SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module which indicates that the card’s utility is to identify the subscriber among all others belonging to a mobile service provider. It acts like an identity card for the user. All SIM cards have a unique number which simplifies the process of identification even further. Although a SIM card is physically quite durable and may last for a lifetime, it can still malfunction and show signs before it goes bad. Because of the high-end technology used in manufacturing, SIM cards can theoretically get damaged but not easily. However, certain internal and external factors can cause harm to them over time.
Whether your SIM card is acting bad or your phone isn’t hard to figure out. There are certain symptoms you can learn about to know if your SIM is faulty. In this article, you will find out about several possible symptoms or signs that your SIM card gives when it is bad. Those will make you realize that you need to replace your SIM card. Let’s begin.
1. “No SIM Installed” or “Please Insert SIM” Messages or Frequent Errors
The most common symptoms of a faulty SIM card are the “Please insert SIM” and “No SIM inserted” errors, and the “No SIM installed” message. These appear on your phone’s home screen even when there is a SIM card inserted properly in your phone’s SIM card slot. The message/notification may vary depending on your carrier or device, but it remains more or less the same in both Android, iOS, and iPadOS devices. The possible causes can be anything from the rugged/scratched golden surface of the SIM card to the expiry of the SIM card. Make sure it is not the faulty network first. That’s because many times there is a network issue that causes this message to appear.
2. Extended Delay of Calls and SMSes
When you are unable to send messages or make or receive calls promptly, know that your SIM card may be defective. If this happens once in a while, that is normal. But if it is too frequent or happens all the time, you need to change your SIM card. Such an issue is noteworthy when there is no signal problem in your area but still, calls and SMSes are delayed. Even the incoming calls can’t be received in some cases. In such a case, upgrading your SIM card to the latest version may help.
3. Sound Quality Deterioration as One of Bad SIM Card Signs
If you observe that the sound quality is going bad over time even when the signal strength is fair, it is again a symptom of a faulty SIM card. Make sure it is not your handset at fault. With a good signal, proper handset, and perfect weather conditions if you still experience bad sound quality, then you need to swap your SIM card.
People often ignore this symptom thinking it is due to poor signal or bad weather. To avert this confusion, take another SIM card of the same carrier and insert it into your device and check the sound quality. If that SIM card doesn’t face the same bad sound issue, know that yours is defective.
4. Corrupt Contact List
One more sign that often tells you that your SIM card is defective is the corrupt contact list of your phone book. When it becomes corrupt, it may only show numbers and not the names. When the SIM card is faulty, its memory may also get damaged resulting in the loss of contact names. Although it hardly happens after the improvement in the SIM card durability and technology, it still is a strong symptom of a bad SIM card.
5. Device that Freezes Randomly is Among Signs of a Bad SIM Card
A faulty SIM card causes your phone to freeze randomly without a reason. It may happen due to low RAM (Random Access Memory) or less space on your phone’s memory. However, that can also be one of the signs of a bad SIM card. To fix this issue, reboot your phone. To know whether it is the fault of your SIM card, replace it with another working SIM card, and see if this problem still occurs. If this happens, you found the culprit, and if it occurs persistently, switch the SIM card.
SIM cards generally don’t go bad so easily. They get ruined physically when handled improperly or removed and inserted too frequently. The scratches on the SIM card’s golden area may cause it to malfunction. It is advisable to handle the SIM card with care. SIM cards can also get damaged internally because of factors like an electric shock from the device’s battery, discharge of static electricity, and corrosion due to humidity. For more causes, look into our SIM card destruction guide. However, if users take care of a SIM card, the damage is unlikely.