Is your LycaMobile SIM not working? We’re here to assist you in every way.
LycaMobile lets you make calls at a low cost, but sometimes, it doesn’t work properly. The error usually indicates problems with your account, settings, or network.
To get your LycaMobile SIM to work, you want to check your account balance and make sure you have enough to use it. You also want to check your phone’s settings, like the network mode and carrier settings.
Alright, let’s begin our discussion on the solutions!
LycaMobile SIM Not Working – How to Fix in 10 Steps
To help you solve the problem, here is a list of 10 solutions. Start with the easiest and work your way down until you find one that works for you.
#1: Check Your SIM Card
A damaged SIM card prevents your phone from recognising it or connecting to the network. So, first, you should check your SIM for scratches, cracks, or bends.
Here are the steps to check your SIM card:
- Turn off your phone and remove the battery (if applicable).
- Take out your SIM card from the slot and inspect it carefully.
- If you see any damage, get a replacement.
- If your SIM card is okay, ensure it’s inserted properly.
- If your SIM is loose or doesn’t fit well, secure it in place.
- Clean the contacts on your SIM with a soft cloth or cotton swab.
- Put the battery back and turn on your phone.
Note: Do not use any liquids or abrasive materials to clean your SIM card and slot.
#2: Check Your Account Balance and Validity
If your SIM card is fine, but you’re still asking, “Why is my LycaMobile SIM not working?”, check your account balance and validity.
You must have enough credit or an active plan to use LycaMobile’s services.
To check if your account balance is low or expired, follow these steps:
- Go to the LycaMobile website.
- Sign in to your account.
- Click on the My Account tab.
- Go to the Account Summary section.
- You will see your account balance and account validity there.
Alternative: Dial *131# from your LycaMobile phone. You will receive a text message with your account balance and account validity.
If your account balance is low, top up your account through one of these methods:
Via the LycaMobile Website or App
- Visit the LycaMobile website or open the app.
- Sign in to your account.
- Click on the Top Up tab.
- Select the amount you want to top up.
- Choose your payment method.
- Click on the Top Up button.
Via a Retail Outlet
- Purchase a LycaMobile top-up voucher from a participating retail outlet.
- Scratch off the PIN code on the voucher.
- Dial 131PIN# from your LycaMobile phone.
- Press the Call button.
Note: Keep your LycaMobile account topped up to avoid interruptions in service.
#3: Make Sure Your Device is Unlocked
If your phone is locked to a specific network, it won’t work with a different SIM card like LycaMobile. Ensure your device is unlocked before using the LycaMobile SIM.
- Insert your LycaMobile SIM into your phone and turn it on.
- The device is locked if you see the following messages:
- “Enter unlock code”
- “SIM network unlock PIN”
- “Invalid SIM”
- Unlock your device by contacting the original network provider or seller.
- Request an unlock code.
- Have your account information ready, such as your IMEI number.
- Once you receive the unlock code, enter it on your phone and press OK.
Your device should be unlocked and ready to use with your LycaMobile SIM card.
#4: Connect to LycaMobile Manually via the SIM Tools
Sometimes, your phone does not automatically connect to the LycaMobile network without your permission. You need to do it manually using the SIM tools on your phone.
- Go to the LycaMobile services or Lyca services option on your phone.
- Go to your Settings folder.
- Check under Tools, SIM, or among apps.
- Select LycaMobile.
- Tap on Mode.
- Tap Manual.
- Choose National.
- Your phone will start the manual search.
- Once done, select LycaMobile from the list of available networks.
- Restart your phone without taking out the SIM card.
Note: If you don’t see LycaMobile on the list of available networks, search again or move to a different location with better coverage.
#5: Choose LycaMobile as Your Provider on Your Phone
Another way to manually connect to LycaMobile is by selecting it as your preferred provider. It will prevent your phone from switching to another network without your consent.
iPhone
If you have LycaMobile SIM not working on iPhone, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Mobile Data.
- Select Mobile Data Options.
