How to fix No SIM card error on your Motorola Moto X4 (easy steps)

SIM card errors in mobile devices like a No SIM card error on your Moto X4 can be triggered by software glitches like rogue apps, malware, faulty updates, or bugs inflicting network system errors. Damaged phone components like a broken SIM tray or SIM card slot are likewise among other causing factors to consider. You can consider hardware damage as the underlying cause if the error occurs after you dropped your phone or got it wet by accident. The SIM tray or card slot might have obtained some sort of physical or liquid damage and therefore needs to be fixed through service. Otherwise, you can try performing some workarounds to troubleshoot software problems on the phone that might have caused the No SIM card to occur. Feel free to refer to the following workarounds whenever you need some more inputs on how to troubleshoot this error on your Moto X4 smartphone.

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First solution: Reboot your Moto X4 (soft reset).

To rule minor glitches out from the possible triggers, you can try a restart first. Rebooting the phone effectively remedies various forms of errors including the ones pertaining to the SIM card. This will not delete data on your phone so you can expect all your contents to remain intact after the reboot. Here’s how to perform a soft reset on your Moto X4:

Press and hold the Power key for 10 to 20 seconds until it shuts down completely. After a few seconds, press and hold the Power key again until the phone restarts and go through the boot-up sequence.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the Volume Down key and Power key simultaneously for 30 to 40 seconds and then release both keys when the phone restarts.

If a soft reset failed to fix the error, then there must be other triggers that you need to deal with aside from minor glitches. So move on and try the next possible solutions.

Second solution: Remove and reseat the SIM card.

Your device may also not be able to read the SIM card when it’s loose or dislodged. It’s possible that the contact between the SIM card and the SIM card slot is not secure so you need to check that out too. Here’s what you should do then:

Turn off your phone.
Locate the tiny hole on the SIM card tray.
Position your phone facing up.
Insert the SIM ejection tool into the hole then firmly but gently push it in until the tray pops out. Be sure to use the SIM ejection tool that comes with your device for perfect fit.
Remove the tray.
Take out the SIM card and check for any visible signs of damage. If you suspect the SIM card is damaged, contact your service provider/carrier to request for a new SIM card replacement. If the SIM card looks good to you, then proceed to the next step.
Place the SIM card back into the (smaller) slot in the tray with the gold contacts facing down.
Carefully reposition the tray in the slot then push it gently back into the phone.

Once everything is put back in place, turn on your phone.

Third solution: Update your Moto X4 software to the latest version.

Considering that the error is inflicted by certain system bugs, installing a new update can also help. Just recently, Motorola has announced a new software update that brings Android security enhancements and stability improvements to fix bugs. Usually, you will be notified if a new update is available for your Moto X4 device. But if you haven’t received any update notification, you can manually check for updates with these steps:

Tap Settings in the apps menu.
Tap About phone.
Tap System updates. Note: Before you start downloading any update, be sure to have your phone charged (at least 50%) and connected to the Internet.
Select Download and install.
Wait until your device finishes downloading the software and shows Background installation.
Wait until the software is completely installed.
When your phone shows the Almost there… prompt, select the option to Restart Now.

Your phone then restarts. After it has successfully restarted, new changes from the recently installed software update are now implemented on your device.

Last option: Reset and Restore your Moto X4 to factory defaults.

You may opt to proceed with a full system reset or reset your Moto X4 to factory defaults if the problem persists after exhausting all possible solutions to fix the No SIM Card error on your device. This method wipes everything from your device including your personal data so don’t forget to create a backup beforehand. Any bugs that might have caused you this error will likewise be deleted in the process so everything should work properly afterwards. If you’d like to try it, then you may proceed with these steps:

Back up all your important your data.
Tap Settings from the Apps menu.
Select System.
Tap Reset.
Select Factory Data Reset.
Tap Reset Phone.
If prompted, enter your screen lock credentials.
Select the option to Erase Everything. The reset will now instigate.

Wait for your device to complete the reset and then restarts by itself. Once your phone has booted up successfully after the reset, you can proceed with the initial setup. Now see if that fixes the No SIM card error on your device.

Alternatively, you can perform an external reset or factory reset using the hardware keys. This is often recommended if you need to perform a factory reset but cannot access the phone’s menu.

If you still see the same error, then contact your carrier for other recommendations.

Other options

Update carrier settings. Contact your network service provider/carrier, let them know about the issue, and if necessary, ask help to manually implement carrier settings update on your device or reset network settings for your account on their end.
SIM card replacement. It’s possible that your SIM card is damaged so your device is no longer able to read it. In that case, a new SIM card replacement would be necessary. That said, contact your carrier to request for a new SIM card.
Service. If the SIM card is good but your Moto X4 is still unable to read it or shows the same No SIM card inserted error prompt, then your device might have accrued some sort of physical or liquid damage, particularly on the SIM card slot or other relevant components. If you suspect that the error is tied to hardware damage, then you can take your device to an authorized service center and let the technician do the necessary fixing.

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