New iOS build meant to fix iPhone 4S SIM card issues

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
Apple's recent update to iOS 5.0.1 may have been designed to deal with intermittent "No Service" and "No SIM Card Installed" iPhone 4S messages, is being pushed to iOS 5 users who haven't upgraded to the newest version.



A document published on Apple's Support webpage on Friday informs iPhone 4S owners who are seeing the error messages to download and install the latest version of iOS 5, which is an incremental build of 5.0.1 named 9A406.



Apple silently released the newest 9A406 build on Thursday, but at the time did not specify what issues, if any, the minor update addressed. The build was pushed out to 4S owners who had not yet upgraded to 5.0.1, while those already running the latest version had to manually download and install 9A406 from Apple's servers.



According to the support page, the "iPhone 4S may have difficulty recognizing a micro-SIM card," and will subsequently display "Invalid SIM" and "No SIM Card installed" alerts or "No Service" and "Searching" status bar messages.



Apple's recommended solution for the issue is download and install the latest build of iOS 5 by restoring the unit through iTunes, and confirming that the software version reads "5.0.1 (9A406). The instructions are reprinted below.



Apple Support page for iOS 5.0.1 build 9A406 | Source: Apple



Some users began to experience problems relating to SIM card recognition after 5.0.1 was released in November, while a support community thread points to others who have seen the error messages since the iPhone 4S launched in October.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 15
    I've been struggling with the invalid SIM card and bad signal issues for a week, since the first day I received the iPhone 4S, then yesterday I noticed the release of the new iOS 5.0.1 build, I restored the iPhone with that firmware (without OTA updates or anything like that) and all my problems disappeared, It's now working perfectly, I was really frustrated with the issue to the point my iPhone 4S was basically an iPod Touch. I was going to return the iPhone to the US today , and the worst part is that I live in Bogota, Colombia, so I saved those expensive shipping costs and the frustration of waiting 800 days to receive the new one back. This new iOS 5.0.1 build basically saved my life.
  • Reply 2 of 15
    This is kind of weird. Why wouldn't they call this 5.0.2 and have everyone get it?



    Did they think it was risky so wanted to have a slow ramp-up, by only having upgraders and restorers get it?



    Did they think their servers couldn't handle the load? That can't be -- they've rolled out lots of updates to masses before.



    I don't understand the rationale here.
  • Reply 3 of 15
    Having the same messages since iOS 5 from time to time with my iPhone 4. The only way to fix it, is to remove the SIM when the iPhone is turned on. I always have a paperclip in my wallet in case I get this message again.
  • Reply 4 of 15
    I still maintain that this is also a hardware problem, specifically a faulty SIM problem, althougth since a software fix seems to alleviate some problems, perhaps it is a combo platter of slightly bad SIM cards and iOS being too sensitive.



    My rationale is that I had this problem, but it cropped up about two weeks after launch day. I took it to AT&T and received a new one; no problems for close to two months.
  • Reply 5 of 15
    I hope apple fixes the location issue too, google maps does not seems to work at all now as it shows my location from Riyadh to some where in the the fields of china, because of which I cannot use maps, weather and surprisingly the time also needs to be set manually.. As Steve Jobs would say this is shit and apple needs to pul up its socks, unless it is a hardware issue and then we are all screwed. After paying 45k INR for a 16 GB iPhone 4S all I can say is that I have a crap phone which seems to have a mind of its own.
  • Reply 6 of 15
    haggarhaggar Posts: 1,568member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple's recent update to iOS 5.0.1 may have been designed to deal with intermittent "No Service" and "No SIM Card Installed" iPhone 4S messages, is being pushed to iOS 5 users who haven't upgraded to the newest version.



    The build was pushed out to 4S owners who had not yet upgraded to 5.0.1, while those already running the latest version had to manually download and install 9A406 from Apple's servers.



    By "pushed", do you mean that the software is being automatically downloaded and installed on those iPhones without user intervention?
  • Reply 7 of 15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Haggar View Post


    By "pushed", do you mean that the software is being automatically downloaded and installed on those iPhones without user intervention?



