Can You Change Sim Card on Any Family Mobile Phone

Download Article

Download Article

A SIM card is a small card inside a cell phone that allows information technology to connect to a cellular service. When you insert your SIM card into a dissimilar compatible or unlocked phone, you lot'll exist able to utilise the same phone number and cellular service on your new phone. Similarly, if y'all become a new SIM carte and want to utilise it in your current phone while traveling, you tin can practice so equally long as the SIM and carrier are uniform with your phone—this is actually useful when traveling! This wikiHow teaches you lot how to switch your SIM carte to a new smartphone.

1. ane

   Check the size of the SIM carte du jour each phone uses. SIM cards come up in 3 major sizes, and your phones may utilise different sizes. This is especially truthful if the phones were fabricated several years apart. Most carriers will provide you with the right size SIM card for free.

   • A Standard SIM is 15mm by 25 mm.^[i]
   • A Micro SIM is 12mm past 15mm.
   • A Nano SIM is 8.8mm past 12.3mm.
   • Yous tin can cutting larger SIMs downward with a special SIM cutter tool, or merely ask your carrier for the correct size.
   • If the SIM you have is too small to fit into the new phone, yous can get an adapter carte du jour—these cars permit you identify a smaller SIM (such as a Nano SIM) inside a carte that's larger (Micro or Standard).

2. 2

   Go a new SIM if you are switching carriers. If the phone y'all're switching to is from the same carrier or it's unlocked, you shouldn't need a new SIM. But if you're switching from one carrier to another, you'll need a SIM menu for your new carrier. The SIM card is free when signing upwardly for a new plan, and some carriers may even provide all three sizes of your SIM card just in case.^[2]

   • Phone carriers used to operate only two types of networks: GSM and CDMA. Information technology used to be true that nigh CDMA phones didn't require SIM cards, but that's no longer the case—unless you lot're using an older CDMA model, you'll definitely demand a SIM.
   • If the new phone is from a different carrier than the SIM you have, the SIM may still work if the phone is carrier-unlocked. Simply if the phone is locked to a specific carrier or account, you'll demand to accept the carrier unlock the phone.

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Back up your contacts (optional). The most user-friendly way to back up your contacts on an Android or iPhone is to sync them to your Google business relationship or to your iCloud account. This way, the same contacts will be available on any phone you use upon logging in with the aforementioned Google or Apple account. Merely if you're using an Android, have contacts relieve to your telephone's retentivity, and would rather save them to your SIM card so they will already be on your new phone, you lot can consign them to your SIM card on many Androids.

   • It's no longer possible to transfer contacts straight to a SIM on an iPhone.

   Advertizement

1. 1

   Remove the phone's case if at that place is one. If you're using a protective phone case or cover, you'll need to remove it to get the SIM carte out. There's no demand to remove your glass screen protector (if yous have one)—just the instance.

   • Although it may not exist required depending on the models, turning off both phones before you lot begin can assist ensure that removing and inserting a SIM card goes smoothly.
   • If your phone has an eSIM (and electronic SIM card), you lot tin't physically remove it from a phone. If you need to transfer your eSIM to a new phone, your carrier volition demand to do the swap. Give your carrier a call for assistance.

2. 2

   Locate the SIM menu. Depending on the type of phone y'all have, the SIM carte tin be located in unlike spots:

   • iPhone: iPhones have SIM trays, which are located in different places depending on the model.^[iii] Look for the small-scale hole on a rectangular panel:
     • Left side: iPhone 12 (all models).
     • Right side: iPhone 11 (all models), iPhone XS & Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 10, iPhone SE (all models), and all models of iPhone 8, vii, six, 5, and 4.
   • Android: If your Android has a removable battery, you'll unremarkably find the SIM card behind the battery or otherwise inside the battery comprehend. If non, yous'll have a SIM tray on ane of the telephone'due south edges. The location is different depending on your Android, but yous tin identify the SIM tray by locating the small round pigsty on a rectangular panel.

3. iii

   Remove the SIM menu from the erstwhile phone. Removing the SIM is pretty easy once you figure out where it is. When removing the SIM, endeavor to avoid touching the gilded contacts on the bottom side.

   • If there is a SIM tray, you should accept a SIM tool that came with your phone. It's usually a small-scale oval-shaped tool with i pointed protruding end that'southward has the diameter of a paperclip. If you don't have the original tool, yous can utilize a paperclip—just extend one terminate of the paperclip so it's pointed outright, and then insert it into the hole on the SIM tray. Push in gently until the tray pops out. So, lift the SIM bill of fare from its identify within the tray, or just flip the phone over and then it falls onto a soft surface.
   • If the SIM is backside your battery, you can either slide information technology out or press information technology in a little to pop it out, depending on your phone.
   • If you wind up damaging your SIM card during the swap, you can ordinarily get a replacement SIM at no cost from your provider.

4. four

   Insert the SIM menu into the new telephone. If the new phone likewise has a SIM tray, open it now. If there's a battery comprehend, remove the comprehend and locate the SIM slot. The SIM has a small notch at one corner that acts as a guide—this means it volition only fit into the tray or slot ane fashion, making it simple to insert properly. Slide the tray back in or replace the battery and cover when finished.

