What to do if the SIM card is not detected on your Motorola Moto G5 (easy steps)

Emerging among the most popular smartphones in the budget segment is Motorola’s Moto G5 and G5 Plus. And just like any other phones both these Moto devices also have their share of troubles including Wi-Fi connectivity issues, camera problems, to name some. But the good thing is that most of these problems are rectifiable by some workarounds for as long as no hardware damage is present on the phone. In this particular post, I will tackle a common issue affecting many Motorola phone users since the release of Android 4 OS. And this is on SIM card detection failure. If you happen to land into this post while searching for potential solutions to a pertinent issue on your Moto G5 device, then this post might be able to help you out. So just keep on reading and get some help.

The Motorola Moto G5 comes in two versions depending on your region — a single SIM version and dual SIM version. Some people are having the same issue in which the SIM card in the second slot is not detected while others with the first slot. Either instances, removing and reinstalling the SIM card can potentially resolve the problem at once.

For smartphone owners who found our site while trying to find a solution, try to see if your phone is one of the devices we support. If it is, then visit the troubleshooting page for that device, browse through it to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. However, if you still need our help after that, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

Possible solutions to fix SIM card not detected error on Moto G5

The following solutions are based on the probable causes. Unless you have determined the root cause, you will need to try each method until you’ll find the required fix. So here are your options.

First solution: Remove and reinstall the SIM card.

One of the common reasons as to why your device is unable to detect or recognize the SIM card is because the SIM card is dislodged or loose. To make sure this isn’t causing you this trouble, remove the SIM card from your Moto G5, check for any signs of damage, and then reinstall it.

Here’s how to properly remove and reinstall the SIM card on your Moto G5:

• Power off your Moto G5. Your device has to be completely turned off before removing and reinstalling the SIM card. To do so, just hold the Power button for about 2 to 4 seconds and then select the option to Power Off your Moto G5.
• Remove the back cover of your Moto G5. To remove the back cover, slowly peel off the back cover starting from the small gap (groove) located at the bottom of the phone. Just use your hands with a bit of force (but not too much). Do not use any tools which may cause damage to or break the cover.
• Remove the battery first. Doing so will let you view and access the inside of your Moto G5 including the SIM card slot.
• With the battery out, remove the SIM card(s) from the card slot. Inspect the SIM card for any signs of damage. If there’s none, then you may place it back into the card slot. Be sure to place the metal part of the SIM card facing downwards and the clipped corner in the upper left. Also ensure that the SIM card is placed in the lower section not underneath the slot.
• For dual SIM versions, insert the second SIM card. Make sure the SIM cards are properly installed and secured.
• Put back the battery and back cover.

When everything is back into place, turn on your Moto G5. The SIM card should now be detected.

Second workaround: Restart (soft reset) or forced restart (hard reset).

You may think it’s useless but a simple restart on the device can rectify minor glitches that might caused SIM card errors to occur. If the SIM card remains undetected after the prior procedures, try to restart or do a forced restart on your Moto G5 several times (about 5 times).

To do so, just press and hold down the Power button and then tap Power off. Wait for about 30 seconds and then press the Power button again until it your device powers up.

Alternatively, you can do a forced restart or hard reset on your Moto G5 with these steps:

Simultaneously press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons for about 10 seconds or until the phone reboots, shows the Moto logo/bootup sequence and finally takes you to the lock screen.

Third workaround: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off.

The Airplane mode trick has been proven working by many people who have dealt with network-related issues on their respective Android devices. Turn Airplane mode on automatically disables Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other connectivity features on your device while turning it off does the opposite. For some reasons, doing so refreshes the network functions and eliminates minor glitches affecting the phone’s network system.

Here’s how to turn Airplane mode on and off on your Moto G5:

1. Tap the Apps icon from the Home screen.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap More.
4. Tap the Airplane Mode switch located on the upper right of the screen to turn the feature on for a few seconds.
5. After the elapsed time, tap the Airplane mode switch again to turn the feature off.

See if that gives you some luck.

Fourth workaround: Configure Network settings.

The next option you have if the previous method fails is to manually change the network modes on your Moto G5. You can switch between available network modes and see the result.

1. Go to the Main/Start screen.
2. Drag the Arrow Up sign.
3. Scroll down and then tap Settings.
4. Tap More.
5. Scroll down and tap on Mobile networks.
6. Tap on Preferred network type.
7. If 4G is selected, tap to select other network type like 3G or 2G.
8. After setting the network type, go back to the Main/Start screen.

Give your phone another round of reboot and then see if the SIM card is detected already.

Last option: Reset your Moto G5 to Factory Settings.

A factory reset might be the key to fixing the problem especially if a more intricate software error or bug is to blame. Performing a factory reset however will wipe all of the data and information on your iPhone and restores your phone software to factory settings. This is why it’s deemed as a last resort. Should you wish to proceed and give it a shot, follow these steps:

1. Tap Settings from the Main/Start screen.
2. Tap Backup and reset.
3. Select the Factory data reset option.
4. Select Reset Phone to confirm.

Wait until the reset is finished and then reboot your phone. After it’s booted up, proceed with the initial setup and then see if it’s now able to detect the SIM card.

Other Options

If none of the prior methods worked and your Moto G5 is still unable to detect SIM card, contact your phone’s carrier for other options. You may request a new SIM card if necessary. If you suspect that the problem is due to a damaged SIM card reader, you may have it replaced by a new one or take your device to a service center and have an authorized technician do the job for you.

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