SIM card not activated - an error that informs you that the phone system was unable to detect the SIM card. This problem periodically appears in gadgets running on Android. Sometimes from the very beginning of using a new number, and sometimes already during operation. Why this malfunction occurs and what to do about it is described in detail in this article.
What do you mean the SIM card is not activated?
If the card is not activated, then the owner of the gadget will not be able to use the mobile phone for its main purpose - to make and receive calls, use social networks and other activities related to communication.
Sometimes this error is displayed due to network problems. The area where the user is located has poor coverage. Try rebooting the gadget and checking the signal. It is likely that if you leave the area with a weak signal, correct operation will be restored.
Why was it not possible to activate the SMS position?
Activating an SMS position through a Mi account is one of the simplest and most effective ways to increase the level of protection of your smartphone. However, when registering a new account, many users experience certain problems. Most often, it is not possible to activate an SMS position because the person entered the phone number incorrectly or did not add it at all.
Quite often, the cause of the problem is errors that occur in the operation of the mobile device. The next reason is the refusal of the smartphone to function with the Russified system (that is, the phone can only fully work on the Chinese version of the firmware). In any of these cases, the user receives an SMS message with the following text: “SIM card is not activated.”
How to activate a SIM card on Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone phones
For self-activation on different phones (such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Iphone, Honor), follow a simple algorithm:
- open “Settings”, go to “Connections”;
- click on “SIM Card Manager”;
- select one or two cards to activate, make sure it says Enabled.
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If this option does not work right away, then first turn off the phone, remove the card, insert it again, repeat the algorithm and use it for its intended purpose.
If this does not help, then remove the card again, delete the saved contacts and repeat the steps described in the instructions. As a last resort, contact your operator.
Method No. 1 - activating a SIM card on the website
This is the simplest method, but it does not always help. Go to the official website, enter your username and password for your Mi account there. In the “Security” tab, you need to specify a phone number, or correct an existing one if it is specified incorrectly. Click “Change” and a message with a confirmation code will be sent to your number. You indicate it on the website and you’re done.
What to do if the SIM card is not activated?
To activate a SIM card on different phones running on Android, the methods described in detail below are suitable.
Number registration
You can register your number manually. To do this, click on the error notifications, wait until a message opens in which you need to click “Retry” at least three times.
To secure the result, go to the manufacturer’s website and provide a phone number. Enter your username and password, go to settings, and wait until the system automatically sends a confirmation code to your phone number. But keep in mind that some users note that this method does not work on their gadgets.
Changing the language on the phone
Some models from Chinese manufacturers have some shortcomings - there is no support for the Russian language.
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To solve, follow these steps:
- log out of your personal account;
- in the settings, change the language to English;
- Log in to your account for the card to be activated;
- change the language back to Russian.
For correct operation, reboot the device and continue operation as usual.
Firmware check
Also try updating the device software. It is likely that there are problems with the current firmware. This is typical if you purchased a smartphone on a Chinese site. All that is necessary is to update to a new version of Android, if possible.
Activating SIM in modem and tablet
Unlike a SIM card for a smartphone, which most users immediately install in their phone after purchase, many prefer to activate a SIM card on a tablet or modem at home.
There should also be no difficulties with tablets, since SIM card activation occurs in the same way as a smartphone. It is enough to install it correctly in the device, wait for registration on the network, and if necessary, check the balance, and go online to any third-party site (except operator resources).
If the SIM card is used in an iPad, then you will need to go into the settings and in the “My Beeline” menu select “SIM card activation” in the “Other services” section.
Activating the number in the modem also does not require complex actions. It is enough to install a SIM in the device and run the corresponding software on your computer, which is activated after connecting the device to the PC.
In some cases, you may need to activate your starting balance using your SIM card number. You will also be prompted to do this automatically the first time you connect your device. If you missed this point and did not activate the balance, you can do this through the settings of the Internet connection program by going to the account management section.
How long can you not activate your SIM card?
