iPhone A Line Shows No SIM: How to Fix It

The SIM or eSIM has stopped being recognised. This page explains what it does, how to use it on an iPhone and which carriers it applies to.

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Why does this happen and how do I fix it?

No SIM means iOS cannot read a subscriber identity at all. That is distinct from No Service, which means the SIM is readable but the network will not accept it. Getting the distinction right saves a lot of wasted effort.

For a physical SIM the cause is almost always mechanical: a tray not fully closed, a card that has shifted, or contacts that are dirty, corroded or worn. Apple's guidance is to remove the tray, inspect for damage or corrosion, reseat the card and close the tray completely so it is not loose.

For an eSIM it means the profile is gone or corrupt, which happens after a failed transfer, a restore from backup, or a carrier removing it from their side. eSIM profiles do not migrate with an iCloud backup, so a restored iPhone commonly arrives with no line at all — that is expected, and the line has to be added again.

Important: Do not delete an eSIM to try to fix it. Removing the profile is not reversible from the phone and the carrier has to issue a replacement.

What should I try, in order?

1. Restart the iPhone first. A transient read failure often clears on its own and costs nothing to try.
2. If you use a physical SIM: eject the tray, inspect the card for damage or corrosion, reseat it, and close the tray fully so it sits flush.
3. Open Settings, Cellular and see whether the line is listed. If it is listed but off, tap it and tap Turn On This Line.
4. Check Settings, General, About for a carrier settings update, then install any pending iOS update.
5. If the eSIM is missing entirely after a restore or a device swap, that is normal — add it again from Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, or transfer it from your old iPhone.
6. A physical SIM that is bent, damaged or reads No SIM in another phone needs replacing. Ask your carrier for a new one.

Which carriers does this apply to?

Published for	any iPhone, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and UScellular
Type	iOS setting
Good to know	The physical steps apply to nano-SIM iPhones. On eSIM-only models (including the US iPhone 14 and later) the line must be reinstalled by the carrier or transferred from another iPhone.

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