How to Insert SIM Card in iPhone

This wikiHow teaches you how to insert a SIM card into your iPhone. For the new SIM to work on your phone, you need to use a compatible SIM card with your current service provider or an iPhone unlock SIM.

Table of Contents

Insert SIM card into iPhone

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/eb/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/eb/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-1-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Power off iPhone. Press and hold the power button until the message “slide to power off” or “slide to power off” appears at the top of the screen, then swipe the switch to the right to turn off the power.

The power button is on the top right edge for most iPhones, but for iPhone 5 and later, the power button is on the top edge of the device.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/47/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/47/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-2-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

You need to make sure the SIM card is the right size for the phone. Over the years, SIM cards have gotten smaller and smaller, and previous iPhones may not support new SIMs (and vice versa). Make sure that the SIM card fits the iPhone you are using.

iPhone 5 and later use Nano SIM (12.3mm x 8.8mm).
iPhone 4 and 4S use Micro SIM (15mm x 12mm).
iPhone 3G, 3GS and original use standard SIM (25mm x 15mm).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2a/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2a/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-3-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Locate the SIM slot on the side of the phone. The SIM slot is on the side of the phone. For most iPhones, the SIM tray is usually located in the middle, along the right side. ^{[1] X Research Source}

The iPhone 3G, 3GS, and original have a SIM slot on the top of the phone.
All iPhone models have a SIM slot, except iPhone 4 CDMA (A1349 locked version of Verizon / Sprint in the US).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e9/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e9/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-4-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Find a SIM removal tool (SIM stick) or a straight paper clip. , Many phones often come with a SIM ejector, which has a pointed tip that allows you to open the SIM tray. If you don’t have a SIM card, you can straighten a paper clip instead.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/94/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/94/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-5-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Push the SIM ejector or paper clip into the small hole next to the SIM slot. With a slight push, the SIM tray will pop out.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a2/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a2/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-6-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Pull the SIM tray out of the phone. Be gentle as both the tray and the SIM card are very fragile.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/3d/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/3d/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-7-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Take out the old SIM card, place the new SIM card in the tray. For the SIM card to be recognized, you can only place the new SIM in the tray in one direction. If you are unsure, simply insert it in the same direction as the original SIM card, with the yellow contact surface facing down.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/b0/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b0/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-8-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Insert the SIM tray back into the phone. The SIM tray can only be inserted in one direction.

Make sure that the SIM tray is completely inside the iPhone before continuing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a5/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a5/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-9-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Press the power button. The phone will turn back on. Your iPhone will automatically connect to the new cellular network, but you’ll probably be prompted for activation.

Troubleshooting SIM activation

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2e/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-10-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2e/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-10-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-10-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Connect to a wireless network. Depending on your cellular service plan, you may not see an activation message appear until you connect to Wi-Fi. ^{[2] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/96/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-11-Version-5.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-11-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/96/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-11-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-11-Version-5. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Connect iPhone to iTunes on computer. If iPhone cannot be activated via Wi-Fi, using a computer with an internet connection will speed up the activation process. To proceed, you:

Plug iPhone into computer via USB charging cable. If the program doesn’t launch on its own, open iTunes.
Wait for iTunes to activate the SIM for you.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/ee/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-12-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/ee/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-12-Version-3.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-12-Version-3. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Reinstall iPhone. In case the iPhone just won’t recognize the SIM card, restoring the iPhone can make the SIM card active during the reset.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a0/Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-13-Version-4.jpg/v4- 460px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-13-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a0/ Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-13-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-SIM-Card-Into-an-iPhone-Step-13-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Use another phone to call the carrier. If your phone does not activate the new SIM card, the only way is to call the carrier (eg Viettel, Vinaphone or Mobiphone). After they verify you’re the account holder, you’ll be able to ask them about the new SIM card; if the problem is more complicated and cannot be diagnosed through the phone, you need to bring the phone to your carrier’s store for them to check or install for you.

Steps

Insert SIM card into iPhone

Troubleshooting SIM activation

Related Posts