    No... He means users of older versions of iOS5 can get the "newest" version over-the-air without plugging in to iTunes.

    But if you're already running 5.0.1, then you'll have to go through iTunes to get the "new" 5.0.1.
  • Reply 8 of 15
    I totally disagree...



    I live in Vietnam, and ordered my iPhone 4S online from the Singapore Store.

    I put my previous Sim from my iP4 and set up the iP4S up to date.

    and started having Provider Signal Problems and Sim Problems too.

    Took it to my Vietnamese street-corner iPhone Specialist -

    Zakka Mobile Shop, 386 Vo Van Tan, P5, Q3, HCMC, Vietnam, Tel 848-38181402

    - The staff took out my Sim Card, looked at it and announced to me that the Chip is an Old Chip Design. I need to get my Provider to re-issue My number using the Latest Sim Card with the Latest Chip Design. All of Vietnam's iPhone street IT knows this and share with each other!

    And that is all to it.



    Please refer to my attached photo.









    Transfering your old sim from iPhone 4 to your new iPhone 4S ,

    you will notice your SIM and your Signal perform POORLY!



    Use only NEW SIM, with this new CHIP Design for iPhone 4S!

    (go to provider to reissue new Sim with same number)



    Photo:- of UN CUT Vietnam Sim.

    On Left is SIM with Old Design - only iPhone 4.

    On Right is NEW SIM with NEW Current CHIP Design -

    Use ONLY this for iPhone 4S!!!
  • Reply 9 of 15
    I believe they are issuing new sim cards to 4S buyers - both me and my wife were given new sim cards with each 4S we bought! but how many are putting them down at home thinking there's no point, I wonder.



    P.S. Just updated my 4S to the latest iOS OTA, but it's v.9A405, not 9A406 as stated at the head of this topic ..what gives with that? anybody?
  • Reply 10 of 15
    To update to 9A406 you have to connect iphone to computer and restore the phone using iTunes.
  • Reply 11 of 15
    I had this problem for a couple weeks on iphone 4S after 5.0.1 update. AT&T would send me to Apple, Apple sent me back to AT&T. It was very frustrating to say the least. In that time span I got 3 new SIM cards and 3 iPhone 4S. Finally, with nobody acknowledging a problem and no solution in sight, I switched back to my old iPhone that had worked perfectly for years. Now this phone was getting a "No Service" message as well. I could turn 3G off and the phone was fine. The iPhone 4S doesn't have the option to turn off 3G. So it was more of a carrier problem than an iPhone problem in my opinion, from the steps that I had to take on my own to troubleshoot the issue because Apple nor AT&T would acknowledge an issue. This was very annoying. My question is this though: Why won't the phone automatically switch to the EDGE network if 3G is not available. It seems to me, my problem was more with the carrier 3G network but I would think that the phone would go to EDGE if 3G wasn't available. In my opinion, Apple also has an issue. Nobody will say anything though. I am very disappointed in the way Apple has handled all of the issues with iPhone 4S. Apple seems more concerned about the bottom line now than customer care. This will probably be my last iPhone. I am wondering if anybody else has had this problem in the US on AT&T.
  • Reply 12 of 15
    dentdent Posts: 10member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gdgarcia View Post


    To update to 9A406 you have to connect iphone to computer and restore the phone using iTunes.



    Okay, thanks for that! it seems a very convoluted route to get the latest iOS, but I'll give it a go later.
  • Reply 13 of 15
    Hi I'm planning to go to Vietnam, and I was wondering that can I use my locked iPhone 4s in Vietnam?
  • Reply 14 of 15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cincin View Post


    Hi I'm planning to go to Vietnam, and I was wondering that can I use my locked iPhone 4s in Vietnam?



    Only if you unlock it, though I don't believe there's a 4S unlock yet.



    So no.
  • Reply 15 of 15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post


    Only if you unlock it, though I don't believe there's a 4S unlock yet.



    So no.



    Well... he can still USE it ... but will have to pay roaming rates (or an international rate-plan).
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