iPhone 12 Pro Max no SIM card installed? Fix

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Are you experiencing the iPhone 12 Pro Max no SIM card installed error despite having a SIM card plugged in? If you are, then you’ve come to the right place.
I know how you feel, and it’s frustrating. If your iPhone 12 Pro Max has any trouble reading your SIM, check the placement of your SIM card. If you’re wondering why: most SIM detection errors in phones are due to improper insertion of the card. Although this isn’t always the case, you might want to check the position of your SIM card first.

So I’ve compiled 7 possible solutions for the iPhone 12 Pro Max no SIM card installed issue. Let’s check the steps below and find out if one of them can solve your problem!

Ways to resolve the iPhone 12 Pro Max no SIM card installed error

Solution 1: Restart your device

Let us begin with the quickest and easiest way to solve iPhone 12 Pro Max not detecting SIM issue. When your phone restarts, it refreshes most of the software, which in turn ensures that minor errors can be resolved by it. So restart your iPhone and allow it to connect to the network once again, and check if your iPhone 12 Pro Max is reading the SIM. If your problem is solved, you may not have to worry about the next solutions unless restarting the device has been a temporary fix and you have had the problem return on your device very frequently.

To restart your iPhone 12 Pro Max: Press and hold the volume button and side button at once. Then, drag the “power off” slider to shut down your iPhone. Now, wait for some time and then hold down the side button to reboot your device. This should hopefully fix iPhone 12 Pro Max not reading SIM card issue and other similar problems.

Solution 2: Check the SIM tray

Power off your device and remove the SIM card from your iPhone. There is a chance that dust built up on your iPhone, and it is creating a problem where the SIM comes in contact with your iPhone’s internal circuit. Blow out dust from the SIM tray and wipe your SIM gently without damaging any of its parts. Return the SIM to the tray and power on your device. Check if it is working now.

If the problem persists, try using a different SIM card on your iPhone if you have an unlocked iPhone. In doing so, you will be able to confirm whether it is the SIM that is at fault or if your iPhone needs further troubleshooting. If other SIM cards work fine on your iPhone, then your SIM is the problem. Your iPhone is completely capable of reading SIM cards, but a damaged SIM card may be causing the problem.

In this case, you must take the SIM card to your carrier.

Solution 3: Place the SIM securely on the tray

When the SIM card is not placed securely, it may end up causing iPhone 12 Pro Max no sim card installed error. It is happening because every time your iPhone tries to connect to the network, the SIM card loses its connection with the rest of the device and causes an error. To fix this, you must apply pressure of some kind to the card slot so that the SIM can stay put.

Some users have found it easy to use tape to fix the SIM card to its position. Others have used a piece of paper to apply pressure on the SIM card to not move from its place.

Solution 4: Toggle Airplane Mode

Once you know that the SIM card is not the problem, try toggling the Airplane mode on your iPhone. Many readers have found success in resolving iPhone 12 Pro Max no sim card installed error by toggling the Airplane mode.

Pull down the Control Center on your iPhone.
find the Airplane mode icon.
Tap on Airplane mode to switch it on
Please wait for 30 seconds and tap on Airplane mode again to switch it off
Once the Airplane mode is off, your iPhone will once again try to search for a network. If it can look for networks, then your problem is solved.

Solution 5: Set Network Mode to Automatic

Sometimes, your network mode may have been mistakenly set to the incorrect type, creating a problem for users. When you have the wrong network type, your iPhone may not choose the right network, and you may end up experiencingiPhone 12 Pro Max SIM issue. To resolve it, follow these steps:

Head to the Setting menu of your iPhone
Tap on cellular
Next, tap on Network Selection
Make sure the toggle next to automatic is switched on
Selecting this will make sure that your iPhone can automatically connect to the available network. If the wrong option was selected, it might have led to an error that resulted in the No SIM error on your iPhone 12 mini.

Solution 6: Check for an iPhone Carrier settings update

Another culprit behind the iPhone 12 Pro Max not recognising sim card could be that your Service provider company has changed the settings for how your phone connects to its network and you need to install them.

Here’s how to manually check for and install a carrier settings update on your iPhone 12 Pro Max:

Ensure that your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network
Go to Settings > General > About. Wait for a few seconds, if an update is available, you’ll see an option to update your carrier settings.

Solution 7: Reset your iPhone to factory settings

When nothing else works, resetting your iPhone to factory settings can help resolve most of the problems on your device that arise from complex software including iPhone 12 Pro Max SIM issue. Be sure to back up all the data on your iPhone before you proceed with resetting your iPhone to factory settings.

Head to the Settings menu of your iPhone
Tap on general
Tap reset
Next, tap Reset all settings.

Once you reset your iPhone, it will automatically reboot your phone. After the reboot process is complete, check if your iPhone 12 Pro Max works now and if the error is fixed.

What do I do if my iPhone 12 Pro Max got wet and now it shows no SIM card error?

If you happened to drop your iPhone 12 Pro Max in water and now it shows no SIM card error, there is a chance that one of the circuits may have been damaged because of the water. It is best to allow your iPhone to dry completely before you use it. Remove the protective cover if you are using one, eject the SIM and put the phone in a bag or bowl of rice.

Allow it to dry in the bag of rice for 24 hours before you try using your phone again and check if the problem is fixed. If the issue persists, then you must take it to an Apple store to check for physical damage.

What do I do if my iPhone 12 Pro Max shows this error after an update?

Software updates are always meant to ensure that your iPhone works better and uses the most advanced technology available for the hardware. It is why it is always advised to keep your iPhone updated.

The updates bring many new things. You can expect new features, security patches, but that’s not all. The software updates also bring bug fixes. But sometimes, the issues may show up right after the update.

If an update ends up causing iPhone 12 Pro Max SIM issue, there is a chance that the old data may be creating the issue.

Restart your device to check if the problem is gone.
Reinsert your SIM card after wiping the SIM card and the SIM tray to ensure there are no dust particles on them. Also, make sure that the SIM does not move in the tray.
Reset your device to factory settings after backing up the data and check if the problem is gone.
If the problem continues, then take your device to a repair shop, or if it is under warranty, visit the nearest Apple store or your carrier.

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GeeksModo Staff is a team of iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch experts led by Moses Johnson. We're passionate about all things Apple!
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