   • If the SIM is as well modest for the tray or slot in the new phone, get an adapter card kit—these kits are cheap and come with adapters that accommodate all iii SIM sizes.

5. 5

   Turn on the new phone and become through the setup process. If you're setting up a new smartphone, you'll be taken through an initial setup process. During this procedure, your SIM will typically be activated for your new phone automatically.

   • When activating a new telephone, you'll be asked to sign in with a Google or iCloud business relationship/Apple ID. If you backed upward your contacts from your onetime phone to your Google or iCloud business relationship, make certain you lot sign in with the aforementioned account info as yous used on the quondam phone. This ensures that your contacts sync to your new phone.
   • If your phone was already set up, you'll usually go service a few moments later on you insert your SIM card. Just insert the SIM carte, ability it on if it wasn't on already, then wait to see if you connect. You'll run across the signal confined appear in the telephone'southward notification expanse, and you'll usually run across the carrier name side by side to them.

6. six

   Contact your carrier if you cannot connect. If your SIM is still not activating in the new phone, you'll likely need to contact the carrier. Since the phone isn't connected, you'll need to either phone call from another line or visit a carrier store to have the phone activated.

   Advertisement

Add New Question

• Question

  How practise you transfer SIM cards from one telephone to another?

  

  Mobile Kangaroo is a full service repair shop and Apple Authorized Service Provider headquartered in Mount View, CA. Mobile Kangaroo has been repairing electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.

  

  Computer & Telephone Repair Specialists

  Good Answer

  

  Support wikiHow past unlocking this good answer.

  iPhones, iPads and many Android devices have a slide out tray on the side. To release information technology, insert a SIM card removal tool and press straight in until the tray pops out. If y'all don't accept a tool, information technology's safe to improvise with a paperclip, earring, or anything else that fits in the hole, as long equally you call back to button straight in and non to pry. On devices with removable batteries, the SIM card is usually located nether the telephone's battery.

• Question

  How practise I transfer a SIM card to a new phone?

  

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

• Question

  Can you just switch SIM cards in iPhones?

  

  This reply was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Respond

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched respond.

  If both iPhones you're switching from and to are not locked and your SIM cards are not prevented from being used in some other phone, and so you lot can switch the SIM cards around your different iPhones. If information technology doesn't work, then it ways either the SIM carte cannot be switched effectually (something your carrier or provider determines) or one or both of the iPhones are locked to a specific provider or the SIM card is not the right size.

• Question

  What happens if y'all accept out your SIM card and put it in some other phone?

  

  This answer was written past i of our trained team of researchers who validated information technology for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  

  Support wikiHow past unlocking this staff-researched answer.

  If the new phone is non locked and your carrier allows y'all to switch your SIM carte to some other device, then what should happen is that you tin receive calls and use the data on the new phone as well. Yet, naught volition happen at all if the SIM card is not able to switch devices (something the carrier determines) or the other phone is locked to a specific SIM carte and/or provider. Of grade, the one-time telephone without a SIM card won't work until you restore the SIM bill of fare or supplant it with a new one.

• Question

  Can I switch my SIM card to a different phone?

  

  This answer was written past ane of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Respond

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched respond.

  You tin can frequently switch your SIM carte du jour to a different telephone, provided the phone is unlocked (meaning, information technology is not tied to a particular carrier or device) and the new telephone will accept the SIM menu. All you demand to do is remove the SIM from the telephone it is in currently, and then place it into the new unlocked phone. If the new phone is locked, however, the SIM cannot be switched to it, every bit information technology won't work. E'er dorsum up your contacts before switching SIM cards and it's a proficient thought to check your carrier's website, as many conduct information about the switchability of their SIM cards.

• Question

  Practise I have to cease service on my sometime phone if I swap SIM cards?

  

  Service is tied to the SIM card, so you volition not be able to make calls on your quondam phone. Other services may still work on your erstwhile phone, provided you have a WiFi connectedness.

• Question

  How practise I remove a SIM carte from an iPhone 5 and put it in an iPhone 6?

  

  It should be the same procedure, but if the SIM tray isn't the same size and doesn't allow information technology, you lot'll accept to contact your company and transfer the information to a uniform SIM.

• Question

  When a used SIM menu is put in some other used telephone, will information technology take a twenty-four hour period for the SIM carte to activate?

  

  Allan Cramer

  Customs Respond

  If if doesn't actuate within xx minutes, I would contact the service provider for help.

• Question

  Tin I buy a local SIM card while traveling to eliminate roaming charges?

  

  As long as your telephone is unlocked, you'll be able to insert a SIM from a different network and connect to it instead of your original network. You'll have a dissimilar phone number when using different SIM cards.

• Question

  Is a SIM card the same every bit an SD menu?

  

  No. A SIM card is used for calling and texting and stuff, simply an SD card is used to store videos, photos, and anything involving downloading.

Evidence more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your e-mail address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

1. Support your contacts.
2. Get a new SIM if you lot're switching carriers.
iii. Remove the SIM from the sometime phone.
iv. Insert the SIM into the new telephone.
5. Showtime the setup process (if the phone is brand new).
6. Contact your carrier if you lot can't connect.

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,551,789 times.

Is this commodity upwards to appointment?

adamsdivid1986.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-SIM-Card-to-Switch-Phones

Share this post