Can I Buy a New Phone and Just Switch the Sim Card

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A SIM card is a pocket-size card inside a cell phone that allows it to connect to a cellular service. When you insert your SIM card into a different uniform or unlocked telephone, you lot'll be able to use the same telephone number and cellular service on your new telephone. Similarly, if you lot get a new SIM card and want to apply it in your electric current phone while traveling, you can practise so as long as the SIM and carrier are compatible with your phone—this is really useful when traveling! This wikiHow teaches you how to switch your SIM bill of fare to a new smartphone.

1. 1

   Check the size of the SIM menu each phone uses. SIM cards come in three major sizes, and your phones may utilise different sizes. This is particularly truthful if the phones were made several years apart. Nearly carriers will provide you with the correct size SIM carte du jour for complimentary.

   • A Standard SIM is 15mm past 25 mm.^[ane]
   • A Micro SIM is 12mm by 15mm.
   • A Nano SIM is 8.8mm by 12.3mm.
   • You tin cut larger SIMs down with a special SIM cutter tool, or just ask your carrier for the correct size.
   • If the SIM you have is also small to fit into the new phone, yous can get an adapter card—these cars let yous place a smaller SIM (such equally a Nano SIM) within a bill of fare that's larger (Micro or Standard).

2. two

   Get a new SIM if you are switching carriers. If the phone you're switching to is from the same carrier or information technology'due south unlocked, you lot shouldn't need a new SIM. Only if y'all're switching from one carrier to some other, you'll demand a SIM card for your new carrier. The SIM card is free when signing up for a new plan, and some carriers may fifty-fifty provide all three sizes of your SIM menu but in example.^[2]

   • Phone carriers used to operate but 2 types of networks: GSM and CDMA. It used to be true that most CDMA phones didn't require SIM cards, merely that's no longer the example—unless you're using an older CDMA model, you lot'll definitely demand a SIM.
   • If the new telephone is from a different carrier than the SIM you accept, the SIM may still work if the phone is carrier-unlocked. But if the phone is locked to a specific carrier or account, you'll need to have the carrier unlock the telephone.

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3. 3

   Support your contacts (optional). The most convenient fashion to back up your contacts on an Android or iPhone is to sync them to your Google account or to your iCloud business relationship. This way, the same contacts volition be available on any telephone you employ upon logging in with the same Google or Apple tree account. Simply if you lot're using an Android, have contacts relieve to your phone's memory, and would rather save them to your SIM card so they volition already be on your new telephone, you tin can export them to your SIM card on many Androids.

   • Information technology's no longer possible to transfer contacts directly to a SIM on an iPhone.

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1. ane

   Remove the telephone's case if there is i. If you lot're using a protective telephone case or cover, yous'll need to remove information technology to get the SIM carte out. There'due south no need to remove your drinking glass screen protector (if you have ane)—merely the case.

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

2. ii

   Locate the SIM carte du jour. Depending on the type of phone you have, the SIM carte can exist located in different spots:

   • iPhone: iPhones have SIM trays, which are located in different places depending on the model.^[three] Look for the small hole on a rectangular panel:
     • Left side: iPhone 12 (all models).
     • Right side: iPhone eleven (all models), iPhone XS & Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 10, iPhone SE (all models), and all models of iPhone 8, 7, 6, 5, and four.
   • Android: If your Android has a removable battery, you'll usually notice the SIM menu backside the bombardment or otherwise inside the battery cover. If not, you'll take a SIM tray on one of the phone's edges. The location is different depending on your Android, but you tin can identify the SIM tray by locating the pocket-size round hole on a rectangular panel.

3. iii

   Remove the SIM card from the quondam phone. Removing the SIM is pretty easy one time you effigy out where it is. When removing the SIM, try to avert touching the gold contacts on the bottom side.

   • If at that place is a SIM tray, yous should take a SIM tool that came with your phone. Information technology's usually a pocket-sized oval-shaped tool with one pointed protruding cease that's has the diameter of a paperclip. If you lot don't have the original tool, y'all can employ a paperclip—just extend one end of the paperclip so information technology's pointed outright, then insert it into the hole on the SIM tray. Push in gently until the tray pops out. Then, lift the SIM bill of fare from its place inside the tray, or only flip the phone over so it falls onto a soft surface.
   • If the SIM is behind your battery, you tin can either slide it out or press it in a petty to pop it out, depending on your telephone.
   • If you air current up damaging your SIM carte du jour during the swap, you can normally get a replacement SIM at no toll from your provider.

