You’ve got a new phone and want to install a SIM card from another carrier. The problem is, you don’t know what SIM card you need or where to get it.
SIM cards are little chips that store information about your mobile service provider. They allow you to access cellular networks around the globe. If you travel abroad, you’ll need a SIM card from another carrier.
But have you ever encountered this type of error ‘SIM not provisioned error‘? What does this error mean and how can you fix it? All that is answered in this brief.
‘SIM Not Provisioned’ What does it mean?
If you have encountered this error, there is a chance that your sim card is not authorized to work on the carrier network. All the sim cards need to go through a pre-authorization process before they can be used on a carrier-specific network.
This process is called provisioning. It is done by the carrier network when you buy a sim card to use with their network. In case you do not have any provisioned sim card at all, you will also face this issue.
‘SIM Not Provisioned’ Error Reasons
There is a couple of reasons why you can face this error. To understand the whole logic, we need to explain some of the reasons, why you’re encountering this error.
Your Sim Card Is Not Authorized To Work On Carrier Network
This is one reason which might cause this error. When you bought a sim card, it was not provisioned properly. So you cannot use it on any carrier network.
SIM Card Is Deleted Or Lost
In this situation, you may have lost your sim card or deleted it accidentally. In such cases, you won’t be able to use it again.
SIM Card Is Damaged Or Corrupted
Sometimes, a sim card gets damaged due to wrong handling. Also, there are chances that the sim card has been corrupted due to a virus attack.
SIM Card Has Been Replaced With Another One
When you replace the sim card with a new one, sometimes, it doesn’t match the original details like IMEI number, etc. This mismatch causes this error message.
SIM Card Wasn’t Activated Properly By Carrier Network
When you try to activate the sim card, it shows an error message saying “SIM Not Provisioned”. This means that the carrier network did not authorize the sim card.
SIM slot is damaged
This is another common reason for this error. Sometimes, the sim slot becomes damaged due to physical impacts on the slot.
SIM card is locked
You can find this error while trying to unlock a locked sim card. Unlocking a locked sim card is possible only after entering the correct pin code.
SIM card is not compatible with the device
The sim card isn’t compatible with the device. For example, if you have a Samsung Galaxy S9+ that is not unlocked and you try to insert a sim card, it won’t work.
How to Fix ‘Sim Not Provisioned’ error?
There are more than five possible solutions to this error. At this point, let’s talk about the most effective solutions. In some instances, some solutions might not work for you. So, you need to try more than one method to solve the error.
1. Make sure the sim card is inserted correctly
Make sure the sim card is inserted into the right slot and properly. As we have said earlier, if the sim card is not inserted properly, this error can persist.
2. Check whether the sim card is enabled or disabled in settings
If the sim card is disabled, make sure to enable it first. Then try to reinsert the sim card.
3. Try to connect to other networks
If you’re using multiple carriers, try connecting to other networks. You should be able to get connected to them without facing this error.
4. Restart your phone
Sometimes restarting the phone helps to resolve this problem. Try to restart your phone and see if the error persists. If yes, then try the next solution.
5. Reset your phone
If none of these methods help, resetting your phone will surely help. Resetting your phone will wipe all the data from the phone including contacts, messages, photos, videos, call logs, etc. It’s recommended to do this only when the error persists.
6. Activate Your SIM Card
If your phone is locked, you can activate your sim card. There’s a possibility that your sim card is deactivated and that’s why you are experiencing this issue. You might have to visit your carrier offices or contact the carrier to get the sim card deactivated.
7. Try Using the SIM in a Different Phone
Another way to fix this issue is by inserting the sim card into a different phone. The sim card may be corrupt or it could be incompatible with your phone. So, try inserting the sim card into another phone. If the sim card can work with another phone, then you can be sure that the issue is with your Phone.
8. Update Carrier Settings
In case the above-mentioned methods don’t help, update the carrier settings. Update the carrier settings so that they recognize the sim card as provisioned. After updating the settings, you should be able to use the sim card again.
9. Replace the SIM Card
Replacing the SIM Card can equally help with this problem. In case there are damages to the existing SIM card, it will be instantly solved. But, before replacing the SIM card, make sure that none of the methods above has worked for you.
Is the SIM card dirty or wet?
The sim card may become dirty or wet due to various reasons. Make sure that the sim card is clean and dry. Also, make sure that the sim card hasn’t been used for a long time. If the sim card is still new, it might be the reason behind the error.
Contact Customer Care
If none of the above methods work, you can always contact customer care. They’ll guide you through the process.
Conclusion
There is more than one reason why you can get this error message on your android device. However, most of the time, this error occurs because of an incompatibility between the sim card and the phone. In such cases, you need to check whether the sim card is compatible with the phone. If otherwise, try another method explained here.
