The Pixel 8 Pro is the latest addition to Google’s much-loved smartphone lineup, along with the Pixel 8. This generation has brought a revised design with improvements in camera performance, more AI integration, and most importantly, a claimed 7 years of OS updates, which has now become the most updates to be offered by any smartphone vendor. However, the performance of Google’s homegrown SoC, Tensor G3, leaves more to be desired Pixel devices are also infamous for having software bugs. Google does iron out most of them over time, but it does pose an inconvenience to the users. One such issue is the SIM card not working on the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro. Ever since the switch to Tensor SoCs, Pixel devices have had inferior modems, leading to poor connectivity. This continues with the Pixel 8 series. This guide will show various methods to try and fix this major inconvenience of SIM card not working on Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.
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Clean the SIM Slot
Take the SIM card out of the existing SIM slot and clean the SIM slot of any dirt or debris that could have found its way inside. Use the SIM ejector tool to open the SIM slot and take out the SIM. Check for any dirt or debris in the slot, and clean the slot carefully. Re-insert the SIM and check if the issue is solved.
Toggle Airplane Mode
Toggling aeroplane mode on and off will make the device disconnect from all signals and then reconnect again. This would allow the device to connect to the strongest signal available. This method has a high success rate on most phones; however, the success could be short-lived, especially if you are on the move. This would mean that this fix would need to be repeated if the issue reoccurred.
Install the latest software update
Most software-related bugs will be ironed out by Google by rolling out a patch to fix them. This would be in the form of a software update. Keeping your device up-to-date can help fix many bugs in the software. This can be done by following these steps: Settings > System > System Update >If a new update is available, click on download and install it > Restart the device. If Google had caught the bug, the latest software would fix the issue.
Disabling 5G network
5G network is inherently less robust than 4G, which could lead to more dropped signals in areas where the 5G network isn’t as strong. In such scenarios, it is best to avoid using 5G exclusively and instead switch to a permanent 4G network option on your Pixel 8/8 Pro by following the following steps: Setting > Network and Internet > SIMs > Preferred Network Type > 4G/LTE. This should, in theory, help with better connectivity.
Disable Adaptive Connectivity
Adaptive connectivity enables the device to switch between networks depending on the use case to provide better efficiency. However, switching networks can interfere with phone calls, leading to poor call quality or dropped calls. Try disabling adaptive connectivity by following these steps: Setting > Network and Internet > Turn off the “Adaptive Connectivity” toggle. This would allow the device to maintain the preferred network type consistently.
Disabling 2G network
The fact that 2G is still enabled on your devices is something that most people aren’t aware of. Having 2G enabled could interfere with the 4G/5G connectivity of the device, leading to weak network performance. It would be better to disable the 2G network on your device by following these steps: Setting > Network and Internet > SIMs > Select the SIM > Turn off the “Allow 2G” toggle. This should, in theory, improve the network stability of your device.
Disabling VoLTE and VoWiFi
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) are meant to enhance the call quality and experience by allowing users to make calls over 4G and WiFi, respectively. However, Pixel 8 series users have found this to be buggy at times, and disabling these features could help with better connectivity. Follow the steps: Settings > Network and Internet > Calls and SMS > WiFi calling > Select SIM > Turn off the “WiFi calling” toggle.
Uninstalling third-party apps and services
Third-party apps and services can sometimes interfere with the normal functioning of devices, leading to inconsistencies in usability. Disabling the ones that are causing the issue can rectify it more often than not. Booting the device into Safe Mode disables all third-party apps and services, after which the user can check if the issue is resolved.
To boot into Safe Mode, press and hold the Power button to open the Power menu. Next, press and hold the “Power Off” option. Finally, tap OK when the “Reboot to Safe Mode” message pops up. Check if the SIM card is detected.
If the issue is still not resolved, then there could be a different underlying problem, which would require more troubleshooting to identify the specific issue. If the issue is resolved, then it can be concluded that it was indeed a third-party app or service that was causing the issue. Now, boot out of Safe Mode and into Normal Mode to do further troubleshooting. Once in Normal Mode, start uninstalling recently installed third-party apps and services one by one and check if the issue is resolved at any step. If the issue is solved after uninstalling a certain app, it could indicate that the app was the cause of the issue. Once the culprit is identified, stay away from that app or service, and if possible, leave a review for the app highlighting the issue or let the developer know about this certain issue.
Disabling Dual SIM Dual Standby
Dual SIM Dual standby (DSDS) allows the device to have two SIMs active at the same time. This is a very handy feature for people who have two SIMs in their phone, one for work and another for personal use. However, sometimes, the signals from these two SIMs could interfere with each other, causing inconsistencies in network performance. You can try disabling this feature by following these steps: Open dialer > Dial *#*#4636#*#* > Phone Information > Turn off the “DSDS” toggle. Even if this fixes the issue, it would still be an inconvenience to someone who was looking forward to daily driving two SIMs on their Pixel device. This is one of the major issue and should fix the sim card not working on pixel issue.
Deregister and Turn Off iMessage
If you are an iPhone user who recently migrated to the Pixel (or any Android device), make sure to disable iMessage and unlink your phone number from it. This will now allow you to send and receive messages on your Pixel device through your phone number. To do this, go to the iMessage De-Register page and follow the on-screen instructions.
Reset Access Point Name (APN)
An Access Point Name (APN) provides all the details that your phone needs to connect to mobile data. If this gets corrupted by any means, it will affect the network performance of your device. This can be fixed by resetting the APN settings and letting the carrier make a new one. This can be done by following these steps: Settings > Network and Internet > SIMs > Select your SIM > Access Point Names > Select your current APN > Tap on the overflow icon on the top right > Select Delete APN > Restart the device. After restarting the device, it will create a new APN profile. This new APN would help provide better connectivity.
Resetting Network settings to default
If none of the previously mentioned fixes worked in your case, the final method would be to reset the network settings to their default settings. Note that this would wipe all the saved WiFi passwords and paired devices, so make sure to note down or sync passwords with your Google account before attempting this method. Follow these steps: Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset WiFi, mobile, and Bluetooth > Reset Settings. This will now restore all connectivity settings to their factory default state, wiping out any settings that would have interfered with network performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Google Pixel 8 series is a powerful device, but like any technology, it can encounter issues, in this case, the SIM card not working on Pixel. However, with the right knowledge and following the proper steps, these issues could be resolved effectively. This article has provided a comprehensive guide on how to fix the issue of your SIM cards not working on your Pixel 8 series device. Remember, if all else fails, reaching out to your service provider or a professional technician can be a valuable next step. Happy troubleshooting!