4. 4

   Insert the SIM carte into the new phone. If the new phone also has a SIM tray, open information technology now. If there's a bombardment cover, remove the cover and locate the SIM slot. The SIM has a small notch at i corner that acts as a guide—this means information technology will only fit into the tray or slot ane way, making information technology simple to insert properly. Slide the tray back in or replace the battery and cover when finished.

   • If the SIM is also small for the tray or slot in the new phone, go an adapter card kit—these kits are cheap and come up with adapters that suit all three SIM sizes.

5. 5

   Plow on the new phone and go through the setup process. If yous're setting upwardly a new smartphone, you'll be taken through an initial setup process. During this process, your SIM will typically exist activated for your new telephone automatically.

   • When activating a new telephone, you'll exist asked to sign in with a Google or iCloud account/Apple tree ID. If you backed upwards your contacts from your old phone to your Google or iCloud account, make sure you sign in with the same account info as you used on the old phone. This ensures that your contacts sync to your new phone.
   • If your phone was already set, you'll usually go service a few moments after you insert your SIM card. But insert the SIM bill of fare, power information technology on if it wasn't on already, and so wait to encounter if y'all connect. You lot'll see the signal confined appear in the phone's notification expanse, and you'll normally see the carrier name side by side to them.

6. 6

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

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do you transfer SIM cards from i phone to some other?

  

  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 every bit computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.

  

  Figurer & Phone Repair Specialists

  Expert Reply

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this practiced answer.

  iPhones, iPads and many Android devices accept a slide out tray on the side. To release it, insert a SIM card removal tool and printing straight in until the tray pops out. If you don't accept a tool, it's safe to improvise with a paperclip, earring, or anything else that fits in the hole, as long every bit you remember to push straight in and non to pry. On devices with removable batteries, the SIM bill of fare is usually located nether the phone's bombardment.

• Question

  How exercise I transfer a SIM card to a new telephone?

  

  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

  Tin you lot 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

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched reply.

  If both iPhones you're switching from and to are non locked and your SIM cards are non prevented from being used in another phone, then y'all tin switch the SIM cards around your different iPhones. If it doesn't work, then information technology ways either the SIM card cannot be switched around (something your carrier or provider determines) or ane or both of the iPhones are locked to a specific provider or the SIM bill of fare is non the correct size.

• Question

  What happens if you take out your SIM carte du jour and put it in another phone?

  

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

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

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  Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched reply.

  If the new phone is not locked and your carrier allows you to switch your SIM bill of fare to another device, so what should happen is that yous tin receive calls and utilize the information on the new phone as well. However, nix will 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 card and/or provider. Of course, the old phone without a SIM card won't work until y'all restore the SIM card or supplant it with a new 1.

• Question

  Can I switch my SIM card to a dissimilar phone?

  

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

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

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  Support wikiHow past unlocking this staff-researched respond.

  Yous tin oftentimes switch your SIM card to a different phone, provided the phone is unlocked (significant, it is not tied to a detail carrier or device) and the new phone volition have the SIM menu. All you need to do is remove the SIM from the phone it is in currently, so place information technology into the new unlocked phone. If the new phone is locked, notwithstanding, the SIM cannot be switched to it, as it won't work. E'er back up your contacts before switching SIM cards and it's a practiced idea to check your carrier'due south website, equally many comport information about the switchability of their SIM cards.

• Question

  Do I have to end service on my one-time phone if I swap SIM cards?

  

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

• Question

  How exercise I remove a SIM card from an iPhone v and put it in an iPhone six?

  

  It should be the aforementioned process, but if the SIM tray isn't the same size and doesn't allow it, you'll have to contact your company and transfer the information to a uniform SIM.

• Question

  When a used SIM carte du jour is put in another used telephone, will it have a day for the SIM card to activate?

  

  Allan Cramer

  Community Respond

  If if doesn't activate within 20 minutes, I would contact the service provider for assistance.

• Question

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

  

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

• Question

  Is a SIM card the same as an SD card?

  

  No. A SIM card is used for calling and texting and stuff, but an SD card is used to shop videos, photos, and annihilation involving downloading.

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Article Summary Ten

1. Back up your contacts.
2. Go a new SIM if you're switching carriers.
3. Remove the SIM from the old telephone.
iv. Insert the SIM into the new phone.
5. Start the setup process (if the phone is brand new).
half dozen. Contact your carrier if you tin can't connect.

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