How to Destroy a Sim Card

Many people think that your SIM card stops holding your personal data once you pull it out of your smartphone. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case—SIM cards actually hold onto your old contacts, texts, and other personal info, which can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.[1] If you’re getting rid of an old phone, destroying your SIM card is the quickest and easiest way to make sure your data can’t be recovered by anyone else. If you’d rather protect your data without damaging your old SIM card, there are different ways you can wipe your SIM card, depending on what kind you have.[2]

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Cutting, Shredding, and Grinding

  1. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 1
    1
    Cut the SIM in half with a pair of scissors. Grab a sturdy pair of scissors and slice your SIM card down the middle. Feel free to cut it into smaller pieces, as well! Toss these fragments out in the trash right away—this way, no one can get their hands on your personal data.[3]
    • When you cut your SIM card into pieces, your data can’t be recovered by anyone else.
  2. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 2
    2
    Hit the card with a hammer. Place the SIM card on a flat, sturdy surface that you don’t mind taking a little damage. Whack your card several times with a hammer, until the SIM breaks into several fragments. Toss these pieces out in separate trash cans, so no one can find them.[4]
    • There’s no right or wrong to cut up or smash your SIM card. What matters most is that your card is destroyed, and no one can get their hands on the data.[5]
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 3
    3
    Use a paper shredder to cut up the card. Stick your SIM card in the front of a paper shredder, where you’d normally put credit or debit cards. Toss out these shavings with the rest of your recycling.[6]
    • Double-check your shredder’s user guide to be sure it can handle SIM cards.
    • If you work at an office, see if your company has an office disintegrator. This is a big, expensive machine that can professionally destroy a lot of important data, like CDs, DVDs, microfilm, SIM cards, and more.
  4. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 4
    4
    Destroy the card with a shop grinding wheel. Turn on your grinding wheel, and hold your SIM card along the edge so it turns to dust. Be careful not to touch the actual grinding wheel with your hands when you do this! Once you're done, sweep or throw away the SIM card dust.[7]
    • Always keep your eyes and mouth covered when working with heavy-duty power tools.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Software

  1. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 5
    1
    Clear out your iPhone SIM card with the iMyFone Umate Pro app. Download the iMyFoneUmate Pro software, and connect your phone to your computer with a USB cord. Open up the program and click on the “Erase All Data” button. Hit “Erase Now,” and then type the word “delete” to confirm your decision. Then, your iPhone’s SIM card will be completely wiped.[8]
  2. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 6
    2
    Use a third-party program to wipe the data on an Android SIM card. Download the “Android SIM Card Eraser” software to your PC or Mac, then plug your SIM card into the computer with a memory card USB adapter. Open up the “Android SIM Card Eraser” software and follow the prompts that come up—you’ll see an “erase” button in the center of the client. From there, select “medium level,” and type in “delete” to completely wipe your SIM card’s data.[9]
    • You’ll need a special memory card USB adapter for this to work. You can find this online, or at most electronics stores.
    • This software works with all types of Android SIM cards.
  3. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 7
    3
    Wipe a Windows Phone twice to make sure no one can access your data. Open up the “Settings” app and tap on “About” and “Reset Phone” to factory reset your phone. For extra security, fill up your now-empty phone with lots of music or other files until the storage is at capacity. Then, repeat the factory reset process to clear out your phone again.[10]
    • Windows Phones don’t encrypt your old information, which is why you need to wipe your phone twice.
    • Factory resetting is permanent, and can’t be undone. Keep this in mind before you completely wipe your phone!
  4. Image titled Destroy a Sim Card Step 8
    4
    Reset your SIM card to get rid of your data. Open your phone’s “Settings” app, and look for the “Reset” option—if possible, hit the “Reset All” button to reset everything on your SIM card. You can also do this manually, by hitting the “Delete All” option in your contacts, messages, and call log settings.[11]
    • You can also reset your phone with a SIM card reading program. You can find these online, or in your phone’s app store.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Why would I want to destroy a SIM card?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    So that any contacts and other personal data on it would not go to identity thieves.
  • Question
    Does soaking your SIM card or will putting your phone in a bucket of water erase your SIM card?
    Lila h
    Lila h
    Community Answer
    This probably won't work, as some SIM cards are water-proof. And even if yours is not, it's still not a reliable way as you won't be able to tell if the data has been erased or not.
Advertisement

Warnings

Advertisement

Things You’ll Need

Damaging the Entire Card

  • Scissors (optional)
  • Hammer (optional)
  • Paper shredder (optional)
  • Power tools (optional)

You Might Also Like

Tell if Your Phone Is Tapped
How to
Tell if Your Phone Is Tapped
Determine Your Mobile PUK CodeHow to Find the PUK Code to Unlock Your SIM
Unlock a SIM
How to
Unlock a SIM
Get Another Phone's Call Log
How to
Get Another Phone's Call Log
Respond to Emoji Texts
How to
Respond to Emoji Texts
Get Cell Phone Records2 Easy Ways to Get Cell Phone Records
How to
Clean a Phone Case
What Are Topics to Talk to a Girl About on the Phone15+ Interesting Topics for When You Talk to a Girl on the Phone
Diagnose Landline Phone Problems
How to
Diagnose Landline Phone Problems
Find a Pay PhoneHow to Find a Payphone Anywhere in The World
Fix a Frozen Mobile Phone
How to
Fix a Frozen Mobile Phone
Cover a Phone Jack on the Wall
How to
Cover a Phone Jack on the Wall
Check a Phone Line
How to
Check a Phone Line
Turn Off SpeakerphoneEasy Ways to Turn off Speakerphone for iPhone, Android, and Landline Phones
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/11/upgrading-your-phone-4-things-you-should-do-first
  2. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2015/07/31/old-phone/?sh=4a5b973e6754
  3. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2015/07/31/old-phone/
  4. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/sports/football/hey-tom-brady-heres-how-you-destroy-a-cellphone.html
  5. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2015/07/31/old-phone/?sh=4a5b973e6754
  6. ↑ https://www.whitakerbrothers.com/blog/data-destruction-tips/destroy-your-sim-card/
  7. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/sports/football/hey-tom-brady-heres-how-you-destroy-a-cellphone.html
  8. ↑ https://www.imyfone.com/ios-data-erase/how-to-erase-sim-card-from-iphone/
  9. ↑ https://www.mobikin.com/data-clean/how-to-fully-wipe-out-android-sim-card.html
  1. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/11/remove-personal-data-from-any-device/index.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.mobikin.com/data-clean/how-to-fully-wipe-out-android-sim-card.html
  3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/30/sports/football/hey-tom-brady-heres-how-you-destroy-a-cellphone.html
  4. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=br2s0pZEFW4&t=0m11s
  5. ↑ https://www.mobikin.com/data-clean/how-to-fully-wipe-out-android-sim-card.html

About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
Janice Tieperman
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 82,522 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 15
Updated: December 2, 2022
Views: 82,522
Categories: Telephones
Advertisement