Sim Not Supported On iPhone: 10 Easy Fixes

A common problem most ios users face while setting up their iPhones is that their SIM not supported on iPhone. A majority of the time, this issue occurs when the person is setting up their second-hand iPhone. 

sim not supported on iphone

Even though there may be several reasons for this issue, there are quite a few ways of resolving them. Regardless of the carrier or the state of the SIM, this issue can be resolved by changing a few settings on your iPhone itself. 

Why is the Sim not supported on iPhone?

There may be a few reasons your SIM is not supported on your iPhone. If your iPhone does not support your SIM, that would also mean it is not recognized or detected by the device. 

Also, if your iPhone locks the carrier, your data, messages, and calls are blocked. You can either change your SIM or use a few other methods mentioned below to bypass the SIM card not supported on your iPhone. 

How to fix sim not supported On iPhone

  1. Restart your iPhone
  2. Reset Network Settings
  3. Check if your SIM card is Active
  4. Update Software
  5. Toggle Airplane mode
  6. Make an Emergency Call
  7. Reinsert the SIM card
  8. Use IMEI Service
  9. Check Carriers
  10. Contact Apple Store

1. Restart your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can help you resolve the issue of your SIM card not being supported on the iPhone. Restarting your phone is considered one of the best options for refreshing all applications at once and fixing glitches. 

Typically, restarting your phone resolves such issues. Slide across the power of the bar while pressing the power and volume up buttons at the same time. After a few seconds, you can restart your iPhone by long pressing the power button.

2. Reset Network Settings

To use SIM services, you must have a stable connection. Sometimes when you do not have enough reception, your SIM also fails to work. This could also be one of the reasons why you get the error message sim not supported on your iPhone. 

However, apart from this, you may also be unable to use your SIM because of incorrect settings on your device. Hence, you can follow these steps to reset the network settings to make your SIM functional. 

  • Go to Settings
Reset Network settings on iPhone
  • Select “Wifi” and check the network you are connected to. 
  • Alternatively, Click on “Cellular Data”
  • Switch the toggle to “On.”
cellular data on iPhone

There is also a slightly different way of resetting the network settings. 

  • Navigate to General in Settings. 
reset network settings
  • Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone. 
reset network settings
  • Select Reset. 
  • Choose Reset Network Settings, and then enter your passcode if necessary. 

After that, you can confirm again by clicking Reset Network Settings. 

reset network settings

After that, your iPhone will restart, and you can check whether or not your SIM is working and supported. Go to your device’s Settings and check the signal because once you reset the entire network settings, all your cellular and wifi defaults will be restored. 

As a result, you may need to change a few settings and reconnect to WiFi by entering the password again.

3. Check if your SIM card is active

While going through all these methods, it is also very integral to check whether your SIM card is active or not. Once you purchase a new SIM card, the carrier must also enable the services. 

If your SIM card is inactive, you may want to replace it with the carrier. However, if that does not work for you, you must bypass the SIM and activate with a different activation plan. 

The easiest way to get through with this method is by activating the SIM while purchasing it and making sure about the same with the carrier. This will avoid unnecessary issues when you insert the card into your iPhone. 

4. Update Software

Devices must have numerous bugs and glitches. There may be times when restarting your device time and again is ineffective. 

In addition, you may want to check the most recent iOS software because there may be bugs in the system itself. Other functionalities may work properly at times, but certain iPhone features cease to function due to a lack of bug fixes. 

Apple releases updates regularly to avoid problems. Sometimes these updates primarily focus on new features, while the developers focus on bug fixes, which are frequently related to settings. You can easily install the update by connecting to wi-fi or Bluetooth for an internet connection.

However, if the update includes bug fixes and other resolved issues, you may want to go through these steps directly. 

  • Navigate to the settings menu. 
  • Select General.
Apple software update
  • Scroll to “Software Update” and select it.
  • Click on download and install if the update is available.
  • Click on “install” after it has been downloaded.
Apple Software Update

You can also choose to install the software immediately or schedule it for later. 

