How to Fix Smart SIM Registration Error Message

You can't proceed with your SIM registration because of errors and failures of attempts? This guide will help you solve this problem with Smart (might work to Globe and DITO, too)!

In this guide, I will elaborate the steps I followed to try to fix a failed SIM registration I have experienced with Smart recently.

ABOUT SIM REGISTRATION

First, this is the reason why I am a bit frustrated with my SIM and mobile number. The SIM Card Registration Act or RA 11934 mandates all SIM card users, both existing and new, to register their SIM cards with their respective telecommunications providers starting December 27, 2022.

All local SIM cards, including eSIMs, are covered by the SIM Card Registration Act. All SIM card owners are required to register their SIM cards within 180 days from the date of the law’s effectivity. Failure to register your current or new Smart Prepaid SIM card within the specified period will result in deactivation, making it useless for voice calls, internet access, text messaging, and other mobile services. SIM card registration is totally free of charge.

Register Existing Smart Prepaid SIM

Active Smart Prepaid subscribers, prior to the start of SIM registration (December 27, 2022), have a deadline of April 26, 2023, to register their SIMs. If you fail to register within the period specified, your SIM will be deactivated automatically.

UPDATE: On April 25, 2023, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the 90-day SIM registration extension.

To know more, visit SIM REGISTRATION DEADLINE: What Will Happen To Unregistered SIM Cards?

So, basically, I followed all the steps and requirements (valid IDs) needed for my Smart SIM Registration. I used a Chrome browser on my laptop to register. I received an OTP to my phone number. I uploaded my UMID for the ID. Put in all details needed. However, at the end of the registration process where I confirmed all details I submitted, I got this error message:

"Sorry, your registration cannot be processed at this time. Please retry submission."

List of Smart SIM Registration Errors

Below are the other problems that appeared during the registration process.

Sorry, your registration cannot be processed at this time. Please try again later
Operation Time Out, please make sure your ID is clear and non-reflective
Smart API Failed to Respond in Smart Registration
Exceeded the Maximum Number of attempts. Please try again after 1 minute and 20 seconds.
ID card cannot be Identify or not the same with the ID in your form.
Connection Time Out

WHERE TO BUY A SIM CARD IN THE PHILIPPINES

Here are the top mobile networks (where you can purchase and get a SIM card) in the Philippines:

Shopee is my go-to app for things I needed like the ones above. If you'd like discounts and vouchers, you may get the best offers here:

I keep on getting this error message after tried to register my Smart SIM

Therefore, this Smart SIM I have which I use to all OTPs and verification is needed to be successfully registered ASAP. But with multiple attempts, I've been receiving this same error message.

What did I do after I got the error message?

After receiving the error message above, I waited for 10 minutes and tried to register again with the same browser on my laptop. Still, for the second time, I got the same error message at the last part of the registration.

How did I troubleshoot?

As a little techy myself, and as a technical support in my past job, I do not ask for help right away. If a problem occurs, I try to solve it myself first for me to save time and efforts (for both me and the customer service representative).

Here are some of the troubleshooting I tried as I research for a resolution for this mess:

Clear cache on my Chrome browser and tried another attempt to register. I got the same error message.
Used a newly installed Firefox and tried again to register. Still got the same error message.
Tried to register using my mobile phone. For the fifth time, it failed.

Note: I have a second Smart SIM that I also registered along with my primary number. That one was miraculously successfully registered in ONE ATTEMPT. Yup, in just one and only attempt, that second SIM was registered and in a few minutes, I got a message that I have successfully received my 3GB Free Data as promoted by Smart.

How to fix a Smart SIM Registration Error?

So, your question now (and mine earlier) is, "how did you fix this Smart SIM Registration error?"

My last resort to resolve this is to get help from someone from Smart. So, I tried to look for help on their website and looked on how to contact Smart. Good thing, they have a chat option where it redirected me to their Messenger.

We all know that this Smart chat on Messenger used auto-responses. So, first I needed to find out to be able to speak to a real person on the other end.

Note: at this moment, I already searched and looked for answers on Google and Smart's FAQs for SIM Registration. None answered directly on why I was getting the error message mentioned above.

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA

Chat with a Smart Customer Service Representative

So here's what I did to get to a Customer Service Representative:

At this moment, I spoke to Jane, one of Smart's customer service representative. I explained the problem and elaborated the things I have taken to try to resolve it. As Smart's website suggests, Jane also recommended for me to try again the SIM registration from the scratch. But with her on chat, I got the same error message. Jane assisted me along the way (took us 20 minutes) and we tried to figure out.

I also mentioned that I was able to register my second number without any hassle.

After almost 30 minutes of chatting with her, apparently, there's also nothing they can do about it and advised me this:

It was very sad to know that my main number can't be registered and in a few months, it can be deactivated because I am getting this same error message whenever I try to register.

Imagine the hassle of you being required to change mobile number for OTPs and account verification.

ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA

Is there any other way to fix Smart SIM Registration Error?

As of now, the only way we can do is RETRY. Yup, try and try until (I don't know when) we finally get our SIM registered.

There's nothing wrong about trying again. Maybe, for me it just really didn't work. I will update this blog once I get a "real" resolution.

Update!

I finally resolved this SIM registration error as I elaborated to my new blog. Check it out!

By the way, I also have a Globe SIM and I successfully registered it last week in 1 attempt. So far, Globe is doing good.

If you haven't registered your SIM yet, you can read any of the following guides for your SIM registration: