Hello,I'm looking to travel to three different countries. However, during my stay in each country, I'll need to change the SIM on my iPhone to the country's local SIM. So, please, how can I change my SIM card on iPhone without losing my contacts?
Changing the SIM card on iPhone is not a big deal. However, there are times when one might encounter difficulty in trying to perform such an operation.
As we all know, some situations usually permit one to change an iPhone SIM card. So, be it connectivity issues, unstable internet connection, or more, regardless of why you're looking to switch your iPhone SIM card, there are several things you must know for you to carry out the operation seamlessly.
In this post, we'll walk you through the necessary information you must know about changing the SIM card on iPhone. All you need is to stick with us till the end.
Part 1: What To Do Before You Switching SIM Card
Whether your iPhone is brand-new or you've been using it for some time, you must check three crucial things to ensure your iPhone data doesn't get lost during the process. These include the following;
1. Check if iPhone is Carrier Locked:
Before changing your iPhone SIM card, you must check whether your iPhone is network unlocked. Yes, this is because some iOS devices are usually locked to a particular service provider, thus making it impossible for users to use a SIM card of another network on the device. To check if your iPhone is carrier locked, you have to follow the procedure below;
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap General and select About.
- On the About page, scroll down 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 unlock it by either using a third-party network unlocking service or just reaching out to an authorized network provider's shop.
2. Transfer Contacts stored on your SIM card to your iPhone
When changing a SIM card on iPhone becomes necessary, It's always advisable to transfer contacts saved on the SIM card to iPhone. It'll make it easy for you to access the SIM contacts on your iPhone even after changing it.
3. SIM Card Must be Compatible With iPhone
Apple iOS devices are compatible with only nano SIM cards. So, if the SIM you're looking to use is not nano, you can't use it with your iPhone. Therefore, we advise you to always check the SIM card type before purchasing.
Part 2: What Happens if You Switch SIM Card
Although many people think switching SIM cards on iPhones will cause data loss and prevent them from getting access to specific services, the truth is nothing of such happens. When you switch to a new SIM card on an iPhone:
- You can start using a new phone number to make calls and send SMS messages.
- You will be able to use WhatsApp. Changing your SIM card doesn't mean you'll lose your data.
- Your contacts, app, music, photos, and other data not stored on the SIM card will remain accessible. The only data that will be deleted is your old SIM card account information.
- 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.
Part 3: How to Remove and Insert SIM Card in iPhone
Removing and inserting a SIM card in iPhone is very simple. However, you need a SIM card ejection tool for the SIM removal operation. If you don't have one, you can use a paper clip. The following steps explain the process.
Step 1: Get your iPhone and switch it off. It is always recommended to do this because ejecting a SIM card from iPhone without turning it off could damage the tiny processor of the SIM card.
Step 2: Find the SIM card tray section at the side of your iPhone and insert the SIM card ejection tool into the tiny hole. By doing this, the SIM card tray will pop out.
Step 3: Gently remove the SIM card tray and change the SIM card. Make sure you place the new SIM card correctly. After that, insert the SIM card tray with the new SIM where you removed it.
Step 4: Turn on your iPhone to start using the new SIM card. It's as simple as that.
Bonus: Back up Your iPhone to your Computer for Free
To guarantee 100% safety of your data when changing the SIM card on your iPhone, you'd better back up your iPhone before proceeding with the operation. However, instead of using iCloud backup, you should use MobileTrans to back up your iPhone to a computer, as it's free and, unlike iCloud backup, which usually takes longer to complete, it executes the operation within a few minutes.
MobileTrans - Backup & Restore
Easy to Backup to PC and Best Way to Restore iTunes Backup in 1 Click!
- • Backup and restore data on your device to a computer with one click.
- • Easily restore photos, videos, calendar, contacts, messages and music from iTunes to iPhone/iPad.
- • Takes less than 10 minutes to finish.
- • Fully compatible with major providers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.
- • Support the latest iPhone OS and Android OS.
4.5/5 ExcellentMobileTrans utilizes state-of-art technology to facilitate faster iPhone data backup and restoration. Plus, it also can execute direct data transfer from iPhone to iPhone or iPhone to Android, and it does this and more without any complications.
Step 1: Download and install the MobileTrans tool on your computer. Then, launch it and select Backup & Restore > then Backup under Phone Backup & Restore.
Step 2: Connect your iPhone to the computer and select the data you wish to back up to your computer. After that, click Start to begin the backup operation.
Step 3: A loading progress bar will display on your PC during the backup process. Once it's full and MobileTrans says data backup is completed, disconnect your iPhone from the PC.
Final Thoughts
You can change your SIM card on your iPhone without technical knowledge. All you need is to make sure you do all that's mentioned in the article above. From checking if your iPhone is carrier-locked to transferring SIM card contacts to iPhone and ensuring the SIM card you want to change to is a nano-sim. Also, it's a nice move to back up your iPhone data to a computer to avoid any loss, and MobileTrans is the ideal tool for such an operation.
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Axel Nash
staff Editor