It is noted that activation must occur within three months from the date of purchase. When purchasing, a certain amount is automatically sent to your account to activate the selected package. If the user does not use the connected services for three months, the money is automatically debited, and the connected package is automatically transferred to “Standard” or “Basic” (depending on the operator). At the end, the number will be given to another user. Read more about the conditions on the official websites of the selected operator - Tele2, Vodafone, Kyivstar, Lifecell, Megafon, MTS, Beeline.
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Multiple activation methods
If you bought a sim for your mobile and want to use your number without any restrictions, consider yourself lucky. Activating a new card on a phone is much easier than on any other device.
For a card from any of the modern cellular communication giants (MegaFon, MTS, Beeline, Tele2, Iota) you do not need to perform any complex actions. Place the SIM card in the appropriate slot, turn on the device, enter the PIN code (if required) and wait until the phone connects to your operator's network.
If these actions are not enough, and this becomes clear, if you cannot be reached, try to resolve the situation and activate the subscriber identification module by checking the balance or calling the support service.
Toll free numbers:
- MTS – 0890
- Beeline – 0611
- MegaFon – 0500
- Tele2 – 611
Usually, after making a call or sending a USSD request, a message comes to your phone notifying you that the card is ready for use.
Similar measures will need to be taken by owners of tablets who purchased a chip for use in their device.
If the new SIM card activated in this way still does not work correctly or does not see the network at all, other methods will help resolve the issue. None of them can be called difficult: a minimum of actions will help you cope with this task.
If possible, contact an employee of the operator's communication salon. He should help you with the registration procedure. If some time has passed since you purchased a new card, you can take a phone with a different number from your telecommunications company and call the support service. Explain to the operator the essence of the problem and give the SIM number that needs to be activated. You will have to use your personal passport information to verify your identity. This is done for your own safety, in order to make sure that manipulations with the chip are carried out by its owner, and not by attackers.
Be careful! When purchasing, study the product packaging and find information about activation periods there. Various companies give their clients from three months to a year to register a card. After this time, the chip may be blocked, and the number will go on sale again: in this case, you will not be able to use it.
Is there a subscription fee?
If after a three-month period the user still has connected services, the subscription fee is automatically charged.
The proposed instructions are also suitable for tablets. In this article, we described in detail what to do if your phone or tablet does not accept the SIM card. If the suggested options do not help resolve the problem, contact the service center of the operator whose services you decide to use. The consultant will not only fix the error, but also explain what to do if there is a possibility of a repeated failure.
How to activate SMS positioning
There are a number of reasons why it is not possible to activate Xiaomi SMS positioning, and each of them has its own solution. We will look at the most popular methods that will help fix the problem.
Enter the number manually
If the user entered his phone number incorrectly or incorrectly, then it is enough to change it manually. To do this, use the following instructions:
- Click on the "SIM card not activated" notification.
- Press the "Repeat" key. Be prepared to repeat this action several times.
- At the final stage, enter your number.
Make sure that all data has been entered correctly. In some cases you need to add “+7”, in others you need to remove it. It may take you several attempts to enter all the information correctly.
Activation on the official website
This is one of the most common ways to resolve the error. The computer version has wider functionality and therefore always works more stable.
To activate the SMS position, follow these short instructions:
- Go to the website https://www.mi.com/ru/.
- After loading the required page, enter all login information.
- Next, select “Security”.
- Go to the "Recovery Phone" section.
- Fill all necessary fields.
After this, you will receive an SMS message containing the code. Enter it in the required field and your account will be activated. At the final stage, restart your smartphone, otherwise the message will still hang in the notification bar.
Call the operator
Another popular method that allows you to remove the blocking is to call the operator. Explain the whole situation to the specialist, and he will remove restrictions on sending messages. Very often the problem lies precisely in this – the mobile device cannot send a message, which is why you cannot activate SMS positioning.
After the ban is lifted, the system automatically sends confirmation to Mi Account. At the next stage, the number is entered into the database and the user is identified. Do not forget that at the final stage you will have to reboot the device. Otherwise, the error may not disappear or may appear again.
