How to fix Samsung Galaxy S9 No SIM card error? [Troubleshooting Guide]

SIM card errors like the ones depicted by a No SIM card error prompt may denote a possible damage on the SIM card slot or SIM card itself. But in many cases, SIM card errors transpiring in contemporary mobile devices including basic, mid-range, and high-tiered smartphones are attributed to a minor or major software issue afflicting the network system on affected devices. Others are associated with network outages as well as account problems. In the case where the account is to blame, the network services are currently disabled by the carrier for certain reasons. The account owner must therefore settle whatever the issue is on the account so as to have all network services restored.

Meanwhile network-related errors that are triggered by software glitches in smartphones can occur inevitably and randomly. Hence your only choice is to deal with them when they occur. In this context, I have mapped out the potential solutions to a No SIM card error on Samsung Galaxy S9. If by any chance you will encounter this error on the same device, then feel free to refer to this walkthrough as you troubleshoot the problem on your end. Scroll down and read on.

Before going further, if you found this post because you were trying to find a solution to your problem, then try to visit our Galaxy S9 troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed most of the commonly reported issues with the phone. We’ve already provided solutions to some of the problems reported by our readers so try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you and if you need further assistance, fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit.

Fix Galaxy S9 No SIM card error

The following are things you should do to try and fix your Galaxy S9 that can’t detect the SIM card mounted on it…

First solution: Soft reset or forced restart.

As mentioned earlier, a No SIM card error may occur due to minor or major software glitches that are affecting the network functions of your phone. And the first recommended and effective solution to problems like these is a soft reset or simple restart on the device. For starters, here’s how a soft reset is done on your Samsung Galaxy S9:

Press the Power button for a few seconds until the menu appears on the screen.
Select Power off from the menu options.
Then tap OK. Your phone will then shut down.
After 30 seconds, press the Power button again until your phone powers on.

If the error persists after the first restart, then give it another try. If that still won’t do any good, then give it utmost 5 restarts and see what happens.

Alternatively, you may try to force your Galaxy S9 to restart. It works similar to a soft reset only that the restart is done forcibly using the hardware keys. Here’s how a forced restart is done on your Galaxy S9:

Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for up to 45 seconds or until the phone power cycles.

This is a simulated battery removal process and a recommended method to restart a device that is frozen or unresponsive. It works the same function as that of a soft reset without causing loss of personal data on the device.

Second solution: Remove and reinstall SIM card.

Given the error prompt is saying something about the SIM card, removing and reinstalling the SIM card can be a potential solution. Probably the SIM card has been slightly dislodged, misplaced, or some dirts might have barred contact between the SIM card and SIM card tray.

Some people who have encountered the same error on their Samsung Galaxy handsets were able to fix it by cleaning up the SIM card and/or SIM tray. It was found out that the No SIM card error has to do with the copper connectors on the SIM card getting dirty. So here’s how they fixed it:

Power off your phone completely.
Pop out the SIM card by inserting the SIM eject pin or small paper clip into the tiny hole on the side of the phone.
Gently push the pin so that SIM tray pops out.
Remove the card from the tray. Be sure to note how it was originally positioned so you can place it back later correctly.
Apply a little amount of rubbing alcohol on the end of a Q-Tip.
Gently rub the copper side of the SIM until it’s cleaned.
Let it dry for a few minutes.
When the SIM card is ready, place it back into the SIM card slot.
Push the SIM card tray back into place.

Turn on your phone then see if that fixes the No SIM card error. If not, then move on to the next applicable solution.

Third solution: Reset network settings.

Sometimes, an erratic settings configuration can trigger pertinent errors to occur later on. If the No SIM card error started to pop up on your phone after making some changes or modifying relevant settings on your device, then try to revert the changes you’ve made back to their previous configuration. But if you can’t do so because you aren’t sure of which options or settings to work on, then you can just resort to a network settings reset. This can help rectify network problems and related errors due to incorrect network settings. But it’s also worth to note that this will reset all your data connections back to factory defaults. So any changes you’ve made will be deleted including your current network settings on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, network selections, as well as data restrictive settings in apps. if you wish to give it a shot, then take note of your Wi-Fi networks and passwords and proceed with these steps:

Swipe up on an empty spot from the Home screen. Doing so opens the Apps tray.
Tap Settings.
Tap General Management.
Tap Reset.
Select the option to Reset network settings.
Tap Reset Settings.
If prompted, enter your device PIN or password to proceed.
Tap Reset Settings again to confirm reset.

Wait until the network reset is finished, restart your phone then see if that fixes the problem.

Don’t forget to set up your Wi-Fi networks afterwards.

Fourth solution: Master reset/factory reset.

A master reset wipes out everything from your device and restores the original factory settings. All your personal data on the internal storage including downloads, apps, contacts, images, and other files will be deleted in the process. That said, it should only be regarded as the last resort when dealing with major software issues on your device. You may opt for a factory reset if you are certain that your device is totally free from any sort of damage especially with the SIM card, SIM card tray, and other relevant components. Here’s how to back up and master reset your Galaxy S9 handset:

Back up all your critical data.
Then navigate to the Home screen.
Open the Apps tray by swiping up on an empty spot on the Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Tap Cloud and accounts.
Select Backup and restore.
Specify your desired setting. You may select the option to Back up my data or go for Automatic restore.
Tap the Back key at the bottom right of your device until you will reach the main Settings menu.
Tap General Management.
Tap Reset.
Select Factory data reset.
Scroll down to the bottom of the screen.
Then tap Reset.
Select Delete All.
Enter your screen lock credentials, verify your Samsung account, enter the password, if necessary.
Then tap Confirm.
Wait for your phone to reset and restart.

See if that fixes the No SIM card error. If not, then consider other options.

Seek further assistance

If none of the prior methods is able to fix the No SIM card error on your Samsung Galaxy S9, then you may contact your carrier or network service provider to escalate the problem for further assistance and recommendations. You also opt to request SIM card replacement if you suspect that your current SIM card is to blame. And likewise, don’t forget to avail for service warranty.

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