7 Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks for SIM Errors on Your iPhone 13

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Get cellular functionality back by diagnosing why your SIM card isn't working
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Are you getting a SIM error on your iPhone 13? The SIM card is necessary to use the cellular plan on your phone, though many phones now have eSIMs (embedded SIMs) that you can use instead of a physical SIM card. You may be getting a SIM failure error because there's something wrong with your SIM card or cellular plan. In this article, we'll go over the top methods to fix the "SIM failure" error on your iPhone 13.

Things You Should Know

  • Ensure your phone has an active cellular plan by checking under "Settings" > "General" and going to the "Cellular" or "About" menus.
  • If you have a physical SIM, you can remove the tray on the left side of your phone to reinsert the SIM or replace it.
  • If you use an eSIM, you must contact your carrier to replace it.
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Restart iPhone

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  1. This will bring you to the power options screen. The best first troubleshooting step when you have glitches on your phone is usually to restart it to see if the issue gets fixed. Many seemingly random issues are fixed by restarting your device, including SIM or eSIM issues.
    • Slide the "slide to power off" slider to the right. Your phone will shut down.
    • Press and hold the side button once your phone is completely off. Hold this button for about three seconds until the Apple logo appears on your screen, then release.
    • Check your SIM status. If you don't get a SIM failure alert right away, go to Settings > General and scroll down until you see a section called "Physical SIM" or "eSIM." You should see your SIM's network, carrier, IMEI, and ICCID.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Check For an Active Cell Plan

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  1. If you don't have an active cellular plan, you won't be able to make calls or use apps like WhatsApp or Viber.
  2. If you have an active cellular plan, you will see options to turn your cellular data on or off and a section for your current cellular carrier. If you don't see these options, you may not have an active cellular plan.
  3. You can also check your SIM in the General settings section. Scroll until you see a section called "Physical SIM" or "eSIM." If you have an active cell plan, you should see your SIM's network, carrier, IMEI, and ICCID. If you don't see these options, you may not have an active cellular plan.
  4. If you had an active cellular plan but now don't, you should contact your carrier to ask for assistance. You may need to set up a new cellular plan or ask for more intensive troubleshooting.
    • If another person you know (such as a partner, spouse, parent, family member, or friend) is in charge of your cellular plan, you may want to contact them as well to ask if there's been a change to your plan.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Check For Carrier Settings Update

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  1. If you're having issues with cellular-related activities on your phone and keep getting a SIM failure error, first connect your phone to Wi-Fi if it isn't already. You can manually try updating your carrier settings to fix your SIM issue. [1]
  2. This lists all of the general settings for your iPhone.
  3. It's the top option under General and lists all the information for your iPhone.
  4. If you have a carrier settings update, you will be prompted to update. If you don't see a prompt, your device is updated to the latest carrier settings.
    • If you get the error shortly after entering a new SIM or eSIM, check for a carrier settings update under the "Carrier" heading.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Reinsert SIM Card

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  1. If you have a physical SIM, removing the SIM card and putting it back in can help refresh any SIM failure errors. You can open the SIM tray using a paperclip or SIM eject tool. The SIM tray is located on the left side of your phone. [2] Remove the SIM card and place it back in the tray, ensuring it's placed correctly, before reinserting it.
    • You may not have a physical SIM with your iPhone 13. If you open the SIM tray and don't see a SIM card, check under Settings > General > About and scroll until you see information about your SIM. If you see a heading that says "eSIM" and no heading about "physical SIM," then you must contact your carrier for eSIM assistance.
    • Restart your phone and check your SIM status. If you don't get a SIM failure alert right away, go to Settings > General and scroll down until you see a section called "Physical SIM" or "eSIM." You should see your SIM's network, carrier, IMEI, and ICCID.
Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Try a Different SIM Card

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  1. If your current SIM card isn't working or is damaged, you can replace it with a new one from your carrier. You should contact your carrier to see what options are available for SIM card replacement.
    • If you don't want to deal with a physical SIM card, you can also get an eSIM instead. iPhone 13 supports eSIM.
    • Open the SIM tray. You can open the SIM tray using a paperclip or SIM eject tool. The SIM tray is located on the left side of your phone. Remove the old SIM card and replace it with the new one before putting the SIM tray back in.
    • If your SIM card has a SIM PIN, you'll be prompted to enter this. Don't guess what the SIM PIN is, as guessing incorrectly can permanently lock your SIM card, and you'll have to contact your carrier for yet another SIM. [3]
    • Restart your phone and check your SIM status. If you don't get a SIM failure alert right away, go to Settings > General and scroll down until you see a section called "Physical SIM" or "eSIM." You should see your SIM's network, carrier, IMEI, and ICCID.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Contact Carrier for eSIM

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  1. If your phone doesn't have a physical SIM and you're experiencing issues with your eSIM, you should contact your carrier for help. If needed, your carrier can issue a new eSIM to see if that will fix the issue. [4]
Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Contact Apple

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  1. While your cell carrier typically takes care of SIM-related issues, Apple Support can assist if nothing else is working. You can contact Apple online or by going to an Apple Store and asking for assistance.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201270
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201337
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-up-cellular-service-iph3f11fba92/ios
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-up-cellular-service-iph3f11fba92/ios

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