Enter your network's APN settings manually
If the above two methods do not work, your SIM card may have completely lost contact with the network it is supposed to connect to. If this happens, you may have to manually enter your network operator's APN settings
On a modern Android device (from version 9.0 Pie), go to Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile network → More → Access point names, and then tap the + icon.
At this point, you need to either contact your operator to get the necessary APN settings, or check online to see if they are published on the operator's website.
It may also be a good idea to take a screenshot and save your APN settings in advance so you can quickly refer to them if you run into the problem again.
Try to troubleshoot
Possible phone problems
System failure
Sometimes the smartphone does not see the SIM card due to software failures, flashing or updating. In such cases, you should reset your network settings or perform a hard reset. In the latter case, photos, videos and other data may be deleted, so it is better to save them first.
On Android
Open Settings and go to the System section. Find "Reset settings" and open it.
Tap “Reset Wi‑Fi, mobile Internet and Bluetooth settings.” Confirm the action by clicking the “Reset settings” button.
On iOS
Launch “Settings” and go to the “General” section. Scroll to the bottom of the list and click Reset.
Select Reset Network Settings and enter the passcode. Click "Reset Settings" to confirm the deletion.
SIM card slot is disabled in settings
On Android phones with multiple SIM cards, one of the slots may be disabled and, accordingly, the SIM will not be detected in it. To fix this, just go to the settings, find the “SIM Manager” or “SIM Card” section and activate all slots.
Launch “Settings”, go to the “Network and Internet” section. Open the “SIM cards” item and turn on the toggle switches opposite each slot.
Operator blocking
Smartphones purchased abroad may be tied to a local operator, which is why they only work with its SIM cards. Craftsmen unlock such gadgets using cards that are placed under the SIM. Devices are unstable and often stop working after firmware updates.
The fact that the phone is tied to an operator is indicated by the low price, the cellular network logos on the case, and most importantly, the gasket under the SIM card, without which you cannot make calls.
If you have just such a device and it no longer sees the network after installing the update, then you will have to look for a new version of the board to unlock. Another option is to contact the operator and have the device officially unlinked (but such a service costs $100 or more).
Possible problems with SIM cards
The card has expired
If the SIM is not used for a long time, the operator can turn it off and transfer the number to another subscriber. The same applies to unactivated new SIM cards - they have an expiration date, after which the SIM is blocked. Only a communication salon can help solve this problem.
SIM card is damaged
It is quite difficult to accidentally break a SIM, so damage can only be caused by rough mechanical force due to improper installation or removal. Most often, SIM cards become unusable when you cut them yourself from the Mini-SIM to Micro-SIM format or from Micro-SIM to Nano-SIM. In such cases, you can only replace the card with a new one at the operator’s office.
Contact wear
If the SIM has been frequently moved from one phone to another, grooves may appear on the contact pads. Because of them, the contacts of the card reader are loosely adjacent to the SIM card. This leads to a poor connection and, as a result, unstable operation.
Illustration: Artyom Kozoriz / Lifehacker
In this case, it is advisable to replace the SIM at the operator’s office. As a temporary solution, you can fold a piece of paper several times and attach it above the SIM card. In phones with a removable back panel, this almost always works flawlessly, but in models with a sliding SIM tray it may not work.
Possible common problems
SIM card offset
In all phones, the SIM card is located in a special slot or tray, where the contacts of the card reader come into contact with its contacts. If you move the card even a little, the connection will be disrupted and nothing will work. This can happen after the phone is hit when dropped or when the SIM card is installed carelessly.
To solve the problem, you need to remove the SIM and insert it correctly into place, focusing on the markings or the cut corner of the card.
Oxidation of contacts
Sometimes it happens that even if the contact is installed correctly, there is still no contact. The reason is dust and dirt, oxides from moisture, or wear and tear on the contact pads themselves from frequent card changes. You can fix this as follows.
Illustration: Artyom Kozoriz / Lifehacker
Remove the back panel of the smartphone or remove the SIM card tray. Clean the gold-plated contacts on the SIM and card reader using an eraser. If the oxidation is very severe, use fine-grained sandpaper. After this, wipe all contacts with a cloth soaked in alcohol to completely clean them.
