Samsung Galaxy S21 sim card not detected (no sim card) - How To Fix

It is common for users to experience issues with their Samsung Galaxy S21 and the SIM card. If you encounter such an issue, the first troubleshooting step should be verifying that your phone's software and SIM card are compatible.

Many users report having issues with their Samsung Galaxy S21 not detecting their SIM cards. This can be frustrating and potentially costly if you rely on your phone as a primary means of communication.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to resolve this issue before contacting customer support or initiating return procedures on your new smartphone. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to troubleshoot this problem in most cases.

Whether your Samsung Galaxy S21 sim card is detected but not working, or if it isn't recognized, these troubleshooting tips may help you get back up and running quickly so you can get back to using your phone as usual once again.

See also: Why does my phone say no service?

Why Does My Samsung Galaxy S21 Say No Sim Card Detected?

We will share some simple workarounds that can help you resolve the issue. Remember that if the SIM card is damaged, you'll have to visit your carrier to get a new one. Let's dive in.

Samsung Galaxy S21 says no sim card - Ways to fix it

Method 1: Activate SIM Card or USIM cards

A simple and effective solution. To enable your SIM card, Navigate to:

• Settings
• Tap Connection.
• SIM card manager > Tap one or both switches for the SIM or USIM cards to activate them.

Method 2: Restart your Samsung Galaxy S21

Let us begin with the quickest and easiest way to solve the problem. A forced restart is one solution that can help, not just in this particular situation but in many other situations. It is pretty simple and will take just a few seconds of your time.

Press the Power and Volume down buttons simultaneously. Keep holding both buttons until the Phone logo appears on the screen.

Method 2: Check your Samsung SIM tray

It's time to check if the SIM card of your Galaxy S21 is damaged. Remove the card from the tray. If you notice the card is damaged, you must visit your carrier and ask for a replacement. If the card seems okay, place it back into the tray.

• Blow out dust from the SIM tray and wipe your SIM gently without damaging any of its parts

If the problem persists, try using a different SIM card with an unlocked Android smartphone. If the other SIM cards work fine, your SIM Card is the problem.

Method 3: Change Network Mode to Auto

Follow these steps:

• Go to the Wireless & Networks Or Connections.
• Select Mobile Networks
• Select Network Mode
• You will get a pop-up menu with the different options you can choose from. Ensure that you select the first option that says 4G/3G/2G (auto connect).

Selecting this will ensure that your Galaxy S21 is connected to the correct network.

Method 4: Disable the Radio

It might be a problem with the radio signal. Do the following:

• Dial *#*#4636#*#* in the dialer
• You will be prompted with a testing menu
• Click on Phone/Device Information
• Run ping test
• Select GSM Auto (PRL) from the drop-down list
• Click Turn off the radio
• Restart.

Solution 6: Clear SIM Card Manager Cache on your Samsung Galaxy S21

The SIM Card manager manages the operation of your SIM Services such as DUAL SIM, other features like SIM toolkit, and service mode RIL.

Clearing SIM Card manager :

• Navigate to Settings
• Tap Apps
• Tap the Menu Icon (3 dots)
• Tap Show System Apps
• Search for SIM Card manager
• Tap Storage > Clear Cache

Method 7: Toggle Airplane Mode

Once you know that the SIM card is not the problem, try toggling the Airplane mode on your device.

• Pull down the notifications pane on your device.
• Look for Airplane mode.
• Tap on Airplane mode to switch it on, then Off

Method 8: Clear SIM Toolkit Cache

Clearing SIM Toolkit Manager :

• Navigate to Settings
• Tap Apps
• Tap the Menu Icon (3 dots)
• Tap Show System Apps
• Search for SIM Toolkit Manager
• Tap Storage > Clear Cache

Method 9: Reset Network Settings

Sometimes just a simple network reset can fix the issue. From your Galaxy S21 home screen:

• Select Settings
• Tap General Management.
• Select Reset
• Tap Reset Settings.
• Select Reset network settings

Method 10: Update APN Settings

View the Updated APN Settings For AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint ( +4 More)

• Navigate to Settings
• Tap Connections.
• Tap Mobile Networks
• Select Access Point Names
• Tap More (3 dots)
• Tap Reset to Default.
• Then enter the new APN Settings.

Method 11: Update Your Software Version

Update the software version on your Samsung Galaxy S21 phone. Navigate to:

• Settings
• Scroll down to the extreme bottom
• Select Software Update
• Please wait for it to reboot and complete the update

Method 12: Choose the Correct Network Operator

If the network operator selected on your Samsung Galaxy S21 is not the same as the carrier you are using for your device, you may see this error. To resolve this, follow these steps:

• Go to Wireless & Networks Or Connections
• Select Mobile Networks
• Select Network Operators
• Tap on Search Now
• Then, Select your network.

Ensure you select your current carrier from the list of available networks.

Method 13: Reset your Galaxy S21 to factory settings

Resetting the factory settings will erase all your data and delete all third-party apps on your device. Please make a backup of your files before proceeding.

• Navigate to Settings
• Tap General Management.
• Select Reset
• Tap Factory Reset.