220-1101 Mobile Devices Practice Question
A user reports that their iPhone displays 'No SIM' even though the SIM card is properly inserted. The technician has already removed and reinserted the SIM, and performed a restart. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to isolate the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates often jump to resetting network settings or replacing the SIM card without first performing a simple cross-device test to isolate the fault, which is the most efficient next step in CompTIA's troubleshooting methodology.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Try the SIM card in another compatible phone.
The technician has already performed basic troubleshooting (reseating the SIM and restarting the device). The next logical step is to test the SIM card in another compatible phone to determine whether the issue lies with the SIM card itself or with the iPhone's SIM reader/baseband. This isolates the fault domain before proceeding with more invasive or irreversible steps.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reset network settings.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting network settings clears saved Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular configurations, and could occasionally help if corrupted settings prevent the iPhone from registering with the network. However, the 'No SIM' alert specifically indicates the iPhone has not detected any SIM hardware, not that it detected it and failed to connect. This reset is a software troubleshooting step that should be used only after the SIM is confirmed functional and carrier updates are ruled out, as it is disruptive and often ineffective for hardware detection issues.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports intermittent cellular connectivity after a carrier update. The technician has verified the SIM is properly inserted and restarted the device. In this scenario, resetting network settings can clear corrupted network configurations without affecting personal data.
- ✗
Check for a carrier settings update.
Why it's wrong here
Checking for a carrier settings update is a software-level fix that downloads network provisioning data from the carrier. It can resolve issues like missing carrier name or incorrect APN, but it cannot fix a physical SIM card that the phone fails to detect at all. Because the reported symptom is 'No SIM,' meaning the reader isn't seeing the card, this update should only be considered after the SIM's hardware functionality is verified in another device.
When this WOULD be correct
A user reports that their iPhone has lost cellular connectivity after a carrier update, and the SIM card is detected. The technician should check for a carrier settings update to ensure the device has the latest carrier-specific configurations, which can resolve network registration issues.
- ✓
Try the SIM card in another compatible phone.
Why this is correct
Insert the SIM into another known-good, compatible phone. If the SIM works there, the iPhone's SIM reader or baseband is at fault; if it doesn't, the SIM itself is bad, locked, or deactivated. This hardware isolation test is the foundational step because it separates SIM-related problems from phone-related problems before any software changes are made.
- ✗
Replace the SIM card with a new one.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the SIM card immediately assumes the SIM is culpable without evidence, which could waste money and time if the iPhone's SIM tray, pins, or baseband are actually broken. It also destroys the opportunity to test the original SIM as a diagnostic artifact. Proper troubleshooting demands isolating the existing SIM in another phone first, because a damaged SIM slot can also damage a new card.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the technician had already tested the SIM in another compatible phone and confirmed it works there, or if the SIM card is physically damaged (e.g., bent, scratched) and cannot be read by any device.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Try the SIM card in another compatible phone.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Insert the SIM into another known-good, compatible phone. If the SIM works there, the iPhone's SIM reader or baseband is at fault; if it doesn't, the SIM itself is bad, locked, or deactivated. This hardware isolation test is the foundational step because it separates SIM-related problems from phone-related problems before any software changes are made.
✗Reset network settings.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Resetting network settings is a software troubleshooting step that would not resolve a 'No SIM' error if the SIM card itself is faulty or incompatible. The issue is likely hardware-related, so isolating the SIM card in another device is more appropriate before performing software resets.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports intermittent cellular connectivity after a carrier update. The technician has verified the SIM is properly inserted and restarted the device. In this scenario, resetting network settings can clear corrupted network configurations without affecting personal data.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think a 'No SIM' error is a software issue and that resetting network settings is a common first step for connectivity problems, overlooking that the error indicates the device does not detect the SIM at all.
✗Check for a carrier settings update.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The question states that the SIM card is properly inserted and the device has been restarted. A carrier settings update is typically pushed by the carrier and does not resolve a 'No SIM' error caused by a hardware or SIM card issue; it is used for network configuration updates, not for detecting a missing SIM.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A user reports that their iPhone has lost cellular connectivity after a carrier update, and the SIM card is detected. The technician should check for a carrier settings update to ensure the device has the latest carrier-specific configurations, which can resolve network registration issues.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse carrier settings updates with general network troubleshooting steps, assuming that updating carrier settings can fix SIM detection problems, when in fact it only addresses network configuration issues.
✗Replace the SIM card with a new one.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Replacing the SIM card is premature because the issue could be with the phone's SIM reader or software, not the SIM itself. The correct next step is to test the SIM in another phone to isolate the problem.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the technician had already tested the SIM in another compatible phone and confirmed it works there, or if the SIM card is physically damaged (e.g., bent, scratched) and cannot be read by any device.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that a 'No SIM' error is always due to a faulty SIM card, leading them to replace it without first verifying if the SIM works in another device.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.