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Sally Haywood
New Contributor
New Contributor
November 23, 2025
Question

Puzzling non-compatibility issue

  • November 23, 2025
  • 8 replies
  • 187 views

Any clever people out there? Just got back from a month's holiday when I didn't use the SIM or phone. Back in the UK, the SIM would turn on then immediately off again so couldn't access various things. Still not working but works on my husband's identical phone and on a back-up phone I have..So, maybe not a SIm issue but have used on the same phone for years and didn't use it so what on earth could the issue be?

    8 replies

    Owethu M
    iD Mobile Employee
    iD Mobile Employee
    November 23, 2025

    HI ​@Sally Haywood 

     

    I do apologise that your SIM is not working on your original handset.

    Please make sure your SIM tray is not damaged. 

    What to try (in order)
    1. Clean and reseat the SIM

    • This fixes more issues than you’d expect:
    • Power off phone
    • Remove SIM
    • Gently wipe gold contacts
    • Blow out the SIM tray slot
    • Reinsert firmly
    • Reboot
    1. Reset Network Settings (this often fixes the “turns on then off” behaviour)

    On Android:

    Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth

    On iPhone:

    Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset → Reset Network Settings

    (This does NOT delete your data.)

     

    1. Manually select your network

    Turn off automatic network selection:

    Go to Mobile Networks → Network Operators → Search manually

    Choose your UK carrier
    If the phone can’t register, you’ll know immediately.

    1. Update carrier settings

      On iPhone:
      Settings → General → About → wait for “Carrier Settings Update” prompt
      On Android:
      Settings → About Phone → Software Update → Carrier configuration

    2. Clear the Phone app & SIM toolkit cache (Android only)

      Settings → Apps → Show system apps →

      Phone Services / SIM Toolkit / Carrier Services
      → Storage → Clear Cache + Clear Data

    3. Check if the phone’s IMEI is blocked or corrupted

      Dial:
      *#06#

      If IMEI = null, 0, or corrupted → network won’t allow registration.

      If IMEI is fine → move on.

    -Owethu

    JoeKing
    Silver Contributor
    Silver Contributor
    November 23, 2025

    @Sally Haywood Since your sim card is working in other mobile phone's without issue I would say the fault is with your handset.

    Have you tested your husband's sim card in your phone or any other sim card in your phone?

     

     

    Joe 🙂

    Android OS 16 - Nothing Phone 2, (Samsung Galaxy S 25 Ultra Here to help, I do have a life. 😉
    Sally Haywood
    New Contributor
    New Contributor
    November 23, 2025

    Yes, my husband put his sim (also iD) in my phone and it worked but that wasn’t much good to me. So, my sim works in other phones and another sim works in my phone but my sim doesn’t work in my phone!

    JoeKing
    Silver Contributor
    Silver Contributor
    November 23, 2025

    @Sally Haywood  I know it's not much good to you, but it was to eliminate your phone.

    Login to you account and request a replacement sim card or go to a Curry's store with ID passport of driving licence as the staff won't service you without proof of identity. 

    Seem your sim card has a touch of the winter blues and a replacement may solve your problem here.

     

    Joe

    Android OS 16 - Nothing Phone 2, (Samsung Galaxy S 25 Ultra Here to help, I do have a life. 😉
    New Contributor
    June 7, 2026

    I know this is an old Post but I have exactly the same Issue as Sally,  My wife had an ID mobile Sim that worked fine in her Oppo f11 Pro Phone but refused to work when we came back to the UK, we went to Curry’s and they put in a new Sim, said it would be fine but it did not work, I tried the sim in my Mate20 Phone and it was fine, I put my Talk Mobile sim in her phone and worked fine. I tried her Sim in my old Sony Ericson nope nothing... My Talk mobile sim worked with every phone.. So I gave up,  I already had a Labara Sim in my old Sony Ericsson phone I put it my wife's phone and that works fine, we use very little data so the cheapest for a fiver is ok. Must be something with ID Mobile Network that rejects certain phones, her phone was purchased in the Philippines a few years ago but has never had a problem with any other Sim  it worked before we went on holiday, very strange. ID Mobile problem I’m sure

    iD Mobile Employee
    June 7, 2026

    Hi ​@EstelaMarie 

     

    Could you please try a mobile network reset and also check your APN settings, as this may help resolve the issue you are experiencing with your SIM card.

    1) Reset Network Settings (Oppo F11 Pro)
    This often resolves most signal and data issues.

    Open Settings
    Tap Additional Settings (or System & Device, depending on your ColorOS version)
    Go to Back up and reset
    Select Reset phone / Reset options
    Tap Reset network settings
    Confirm by selecting Reset Settings

    This will reset Wi-Fi networks, mobile data settings, and Bluetooth connections. Once completed, please restart your phone.

    2) APN Settings (Manual Setup)
    If the issue persists, please set up the APN manually:

    Go to:
    Settings → SIM & Mobile Network → Access Point Names (APN) → Add New APN

    Enter the following:

    Internet APN

    Name: iD Mobile
    APN: id
    Username: (leave blank)
    Password: (leave blank)
    MCC: 234
    MNC: 20
    APN type: default
    APN protocol: IPv4

    MMS Settings (for picture messages)

    MMSC: http://mms.um.idmobile.co.uk:10021/mmsc
    MMS proxy: mms.idmobile.co.uk
    MMS port: 8799
    APN type: default,supl,mms

    Once entered:

    Save the APN
    Select it as active
    Restart your phone again

    Please let us know if the issue continues after these steps.

     

    -Michael Z

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    New Contributor
    August 17, 2026

    Ditto regarding the above problems with my ID SIM?  It works in other phones but refuses to work in my new current phone?  All other Sims work perfectly but not the ID SIM. If been to my local Currys store and they replaced the SIM and said it would take an hour so for it to activate and sent me home to wait for it to work, but it didn't?  So again it went back into my old phone. Now I have bought a Lebara SIM to double check my new phone and it works perfectly and has all the data, calls and messages that I require so I don't need the ID SIM now, so please cancel my contract? 

    iD Mobile Employee
    August 18, 2026

    Hi ​@On the beach.

     

    Thank you for your feedback. 

     

    I’m sorry your iD SIM isn’t working in your new phone while other SIMs do.

     

    To help us investigate, could you please confirm the make and model of your current device.

     

    Thanks,

    Marquerita

    The iD Mobile Team

    Did my comment help answer your question? If so, don't forget to mark the response as the Most Helpful Answer.