A53: No sim card detected after One UI 8.0 update

[zx1]

I bought an unlocked refurbished Galaxy A53 5G from Amazon about two years ago. Earlier this week the phone prompted me to install the Oct 1, 2025 update (One UI 8.0). After installing the update, the phone no longer detects my sim card. It's saying (Searching) and No service in the upper left corner. The Sim card status says Not available for every single item. The data icon is gone and there is no way to view or change mobile network settings. 

According to the phone, the model is SM-A536U1/DS. However, despite the model number, this does not appear to be a dual sim phone. The tray has SIM card slot on the bottom and SD card slot on top, with no way to hold a SIM card where the SD card goes. Also, according to the IMEI checker, the phone is not SM-A536U1/DS but SM-A536U. Model name is SM2A536UZKAXAU according to IMEI checker.

XAG/XAG/XAU

I tried a lot of things, like restarting the phone, taking out the sim card and cleaning the contacts, factory reset, and also manually checked for updated and installed the November 1, 2025 update. No change.

The SIM card works fine in another phone.

The model discrepancy makes me think the seller cross-flashed the phone, which has now essentially bricked it.

What can I do to fix this?

[Pianodude58]

From Samsung

Model Number: SM-A536U

Model Name: SM2A536UZKAXAU

Market: US

SIM Support: Single Nano-SIM card

SIM Tray: The physical SIM tray may appear to have two slots, but the second slot is often not functional in US variants.

Expansion: The single functional SIM slot is a hybrid slot, allowing for either one Nano-SIM or a microSD card for storage expansion (up to 1 TB), but not both simultaneously in the second position.

[zx1]

Yes, thank you. I checked my phone's IMEI using *#06# as well as by looking on the back of the phone. In both cases only a single IMEI number is present, which confirms that this is not a dual sim phone. It is SM-A536U that must have been reflashed by the seller to the dual sim firmware, with the software reporting SM-A536U1/DS.

[Pianodude58]

That's unfortunate. Is the phone working sufficiently for everything else?

[zx1]

Yes, everything else is working. It's just the cellular antenna that was bricked by the system  update.

[Pianodude58]

It's a possibility that an authorized Samsung uBreakiFix by Asurion store can flash the correct firmware onto your device.

https://www.ubreakifix.com/store-locator/find-stores

[realaud]

Just FYI, the dual SIM tray does actually carry two physical SIMs.  The second SIM slot can either be a second SIM *or* an SD card.  You have to make a choice.  If you are using the second physical SIM tray as an SD reader, and you want a second SIM.  You have to use the eSIM for the second SIM, otherwise you have to give up the SD card.  US model phones, however, do not normally carry the DS designation

That being said, many phones, for some reason, are having this identical problem.  I do not believe it has been fixed yet.  You should certainly put in in error report.

[realaud]

Someone in another post on this subject mentioned that what worked for them was to go into the connection settings and enable allow 2G service. This will be impossible if Verizon is your carrier. Unsure if they block that setting on factory unlocked devices, or just carrier devices.

[zx1]

The issue prevents me from accessing those settings.

[Superrunner2]

I have had the exact same issue. And have found multiple others on forums who also had that issue. I can also state that flashing the firmware to the correct version does not fix the issue.