Old IPhone SE No Sim Card - Sim Card Tray Damaged?

[ronniejoe]

Correct on the SIM cards. As far as repairs, Apple wouldn't repair the phone you have they would want to replace it for an out of warranty fee which in the U.S. would be $279. Not sure what a 3rd party repair would cost but there's no guarantee they could fix or how long the repair would last..

Okay im just curious but if i had this issue in the US, if i go to the apple store, they wouldn't even look at it right? Like for a simple sim card check to see if its indeed my sim card that is damaged and not reading?


I assume if you have a warranty they would help you but if its an old iphone you bought years ago, they wouldn't even look at it?


The thing is im for sure not going to have my iphone repaired/fixed. If its indeed the iphone inside, i will buy a cheap android smartphone for the time being.


But shops still charge you money if you want to have them check to see if its indeed your sim card that is the issue right?


Thanks.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Okay im just curious but if i had this issue in the US, if i go to the apple store, they wouldn't even look at it right? Like for a simple sim card check to see if its indeed my sim card that is damaged and not reading?


I assume if you have a warranty they would help you but if its an old iphone you bought years ago, they wouldn't even look at it?


The thing is im for sure not going to have my iphone repaired/fixed. If its indeed the iphone inside, i will buy a cheap android smartphone for the time being.


But shops still charge you money if you want to have them check to see if its indeed your sim card that is the issue right?


Thanks.

I'd say you'd probably have a better chance getting a SIM card to swap at your or a random carrier. It takes a second to swap and would clear up your options. Apple would check the phone out at no charge but I'm not sure if they could give you an exact component failure. They would probably just say you need to replace it for $279 because they don't repair phones with issues that concern hardware other than screens or batteries..

 

[ronniejoe]

I'd say you'd probably have a better chance getting a SIM card to swap at your or a random carrier. It takes a second to swap and would clear up your options. Apple would check the phone out at no charge but I'm not sure if they could give you an exact component failure. They would probably just say you need to replace it for $279 because they don't repair phones with issues that concern hardware other than screens or batteries..

Okay so would you recommend i go to the apple store here where im located and have them take a look and they will most likely put my sim in another phone to test it? Then if they do... and see my sim is not showing up... then i can pretty much go to the carrier and buy a new sim card then?


Or its still important to have them or someone give me a sim card just to test if my iphone would read it?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Okay so would you recommend i go to the apple store here where im located and have them take a look and they will most likely put my sim in another phone to test it? Then if they do... and see my sim is not showing up... then i can pretty much go to the carrier and buy a new sim card then?


Or its still important to have them or someone give me a sim card just to test if my iphone would read it?

Swapping SIM cards would save you the trip to Apple but it's possible Apple might have spare SIM cards. If they don't, they'll probably tell you the phone needs replacement as their diagnostic capabilities are limited and may not isolate the problem. They'll just say it's broke as far as they can tell.. That's why I said go to a carrier because they will definitely have SIM cards to swap, whether they offer them free or not I can't say.

 

[ronniejoe]

Swapping SIM cards would save you the trip to Apple but it's possible Apple might have spare SIM cards. If they don't, they'll probably tell you the phone needs replacement as their diagnostic capabilities are limited and may not isolate the problem. They'll just say it's broke as far as they can tell.. That's why I said go to a carrier because they will definitely have SIM cards to swap, whether they offer them free or not I can't say.

Okay thanks. Well if they were to put my sim card in their iphone and it shows no sim... then thats one hundred percent the sim card is damaged then right? Thus its pretty safe to just buy a new sim from the same carrier?


Again this is frustrating for me because im not in the US now.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Okay thanks. Well if they were to put my sim card in their iphone and it shows no sim... then thats one hundred percent the sim card is damaged then right? Thus its pretty safe to just buy a new sim from the same carrier?


Again this is frustrating for me because im not in the US now.

If your SIM doesn't work in their phone ask them if they would let you give try the new SIM card in your phone before you buy it. I really don't know how much a SIM card costs so if it's under $10 you might want to just buy one.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Obviously if its the sim card, i just buy a new one.

I had an O2 sim that I couldn't get to work, and their store replaced it (twice) and transferred my balance (twice) before I got one that worked. I never figured out why they didn't work, but finally got one that did, so didn't complain. They did, and were going to deny me another sim (don't know if they were serious, or tired of dealing with my issues).

Sims do 'go bad' occasionally. I've had several in the family 'die' over the past how many years we've been supporters, chained in many cases to them. Back in the 'old days', people could store their address books on the sim, making changing phones somewhat easier. I haven't seen a way to do that in years though. Having a sim go t*ts up would cost a lot, potentially in that case.

If there is a carrier's 'store' near you, I'd say go there. They might be able to help with the malformed tray, and also replace the sim. You should have gone there in the beginning, if there is one near, and they could have troubleshot the issue... I know, when I've been traveling, I try not to 'fix things', and if I do need help, I go to a reputable place I *should* be able to trust. (I spent a bit of time at the Regent Street Apple Store, and one in Spain, getting things working again.

Good luck...

 

[ronniejoe]

Swapping SIM cards would save you the trip to Apple but it's possible Apple might have spare SIM cards. If they don't, they'll probably tell you the phone needs replacement as their diagnostic capabilities are limited and may not isolate the problem. They'll just say it's broke as far as they can tell.. That's why I said go to a carrier because they will definitely have SIM cards to swap, whether they offer them free or not I can't say.

I just thought about something. I think when you go and buy a sim card here, its actually free because when you buy it, it comes with some credit with it. Or it is very cheap etc.


So would this makes sense. When i go to that carrier shop, have them put my sim card in their phone to see if it reads it But even if they don't put a sim card in my phone, buying a new sim card for the time being would be fine?