Updating your software is sometimes regarded as the first or last option in resolving problems like these. One of the primary reasons is that other settings are frequently left unchecked. 

However, if all of the settings are checked, and users can still not receive notifications from the app, it is more likely that the iOS software will contain bugs or glitches. 

Typically, the developers resolve the issue quickly and send a new update.

5. Toggle Airplane Mode

You can change the airplane mode settings on your iPhone. Turning on airplane mode will prevent your device from using all SIM services. However, turning on and off the airplane mode might also fix the issue.

Toggle Airplane Mode

To ensure this isn’t the case, you can toggle the airplane mode on and off in the settings. 

6. Make an Emergency Call

Making an emergency call will help you use the SIM card or even activate it sometimes. This is one of the reasons why you can use your SIM again through a call. Since you may not be able to do it through a regular call, making an emergency call is integral. 

You can either press the Home button on your device or three times to activate Emergency calls. You can dial any emergency number you know of, 112/121/911. You can then disconnect the call right after the connection. 

This method may help you activate your SIM card and get your signal back without resetting your network settings. 

7. Reinsert the SIM Card

Depending on the model of the iPhone, you will have to locate the tray for the SIM card. For most iPhones, which include iPhone 8, X, Xs, XR, SE, 11, 12, and 13, the SIM card tray is on the side of the iPhone. 

You can either take it out with the help of an ejector or a paperclip. After you have done this, take out the SIM from the tray. Make sure that there is no dirt or debris on it and then reinsert it. 

Once you do this, you can check whether your iPhone can support it or not. Otherwise, you can also restart your phone, which will reboot the device itself. 

If this method is not working for you, you can also try ways: using the IMEI service or checking with the carrier. 

8. Use IMEI Service

One of the best and easiest ways to unlock your SIM card is with the help of the IMEI service. You can access these tools anytime, and the only thing required is for you to request service so that your device will get unlocked at any given moment. 

However, you will also have to keep in mind that most of these services are not for free. This is why this service might be deemed the last resort to resolve the issue. However, you do not have to install any application or software. 

With the help of this service, you can unlock your device and easily resolve the Sim Not Support error relatively quickly. 

9. Check Carriers

Another reason why your SIM Card is not supported error is present on your phone could be because the carrier itself has locked it. Hence, to unlock the SIM, it is integral for you to contact your carrier. 

You may also have to complete payments while trying to unlock the SIM. As soon as the payment is made, the carrier will automatically unlock it. However, if you still have time for the contract to end, you can try other methods to resolve the issue, as it seems more favorable. 

10. Contact Apple Store

Regardless of contacting or using the carrier service, if you are still unable to resolve the issue. You can contact Apple Store and visit the nearest store or call them through the official Apple website to help you with the issue. 

Conclusion

When your iPhone does not recognize your SIM, it will lead to several other problems. This is mainly because of the user switching carriers. Unlocking and using the SIM is very important as it is required to make phone calls, send text messages, and many more. 

However, changing certain settings on your phone or even rechecking your SIM card and unlocking it will help you resolve the issue. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is My Phone Not Supporting My SIM Card?

One of the main reasons your phone is not supporting your SIM card could be because there is a carrier lock or certain sim restrictions. Hence, you must also check the activation policy and server while trying to fix this issue. 
However, it could also be due to a hardware issue, in which case, you will have to remove it from the sim tray and check it. This can be done on any model, from iPhone 6s to 13. 

How Do You Fix An iPhone That Says SIM Card Not Supported?

There are several ways to fix an iPhone that says SIM card is not supported. You can bypass the iPhone sim and set up the carrier by asking them to unlock it. However, you can also use iTunes to fix this issue, requiring you to connect your phone to a computer through USB. 
You can also reset network settings or make emergency calls to activate the sim.

How Do I Unlock My iPhone SIM?

To unlock your iPhone SIM, you will have to use the carrier services as they tend to have access to it. This applies not only to an old iPhone but also to a new iPhone. You can use the latest version of iTunes to activate the sim, or you can also use the IMEI services.