- Choose Mobile Data Network.
- Tap on the Provider field and enter LycaMobile.
- Tap the back button and restart your phone.
Android
- Go to Settings.
- Select Network & Internet.
- Tap Mobile Network.
- Tap on Advanced.
- Choose Carrier.
- Tap on Network Operators.
- Select Choose Automatically.
- Wait for the search to finish and select LycaMobile from the list of networks.
- Restart your phone.
Tip: Check the coverage map to ensure they offer good network coverage in areas where you use your phone most frequently.
#6: Change Your Phone’s Network Mode
If your phone uses a network mode incompatible with LycaMobile or has poor coverage, your SIM won’t work.
To fix this, change the network mode to one that works better with LycaMobile or has a stronger signal.
iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Mobile Data.
- Tap Mobile Data Options.
- Select Voice and Data.
- Tap on the network mode you want to use.
Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Network & Internet.
- Tap Mobile Network.
- Tap on Advanced.
- Select Preferred Network Type.
- Tap on the network mode you want to use.
Wait for your phone to switch to your selected network mode. Then, check if your LycaMobile SIM card is working.
#7: Update Your Phone’s Carrier Settings
Your phone’s carrier settings also get outdated or incorrect, causing problems with your LycaMobile SIM card. Here are the steps to update your phone’s carrier settings.
Info: Ensure your phone is connected to WiFi or cellular data.
iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Select About.
- You will see a message asking to update your carrier settings if an update is available.
- Tap on Update.
- Wait for the process to finish, then restart your phone.
Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on System.
- Select Advanced.
- Tap on System Update.
- You will see a notification to update your carrier settings.
- Tap on Download and Install.
- Wait for the process to finish, then restart your phone.
Tip: Regularly check for carrier updates to get improvements, bug fixes, and compatibility enhancements.
#8: Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings
Corrupted or misconfigured network settings also affect the LycaMobile SIM card’s performance. Reset your phone’s network settings to their default values to fix this.
iPhone
- Tap on General.
- Select Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap on Reset Networks Settings again to confirm.
Android
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on System.
- Select Advanced.
- Choose Reset Options.
- Tap on Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth.
- Select Reset Settings.
- Enter your PIN, pattern or password if prompted.
- Tap Reset Settings again to confirm.
Once the reset process is finished, restart your phone for the changes to take effect.
#9: Update Your Phone’s APN Settings
Outdated and incorrect APN settings prevent you from using LycaMobile services. You must update them to resolve the issue.
iPhone
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Cellular.
- Select Cellular Data Network.
- Tap on APN.
- Enter the following information:
- APN: data.lycamobile.com
- Username: lmus
- Password: plus
- Tap Save.
Android
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Network & Internet.
- Tap on Mobile Network.
- Select Access Point Names.
- Tap the Menu button in the upper right corner.
- Tap New APN.
- Enter the following information:
- Name: LycaMobile
- APN: data.lycamobile.com
- Username: lmus
- Password: plus
- MMSC: http://lyca.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
- APN Type: default,supl,mms
- Tap Save.
#10: Test Your SIM on Another Phone to Rule Out Hardware Issues
If none of the above solutions, your phone has hardware issues. To rule this out, test your SIM on another phone.
- Turn off both phones and remove their batteries (if applicable).
- Take out your SIM card and insert it into another phone.
- Turn on the other phone and check if it recognises your SIM.
- See if it connects to the LycaMobile network.
- If the SIM card works, your original phone has a hardware issue.
- Repair or replace it to fix the issue.
If your SIM card does not work on the other phone, it’s faulty or incompatible and must be replaced.
Quick Recap
The most common culprit for LycaMobile SIM not working is the low funds in your account. To resolve this, ensure your account balance is sufficient.
If the issue persists, manually connect to the LycaMobile network or update your phone’s APN settings. Find out more about LycaMobile by visiting our blog!
Read Next: Network Locked SIM Card QLink? – (Steps To Unlock)
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.