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Are you scared of what happens if you switch sim cards in iPhones because of some assumed implications you have in mind? Then this article is for you. Here, we discuss everything you need to know about switching SIM Cards on iPhones in detail.
SIM Cards play a crucial role in every mobile device. With SIM Cards, you can carry out several cellular operations such as surfing the internet, sending text messages, hosting/participating in phone calls, etc.
These operations have a cost attached, which varies for different network providers. Many folks usually capitalize on this factor and more when selecting a SIM Card. Some even go to the extent of changing SIM Cards when the factors don’t favor them.
Regardless of the reason, do you know the merits and demerits of switching SIM Cards on your phone? If not, then this post is for you. Here, we focus on all you need to know about exchanging SIM Cards between phones, with the Apple iPhone being our case study.
What is a SIM card?
SIM cards are tiny chips that store data and allow users to connect to a mobile network. Each SIM card has a unique ID number that identifies your phone to the network, enabling you to make phone calls, send/receive text messages, and browse the internet via 4G or 5G connections.
What is stored on a SIM card?
Previously, SIM cards had the ability to store some or all of your contacts, along with data usage and certain pre-installed apps provided by your carrier. However, with modern smartphones, all of your contacts, text messages, email settings, media files, and apps are now saved directly onto your phone.
What Happens If You Switch Sim Cards In Iphones?
When you replace your SIM card with a new one, you will lose access to any data that was stored on the old card. It’s worth noting that the switch will not affect any photos, applications, or other documents that were not saved on the SIM card. However, if you have any important data on the old SIM card that you haven’t transferred to your phone or external storage, it will remain on the old card. To access this data, you have two options: either insert the old SIM into a new device and transfer the data, or back up the data before replacing the SIM cards.
What to Backup Before Changing a SIM Card?
The most frequently encountered data on old SIM cards is the phone numbers saved in your contact list. To avoid losing this information, it’s recommended to back up your contacts on your device. Follow the steps below, depending on the type of phone you have.
- Changing SIM card in iPhone without losing data
- Follow these steps to transfer contacts from a SIM card to your iPhone.
- Open the Settings application
- Tap on Contacts
- Select Import SIM Contacts at the bottom of the menu
Choose where you want the contacts to be imported.
To check if the process was successful, verify whether your contacts are available on your phone (if that is the option you selected) and later synced to iCloud.
It’s important to note that iPhones don’t store contacts on SIM cards, so if you’re looking to transfer contacts from one iPhone to another, it’s recommended to back them up on your computer or iCloud instead of the SIM.
Note: All iPhone users get access to Apple’s iCloud. You should activate it to back up your files if you have not used it.
How to Switch SIM Cards on iPhone?
Have you ever thought, “Can I switch SIM Cards between iPhones”? The answer is- yes, you can switch SIM Cards between two or more iPhones. You can also do the same for the exact iPhone if the network you are connected to misbehaves.
The procedure to switch SIM Cards between iPhones is easy and very quick. But before we get started, kindly contact a SIM Card remover tool (most preferable is the one that came with your iPhone). Once you have that ready, follow the directions below to switch SIM Cards:
Step 1: Insert the SIM Card remover tool into the corresponding tiny hole at your iPhone’s side and gently press it down. Without delay, the tool will push out the SIM Card tray.
Step 2: Next, pull out the SIM Card tray and remove the SIM Card. Once done, insert the tray into the phone.
Step 3: Using a similar approach to step 1, eject the SIM Card tray for the second iPhone with which you want to switch SIM Cards. When the tray comes out, place the SIM Card properly and re-insert it into the device.
Quick Note: Whenever you want to switch SIM Cards, always put off the device before proceeding with the operation. Also, ensure the SIM Card network provider is active in your region to avoid issues of the SIM Card not working.
How to Switch SIM Card to New iPhone from Any Carrier
Is your iPhone locked to a particular network carrier? If you need to switch SIM Cards, an iOS Unlocker is required. A SIM-locked device won’t work with any other carrier except when the preconditions are met. However, since that’s not happening, an iOS Unlock tool like AnyUnlock will be helpful.
- It is easy to switch/change SIM unlock from any carrier, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.
- Fixes several iOS lock issues, such as SIM Lock, iCloud Activation Lock, Screen Time Passcode, remove Apple ID, and more.
- Easy to use. It just needs a few clicks to remove SIM unlock.
- Most iPhone models and iOS versions are supported.
Step 1. Download AnyUnlock on your Windows PC or Mac. Click on Remove SIM Lock on the home page.
Step 2. Before clicking Remove Now, ensure that your iPhone is jailbroken and connected to the computer.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to Forget This Network on your iPhone.
Step 4. AnyUnlock will start removing the SIM lock as below.
Step 5. Once the SIM lock is unlocked, you will get the success page.
What To Do Before You Switching SIM Card
Whether you have a new iPhone or have been using it for a while, there are three essential things you must check to prevent data loss. These include the following;
- Check if the iPhone is carrier-locked:
Before you change the SIM card on your iPhone, it’s important to check if your device is network unlocked. Some iOS devices are locked to a specific service provider, which prevents you from using a SIM card from another network. To determine if your iPhone is carrier-locked, follow the steps below:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap General and select About.
- On the About page, scroll to Network Provider Lock to see your iPhone network carrier lock status.
Note: If your iPhone is carrier-locked, you need to unlock it. You can open it using a third-party network unlocking service or contacting an authorized network provider’s shop.
- Transfer Contacts stored on your SIM card to your iPhone
When changing a SIM card on an iPhone becomes necessary, Transferring contacts saved on the SIM card to the iPhone is always advisable. It’ll make it easy for you to access the SIM contacts on your iPhone even after changing it.
- SIM Card Must be Compatible With the iPhone
If you own an Apple iOS device, you should know that it only supports nano SIM cards. In other words, if you have a SIM card that is not of the nano type, it won’t work with your iPhone. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you double-check the SIM card type before making a purchase, to avoid any compatibility issues.
What Happens if You Switch SIM Card
Although many people think switching SIM cards on iPhones will cause data loss and prevent them from accessing specific services, nothing happens. When you switch to a new SIM card on an iPhone:
- You can use a unique phone number to call and send SMS messages.
- You won’t lose your WhatsApp data even if you change your SIM card.
- Your non-SIM card data like contacts, apps, music, and photos will remain unaffected. Only your previous SIM card account information will be deleted.
- Your Apple ID and iPhone settings are not affected.
- You can still use FaceTime and iMessage. However, you need to re-activate them. To operate, you have to do the following;
- Open the Settings app, select Messages, turn off iMessage, tap Settings > FaceTime, and turn off FaceTime.
- After that, restart your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings again, and turn on iMessage and FaceTime.
How to Remove and Insert SIM Card in iPhone
Removing and inserting a SIM card in an iPhone is a simple process, but it requires a SIM card ejection tool or a paper clip if you don’t have one. The following steps will guide you through the process:
Step 1: Turn off your iPhone. This is recommended to avoid damaging the SIM card’s tiny processor while ejecting it from the iPhone.
Step 2: Find the SIM card tray on the side of your iPhone. Insert the SIM card ejection tool or a paper clip into the small hole, and this will push out the SIM card tray.
Step 3: Carefully take out the SIM card tray and replace the old SIM card with the new one. Ensure that you place the new SIM card in the correct position. Once you’ve done that, put the SIM card tray with the new SIM card back where you removed it from.
Step 4: Turn on your iPhone to start using the new SIM card. It’s that simple!
