Error INF1014: Scanning for Smartcard ERR5000: Smartcard not found or is faulty
Find out what to do if you get the error "Error INF1014: Scanning for Smartcard ERR5000: Smartcard not found or is faulty" in Care Identity Management.
The issue
As a Registration Authority user, you are trying to perform card management services on a second smartcard, but you see this error:
INF1014: Scanning for Smartcard ERR5000: Smartcard not found or is faulty

The cause
Care Identity Management performs checks to make sure that a second, valid smartcard is present. You will see this error when the service fails to perform these checks successfully.
To be able to manage a second smartcard you must make sure that:
- you've connected 2 smartcard readers to the system - connecting any other number of readers will cause this error
- there is a smartcard in both of the readers
- your smartcard with Registration Authority access was inserted before the second smartcard
If these are all true, it's possible that one of the smartcards is faulty.
What to do
Follow these steps:
- Remove all smartcard readers and reboot the system.
- Attach the first smartcard reader, but do not enter a smartcard.
- Attach the second smartcard reader, but do not enter a smartcard.
- Insert your Registration Authority smartcard into the first smartcard reader.
- Insert the second smartcard into the second smartcard reader.
- Retry the smartcard management option that failed before.
If you've followed these steps in order but still see the error, it's possible that one of the smartcards is faulty.
Try a different Registration Authority smartcard
If possible, ask a colleague who also has a Registration Authority role to log in with their smartcard and attempt the operation on the second smartcard. If the operation works, it's possible that your smartcard is faulty.
If a second Registration Authority smartcard still causes the error, it's possible that the smartcard inserted into the second reader is faulty.
NHS England Diagnostic Tool
Download the NHS England Diagnostic Tool and generate a diagnostic log for the workstation.
The Diagnostic Tool should be the first resort for all Care Identity Service troubleshooting on a user's machine, where the cause is unclear. The vast majority of reported problems can be diagnosed and fixed using this. You will need local machine admin access to run the tool and complete any fixes that it highlights.
Contact the National Service Desk
If you have been through all the steps above but still cannot progress, you should raise a case to the National Service Desk on the NHS Digital Customer Portal or email [email protected]
To get the best service, follow these instructions when writing your support request:
Short description Error INF1014: Scanning for Smartcard ERR5000: Smartcard not found or is faulty
Long description
I am a member of the IT team for my organisation.
A user is trying to [action they are trying to do e.g. print smartcard]
They get the following error:
Error INF1014: Scanning for Smartcard ERR5000: Smartcard not found or is faulty
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I have followed the troubleshooting steps as described here: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/care-identity-service/setting-up-and-troubleshooting/common-issues/error-inf1014-err5000
-
I attach a copy of the diagnostic log for the workstation(s)
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I confirm that the workstation conforms to the Warrantied Environment Specification
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This affects X number of users
-
The Error Response ID is [add ID - only include this if the Error Response ID is shown on the error page]
Reissuing smartcards
If either card is faulty, you should generate a diagnostic log and report this error to the National Service Desk before you issue a new smartcard. Issuing a new smartcard should be the last resort.
Last edited: 28 October 2025 1:26 pm