For some reason i kind of don't want them to put their own sim card in my phone because im concerned of malware and things like that. Is there any concern with that?


Thus im paying that amount for the new sim and pin for the time being? Then if i want to use that old number again... i go to the carrier


Im heading there soon so wanted to know before i go.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

That sounds like a good idea..

 

[ronniejoe]

That sounds like a good idea..

Okay so need a bit of advice now. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.


I used that circular keychain pin which isn't even straight to open up my sim card slot. Eventually I opened the sim card slot and did the same thing of bending the hole/ear of it since i used that circular pin... i dont have that tool to open it nor a regular paperclip.


I then instead of using a plier to unbend it... i used my finger... and that ear part literally broke and fell in the floor. I cannot even find it.


But with that sim card tray and sim card, I just pushed it back into my iphone... and it showed no service. Then i click on cellular and on and now it shows my sim is recognized.


So this means that the sim card wasn't put in correctly? So was it too tight or too loose? My main concern now is i broke that ear part when unbending it... I had no idea how it broke so easily... but it does recognize the sim now.


So... don't bother touching the sim card slot then at all right until I go back to the US?


Is the part i broke necessary? I do not want to use the circular pin to take out the sim card. It seems to be in place and doesn't look like the sim slot will fall off.


This is obviously a good thing right?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

That's good news! The part you broke off is only there to help keep dust out so it's not necessary for the phone to function. You could find a replacement SIM tray online for cheap if the broken tray bothers you (it will probably come with the tool to remove the tray also) and use the phone until you're ready to get a new device.

 

[ronniejoe]

That's good news! The part you broke off is only there to help keep dust out so it's not necessary for the phone to function. You could find a replacement SIM tray online for cheap if the broken tray bothers you (it will probably come with the tool to remove the tray also) and use the phone until you're ready to get a new device.

Hey thanks. Well the thing is if i use that circular pin right now to open up the sim card slot... could i do it? I assume yes since you say the part that broke off is only keep the dust out? The thing is i definitely don't want to open it.... then take out the sim card tray and sim card out... then put it back in only for it to not recognize the sim card.


Thus there would be absolutely zero purpose of me opening up the sim card slot now right? Again it does look closed and tight.


What has me confused is how in the world did the ear part of it broke when i just used my finger to bend it? Before... when it had that big bent, I couldn't even do anything to it until i used the pliers. I got to assume me using the pliers multiple times caused it to break easily then? Again when i went to unbend it, i didn't expect it to even move... then it broke. Then I was surprised when i put the sim card tray and sim card in... it showed no service. Then turned on cellular and its on now.


They broken tray does not bother me now. I mean how could i tell its broken from looking at the iphone now? When i look at it, i see a hole where you suppose to put the pin into it but it does look a bit torn.


Well im not buying any replacement tray online here... as im outside the US. Buying things online here is a huge hassle.


Okay so you recommend since im going back to the US later on, then just buy the new iphone in the US and would you suggest I buy a replacement sim tray online as well? Again the new iphone will be my main phone but i want to keep this phone too as a backup in case.


I would put this old sim card into the new iphone sim card. I have no idea which new iphone i will buy... either the new iphone SE from last year or one of the new recent iphone... but again im not big into iphone... this is an iphone SE that has lasted me like 5 years already.

O

 

[BugeyeSTI]

It broke because it's cast aluminum.. You can't bend cast too many times or it breaks.. Use your phone until you decide to get a new phone. The newer SE is an excellent device and will serve you well, it's an excellent value for the money..

 

[ronniejoe]

Hey thanks. Do you suggest I buy a new battery for my old current iphone se as well even after buying a new iphone later on?


Do you think I will have issues opening up the slot in my current old iphone? I will do this only when i get a new iphone. But would i need to buy a replacement sim card tray or it would be fine the way it is? Thing is it would be stupid going to apple and pay them for them to install a new battery on this old iphone right? I could order the battery myself online but doing this is very hard right? Again this old iphone se will be my backup iphone in case something happens to my new iphone.

 

[ronniejoe]

So right now my phone suddenly has the No service in the top left corner again.


Does that mean the sim card inside is misaligned?

 

[now i see it]

Not necessarily. My cell service in my town occasionally goes out and I get a No Service tag on the screen — because there’s no service

 

[ronniejoe]

Well the issue is its been down since last night though.


But what specific thing do you need to open it? Last time I used like one of these pins and then damaged part of the thing to open the old SE. Can i just get a regular paperclip? Or do i need that specific thing to open it?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Well the issue is its been down since last night though.


But what specific thing do you need to open it? Last time I used like one of these pins and then damaged part of the thing to open the old SE. Can i just get a regular paperclip? Or do i need that specific thing to open it?

You need something smaller diameter than a paperclip. If you have a phone store in the area, you should be able to get one. I didn't have one, and went to the local phone store, and asked. They just gave me on. Now, I have probably a half dozen, or more, and yet still end up having issues tracking down one when I need them. *ARG*

It's almost funny. They seem to be hiding on me...

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay so what is the exact tool that I need to open the old iphone SE right now? I have to reopen it right now and take out the old sim card.

 

[now i see it]

Paper clip is what I use. The smaller ones

 

[ronniejoe]

Thanks. But where can you buy that official tool for it? Also could the same tool be used for the old phone SE and the iphone 13 or 13 mini?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Thanks. But where can you buy that official tool for it? Also could the same tool be used for the old phone SE and the iphone 13 or 13 mini?

Why, right here... It'll work on ANY iPhone. Note: It's far too short to use as a CD disc ejection tool.

iFixit also has a few tool kits with a SIM ejection tool in it. This one is a favorite, for bits only. This set doesn't have SIM pin, but has a lot of useful opening tools.

And here's a 5-pack of just ejector pins from Amazon too.