How to Fix ‘No SIM Card Detected’ on a Peplink or Pepwave Device
A cellular modem that will not see an inserted SIM is one of the most common faults reported on Peplink and Pepwave devices. Most cases come down to seating, slot assignment or a locked SIM rather than a hardware failure.
Reseat the SIM in the correct slot, confirm it works in another device, then reboot the router. Most "no SIM card detected" faults on Peplink and Pepwave devices come down to seating, slot assignment or a SIM lock rather than a hardware fault.
Method 1: Reseat and verify the SIM
Steps
- Power down the device before removing the SIM tray or cover.
- Remove the SIM and check it for visible damage or dirt on the contacts.
- Test the SIM in another device, such as a mobile phone, to confirm it is active, unlocked and has a live data plan.
- Reinsert the SIM firmly, making sure it is fully seated and the correct way round.
- Power the device back on and check Status > Cellular for detection.
Method 2: Confirm you are using the correct slot
Dual-SIM and multi-modem models label their slots by modem number (1, 2) and position (A, B), and mixing these up is one of the most common causes of a SIM appearing undetected on models such as the BR2 Pro, MAX BR1 Pro 5G and MAX BR1 Mini 5G. Check your model's quick-start guide for the exact slot layout, and if you are running a paired or weighted configuration, keep matched SIMs in their intended slot pair, for example A1 and A2, rather than splitting them across different modems.
Method 3: Reboot, then reset the modem if needed
A simple reboot resolves a good number of intermittent detection faults. If the SIM still is not picked up, check the web admin for a modem or cellular reset option under the connection's settings before resorting to a full power cycle.
Method 4: Check your firmware version
Some SIM detection issues are tied to a specific firmware build on a specific model. Check your current version under Status > Device, and compare it against the latest stable release for your model on Peplink's firmware download page. If you are running an older build, upgrading is worth trying before assuming a hardware fault.
Method 5: Rule out a carrier or SIM lock
If the SIM works in another device but still will not register in the router, check whether the account is locked to a specific device (common with some consumer SIMs), or whether the plan you have is a standard consumer SIM rather than a data-only IoT or M2M SIM intended for routers. This is worth confirming with your carrier directly.
Devices affected by this fault are usually working correctly. Run through seating, slot assignment and firmware first, since a genuine hardware failure on the modem itself is comparatively rare next to these more common causes.
Common questions
Is "no SIM card detected" always a hardware fault?
Why does my SIM work in my phone but not my Peplink device?
Which slot should I use on a dual-SIM Peplink model?
Still showing no SIM detected after working through this? Our engineering team can confirm whether it is a configuration issue or a genuine hardware fault.