How to fix a Samsung Galaxy A8 2019 smartphone that won't detect SIM card, SIM card not inserted error [Troubleshooting Guide]

The occurrence of SIM card errors in mobile devices does not always denote that the SIM card is damaged as most of them are associated with software problems. This means you don’t need to rush out and get a new SIM card replacement. Highlighted below are simple procedures and potential solutions to deal with a relevant issue on the Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone. Read on to find out what to do if all of a sudden, your Galaxy A8 2018 device failed to detect the SIM card or prompts you with a SIM card not inserted error.

Before we proceed, if you’re looking for a solution to a problem with your phone, try to browse through our troubleshooting pages to see if we support your device. If your phone is in the list of our supported devices, then go to the troubleshooting page and look for similar problems. Feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. Don’t worry it’s free. But if you still need our help, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

First solution: Reboot your phone (soft reset).

A soft reset or restart is the easiest and by far a very effective solution to different types of software problems in mobile devices. Should this be the first instance that you encounter a No SIM card or SIM card not inserted error on your Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone, then it’s likely just a random software glitch afflicting network functions of your phone. To get rid of the error, simply reboot your phone or perform a soft reset with these steps:

Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds or until the menu appears.
Tap Power off then OK. Your phone will then shut down.
After 30 seconds, press the Power button again until the phone boots.

Or you can perform the alternative reboot as demonstrated with these steps:

Press and hold the Volume Down button and Power button simultaneously for about 10 to 20 seconds or until the Samsung logo shows up on the screen. Then release both buttons when the Samsung logo appears.

Both these methods won’t affect saved data on your phone’s internal memory, so you won’t lose any personal information in the process.

Second solution: Remove and reseat the SIM card.

If a soft reset failed to resolve the problem and the SIM card error persists, then try to remove and reseat the SIM card on your Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone. It’s possible that your phone is telling that truth, which means it’s actually not detecting the SIM card likely because it’s dislodged from the slot. And the only way to find out is to remove and then reseat the SIM card on your device. Here’s how:

Power off your phone completely.
Insert the SIM ejector tool or bended paperclip into the tiny hold on the SIM card tray. To prevent causing damage to your device, ensure that the pin is perpendicular to the hole. When you hear a slight click, it means that the tray pops out.
Gently pull the tray out from the slot.
Remove the SIM card from the tray and then check the card and card slot for any visible signs of damage and dust-free.
If everything looks good, place the SIM card back in the tray with the gold colored contacts facing downwards.
Insert the SIM card tray back into the SIM card tray slot.
Push the tray back in to close it. Make sure it is closed tightly to prevent water and dust from entering the device.

When the SIM tray is secured back in place, turn on your phone and see if that fixes the error. If the SIM card no detected error persists, then you may have to consider performing software resets.

Third solution: Reset network settings on your phone.

There were instances when a SIM card error occurs due to invalid network settings or options on the phone. Problems like this usually transpire after installing an update, which automatically alter or override the current network settings on the device. To clear this out, performing a network settings reset is recommended. This will clear/delete current network settings and restore the default network configurations, thus allowing you to manually configure necessary options accordingly. Here’s how it’s done:

Tap Settings from the Main Menu.
Scroll to and tap General Management.
Scroll to and tap Reset.
Select Reset network settings from the given options.
Read the message from the Reset Network Settings prompt and then tap Reset Settings.
Tap Reset Settings again to confirm.

Your phone will then instigate the network settings reset process and then automatically it’ll restart when done. As soon as it reboots, set up and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network to go back online with your phone. And likewise, check and see if the No SIM card error is gone. If it’s still shows, then try other solutions.

Fourth solution: Boot your phone in safe mode.

Safe mode is a state that allows only built-in apps to run. You can enable safe mode if you’re dealing with device issues that are likely associated with errant apps. To make sure that the SIM card error you’re getting is not inflicted by a third-party app, try to enable safe mode on your Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone when these steps:

While your phone is on, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until the Power off menu appears.
Hold on the Power off option until the Restart in safe mode appears.
Select OK and then wait for a few seconds until your device boots up in safe mode.

You will know when your device is already running in safe mode if you see Safe Mode on the bottom right-corner of the screen.

If the error is gone while in safe mode, then it means any of your third-party/downloaded apps is the culprit. In that case, you’ll need to identify which apps is at fault and then have it deleted. If the error persists while in safe mode, it denotes that something in your phone system is causing it and therefore you need to continue troubleshooting.

Fifth solution: Update phone software to the latest version.

Installing the latest software version available for your device can be the key to fixing the error if it’s triggered by some bugs or malicious software. Software updates not only bring in new features but also offer security enhancements to get rid of any bugs that might have caused problems on certain devices. To check for new update (OTA) on your Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone, follow these steps:

Open the Apps Drawer (Main Menu).
Tap Settings.
Tap About phone.
Tap Software updates.
Then tap Check for Updates.
If a new software version is available for your device, you will see a notification with the option to Download now.
Back up all your important data, if necessary and then tap Download now to start downloading the update file.
When the download is finish, tap on Install update.

Wait until the device installs the new software changes and update features. When the installation process is finished, your phone will reboot automatically.

It is recommended that your phone must have ample power (at least 50 percent) and storage space to complete the installation process. A Wi-Fi or 4G Internet connection is also necessary as you’re going the download the update via over-the-air (OTA) or wirelessly.

Alternatively, you can manually install the update on your Galaxy A8 2018 by using ODIN Downloader.

Other options

If the problem persists after exhausting all prior methods, you can try wiping cache partition to clear cached files from the system storage including corrupted system data that might have caused errors on the Galaxy A8 2018 smartphone’s network functions.

For other options and recommendations, contact your network service provider/carrier. Also try to request for a new SIM card replacement if you think the SIM card is damaged.

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How to fix a Samsung Galaxy A8 2019 smartphone that won’t detect SIM card, SIM card not inserted error [Troubleshooting Guide]