Why won’t my SIM Card work with my ZTE smartphone?

If you have a ZTE smartphone and have received an error message after inserting your new SIM Card, then you’ve come to the right place! You’ll most likely have to update the software on your phone, so we’ve put together a few steps on how to get this started. Once completed, your phone & SIM Card should work smoothly.  

Pro tip: Before starting, make sure your new SIM Card has been removed from your phone and that your phone is at least 60% charged. Connecting your phone to a charger may also help. You should also be connected to Wi-Fi.

Check the version of your ZTE Software

Let’s start by checking the current version of your ZTE software.

  1. Go to Settings > Scroll down & Tap System
  2. Select Advanced > Then hit About phone
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and check your build number

If your build ends in B14, your phone is running on the latest ZTE software. Now, if your build ends between B06 & B11, you will have to update your phone until it reaches version B14.

Build numbers are:

B06

B09

B10

B11

B14

Updating your ZTE Software

Now that you’ve found your build number, you can start from here.

  1. Go back and tap Advanced 
  2. Then, tap System Update > Hit ZTE Update
  3. Tap Check for Update 

If an update is found, your phone will automatically begin downloading it to your phone. Once you have successfully updated your ZTE software, you’ll need to perform a Network Reset. This will clear “junk files” and makes your phone run faster. And don’t worry! A Network Reset won’t delete any files stored on your phone.

Resetting Your Network

  1. Tap Settings > Hit System
  2. Choose Reset Options > Then Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth

Once your ZTE software has reached B14, insert your new SIM Card into your phone and perform another Network Reset (see instructions above).

Your phone will then restart and connect to our upgraded network! You can now surf, stream and use all your favorite apps at faster speeds than ever before.

If you’ve completed each of these steps and your phone is still displaying an error message, it’s best to speak to our Tech Support team.

Give us a call at 1 (888) 305 – 7678 and we will connect you to an agent who can help resolve this issue for you.