Suddenly, you got the feeling that your SIM card has stopped working in your mobile phone. You can’t really figure out if the problem is with your SIM card or your mobile phone.
I’m here to help clear up the air on what it means to have a faulty SIM card, and also how to check if sim card is working.
You and I know the SIM card is very essential in a mobile phone, though one can use a mobile phone without a SIM card. However, to make and receive calls, plus text messages, one will need to have a SIM card, even to verify an account like the WhatsApp account, etc.
So let’s see how to check if sim card is working on a mobile phone and this includes both the Android phone and the iPhone.
Now let’s proceed.
How to check if sim card is working
If a SIM card is working and not deactivated or invalid, these are the signs that indicate that a SIM card is still active and valid.
1. You will see a network coverage on your mobile phone
Seeing a network coverage on your mobile phone is the first and foremost indication that the SIM card is working and not invalid, there will be a network coverage on the phone through the sim card.
As soon as you insert your SIM card into your mobile phone, power on the phone and wait for it to boot up. After booting, you will see a network coverage indicator at the top of your screen. This signal indicates that the SIM card is active and working.
If you don’t see the network coverage after multiple trials, it might signify that the SIM card is no longer working or has been deactivated by the network provider. I’ve already listed the signs that show that a SIM card is no longer working in this post.
Seeing a network signal or coverage on a mobile phone is one major indication that a SIM card is still active and working. It’s a major factor you should look for when checking if a SIM card is working.
2. You can make calls, receive calls, send and receive messages
The second factor that determines if a sim card is working is the possibility of using the sim card to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages using the sim card.
Once a sim card is still active and working, a user will use the sim for calls and for messages, if reverse was the case, then that simply means that the sim is already deactivated and no longer working.
To be absolutely certain, remove the SIM card from your mobile phone and insert it into another phone. Then, try calling or sending a message to the SIM number. If the call or message goes through or is delivered, it means the problem is with the phone, not the SIM card.
How to check if sim card is working is by checking if you can make and receive calls, send and receive sms text messages on the phone via the sim card.
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By checking the network coverage or signal on your mobile phone, and being able to make and receive calls, as well as send and receive text messages using the SIM card, you can tell if the SIM card is working and still valid or active.
How to know if SIM card is not working
If you have a faulty, damaged, or defective SIM card, these are the signs and symptoms that indicate the SIM card is damaged and should be replaced immediately.
1. No network coverage on mobile phone
This is the first sign you will see if your sim card is not working and probably damaged, you won’t see any network coverage on your mobile phone as you insert the sim card into the phone.
All you will see on your mobile phone is no service which indicates that there’s no network coverage on the mobile phone through the sim card.
At first, you may think that the problem is with your mobile phone, but you are mistaken, as it is mostly caused by a damaged SIM card or one that is not supported by the mobile phone.
In the case of a SIM card not being supported or compatible with the mobile phone, it is either because the SIM card is carrier-locked or the mobile phone is carrier-locked.
So, if either the SIM card or the mobile phone is carrier-locked, there will be no network coverage on the phone because the SIM card or the phone is locked.
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However, if the SIM card is not carrier locked, then it simply means that the SIM card is faulty and should be replaced.
Before replacing the sim card
Before replacing the SIM card, you must be very sure that the problem you’re seeing is caused by the SIM card and not your mobile phone, because a damaged SIM slot can cause the error of not detecting a SIM card.
So, what you have to do is put the SIM into another phone and see if it will show network coverage on that phone. If it does show network coverage on the phone, then the problem is likely to be from your sim slot and not the sim card.
If it didn’t show any coverage on the other phone, then the problem is from the sim card and should be replaced.
2. Cannot make calls or receive calls
This is the second sign you will see on how to check if a SIM card is working on a mobile phone. Can you receive or make calls using the SIM card on your mobile phone? If the answer is no, then likely the problem is with the SIM card.
In this scenario, you will see network coverage, but I see it as a camouflage because the network signal won’t pass through the phone, and this prevents the user from making calls or receiving calls using the SIM card.
This type of case usually happens if the network provider deactivates the SIM card and stops it from working.
Maybe you left the SIM card inactive for a very long time, then suddenly you saw the need to use the SIM card again. If the network provider deactivated the SIM card, then you won’t be able to make calls or receive calls using the SIM card.
As it stands, the SIM card is completely invalid and useless, and all you need to do is contact your network provider and seek a SIM replacement.
Before replacing the sim
Aren’t you going to have to insert the SIM card in another phone and see if you can receive calls or make calls from the mobile phone using the SIM card?
If it does go through, then the problem is with your phone. You have to check your phone’s network settings and see if everything is properly configured or set up.
If reverse was the case, then you have to replace the sim card.
■ Related Bad sim card symptoms you should know
Not being able to make and receive calls are signs on how to check if sim card is working or not working.
3. Cannot send and receive text messages
Can you send or receive text messages on the sim card?
If the SIM card is damaged or faulty, you won’t be able to receive or send text messages using it on your mobile phone. However, to confirm that the issue is indeed caused by the SIM card, you should first remove the SIM card from your mobile phone and insert it into another phone.
Send a text message to the SIM card number and see if it receives the message. If it does receive the message, then it simply means that the problem is with your mobile phone and not the SIM card.
In this case, you will have to open your phone’s network settings and see if everything is in order and properly configured.
Check your messaging app and see if there’s a problem with the app. If you’re using an Android phone, I recommend downloading and installing a new messaging app just to verify if the problem is with the pre-installed messaging app on your mobile phone.
4. Phone showing Emergency
Another major factor in determining whether a SIM card is working is if it displays “Emergency” on your network coverage.
In this situation, you have not activated such a feature on your phone, but it displays “Emergency” instead of the network coverage on your phone.
It is also a sign that the sim card is damaged or deactivated by the network provider. Whenever you see emergency immediately you inserted a sim in your phone, it simply means the sim card is not working and should be replaced.
Before you go ahead with the replacement
Remove the SIM card from your mobile phone and insert it into another phone. Power on the phone and check to see if “Emergency” is displayed on the mobile phone.
If “Emergency” is displayed on the mobile phone, it simply means that the SIM card is no longer working and must have been deactivated by the network provider. All you have to do is contact your network provider and lodge a complaint.
How to check if a SIM card is working is by checking if it shows “emergency” instead of the network coverage on a mobile phone.
These are the signs you will see if a SIM card is no longer working or active. In most cases, the SIM card has been deactivated by the network provider and turns out to be invalid.
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This is how to check if a SIM card is working: by checking if there is network coverage on the phone, try making and receiving calls using the SIM card and try sending and receiving text messages.
Hello.
I started having issues with my phone about a week ago. When someone calls me or when I call someone, our conversation begin breaking up or becomes very skippy and we can no longer hear each other. I removed the Sim Card and inserted it into another phone and the same thing happened. So I think that tells me that the issue is not the phone. I’m thinking it’s a bad Sim Card. I called the carrier and after exhausting all of their troubleshooting measures, concluded that there were no technical issues, including coverage my area—from their perspective, everything was fine. Oh, I did clean the Sim Card with a microfiber cloth but obviously that didn’t resolve the issue. I think the issue is the Sim Card. I would sincerely appreciate your response and assistance, I you don’t mind, please?
Thanks,
John
I will recommend you to do a sim swap and get the latest version of your carrier network sim card.
Since the problem is not from your phone, and not caused by a poor network reception but rather the sim card, do a sim replacement.
It only involves getting a new sim card and moving information from your old sim card to the new sim card. Remember, you will still maintain your sim number and other information.