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Question

new sim card without signal

  • September 6, 2025
  • 10 replies
  • 3979 views

I have just received my new SIM card and when I put it in my phone, the signal bars are grey  (no signal). I don’t know whats wrong with the SIM card, please advise 

Thank you 

 

10 replies

Decembersangel72
Gold Contributor
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Hi ​@Samiworld 

It sounds like the SIM has not been activated and so is not connecting to a network.
To check, verify the network name: Under the network information, in the phones Settings, you should see that iD Mobile is listed as your network

Is this a new SIM due to transferring from a different network or a replacement SIM for a current account?

If you are new to iD Mobile then here is some advice:-
https://www.idmobile.co.uk/switch

If you are transferring from another network, are you trying to use the SIM before the selected switch date?  Your switching date can be found in your Order Complete email or Contract Summary.  If you're new to iD, your SIM will arrive pre-activated and you can use it straight away.
https://www.idmobile.co.uk/switch

Or you can try this link to activate the SIM:-
https://my.idmobile.co.uk/activate-sim-outside

If it is a replacement SIM then it needs to be activated:-
https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-advice/your-sim-card


Other things to try:-

1. Basic Troubleshooting
  • Restart Your Phone:  
    Turn your device off and then on again to allow it to reconnect to the network. 
  • Check SIM Placement:
    Power off your phone, then carefully remove and reinsert the SIM card to ensure it's seated correctly in the tray. 
  • Clean the SIM:
    Gently wipe the metal contacts on the SIM card with a clean, lint-free cloth. 
2. Test the SIM and Phone 
  • Try in Another Phone:
    Insert the SIM into a different compatible phone to see if it works. If it works in the other phone, the problem might be with your original device. 
    Check for Physical Damage:
    Inspect both the SIM card and the SIM tray for any signs of dirt, debris, or damage.


    If all else fails, you can contact an adviser via this link:-
    https://www.idmobile.co.uk/live-chat

    Type ‘talk to a person’ in the dialogue box to bypass the chatbot.
     

Good Luck x 


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • September 7, 2025

I went to curry’s and got a replacement sim and I activated it. It takes 24 hours for the sim to work. Thanks for the reply 


Siân W
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • September 8, 2025

Hi ​@Samiworld  glad to hear you got sorted in the end.


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • September 8, 2025

My sim is still not working (no signal). It’s been more than 24 hours and still no signal. 


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • September 8, 2025

It’s working now Thank you 😊 


Tyler C
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • September 10, 2025

We’re very glad to hear ​@Samiworld!

 

Thanks,

Tyler


  • New Contributor
  • July 4, 2026

My sim is still not working (no signal). It’s been more than 24 hours and still no signal. 


how did you get it to work 


Gemma M
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • July 6, 2026

Hi ​@Kay79.,

 

That's a great question.

 

@Samiworld , if you've managed to resolve this, we'd really appreciate it if you could share what worked for you, as it may help other members experiencing the same issue.

 

In the meantime, ​@Kay79., could you tell us a bit more about what's happening? For example, what issue you're experiencing, any error messages you're seeing, and what you've already tried. That will help us provide the most appropriate troubleshooting steps.

 

Regards,

 

Gemma M

The iD Mobile Social Media Team


  • New Contributor
  • July 6, 2026

Hey I’ve managed to solve the problem thanks to the id mobile operator over the phone if anyone is having problems with the new id mobile sim with the iPhone just go to settings, phone and just add your new id mobile number and it’ll work 


Gemma M
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • July 7, 2026

Hi ​@Kay79.,

 

That's great to hear! We're really glad the issue has now been resolved.

 

Thank you as well for taking the time to come back and share what worked for you. That's a great tip and we're sure it will help other Community members who may experience the same issue.

 

We really appreciate you sharing your solution!

 

Regards,

 

Gemma M

The iD Mobile Social Media Team