determine one way or another if you've affected the water proofing.
If the microphone is working then it must surely be all ok?
neilw said:
That horrible feeling when you realise...
You've two options - the first (and probably more sensible) - doubtless they've already allowed for this and don't put anything delicate in the path so you won't have damaged anything - use your device and you'll forget it ever happened.
Or... put your note in a bucket of water for a bit to determine one way or another if you've affected the water proofing.
If the microphone is working then it must surely be all ok?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My nervous twitch was getting the better of me so I went with option 2. I put it in a sink full of water for about 20 minutes. Everything seems to still be working now 4+ hours later. So knock on wood, hopefully they accounted for that like the past phones.
It's fine, if you have every watched Jerry Rig on YouTube they make them so the sim ejection tool doesn't harm them. No biggie you're good to go man!!
Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
Yea, definitely no damage done. As you said yourself, the mic is round a 90 degree bend for this very reason. All you did is press the tool against the wall of the bend. You can rest easy
Yeah, don't worry, many of us have done this and many more will still do!
As others have said it won't damage the microphone because the way this opening is designed.
Breathe!!