How to Unlock a SIM Card on an iPhone

A quick and easy guide to access your iPhone's SIM card

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 24, 2022 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to remove the security code from your iPhone's SIM card. Doing so will allow you to restart your phone and make calls without having to enter the SIM PIN.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Unlocking Your SIM Card

1
Open your iPhone's Settings. This is the grey gear icon on the Home Screen.
2
Scroll down and tap Phone. It's about a third of the way down the Settings page.

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3
Scroll down and tap SIM PIN. This option is near the bottom of the page.
4
Slide the green SIM PIN switch left to the "Off" position. Doing so will signal to your phone that you would like to unlock your SIM card.
- If this slider is white, your SIM card is unlocked already.
5
Type in your SIM PIN. If you don't know your SIM PIN, you can call your service provider for a reset code.
6
Tap Done. It's in the top right corner of the screen. As long as your SIM PIN is accurate, your SIM card should now be unlocked.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Getting an Unlock Code from Your Carrier

1
Call you carrier's customer support line. Before using one of the numbers listed below, try calling *611 or 611--on most phones, this is the default customer support line.
- Sprint Customer Service - 1 (888) 211-4727
- AT&T Customer Service - 1 (800) 331-0500
- Verizon Customer Service - 1 (877)-746-0909
- T-Mobile Customer Service - 1 (800) 922-0204
- Make sure you have your carrier account PIN on hand so that you can verify your identity.
2
Communicate your problem to the automated assistant. In most cases, you won't reach an actual human being when you call initially. Instead say something like "I want to remove a lock PIN on my SIM card" and wait for your call to connect to a customer service representative.
- You may have to wait for up to several hours to get in touch with a representative.
3
Ask your customer service representative for a PIN unlock code. You may also need to explain to them that you aren't trying to unlock your iPhone itself--just the SIM card.
- The unlock code is officially known as a "PUK" if your SIM card is now locked because of too many failed PIN entries.
4
Write down your PIN unlock code. This is the four-digit PIN you'll enter when you go to unlock your SIM card.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I unlock a SIM card when I have forgotten my password?

VDubGolf

Community Answer

You should visit your carrier and show evidence that it's you with your full name, phone number etc.
Question

My sim is saying "locked sim." I don’t know what to do. Please help. I cannot call or anything.

Thedummy96

Community Answer

This must mean your phone is locked to your previous phone carrier. Ask the carrier to unlock it for you, or simply get a new unlocked/locked to your new carrier's phone.

Warnings

Trying unsuccessfully to guess your SIM PIN three times will result in your SIM PIN being permanently locked.^{[1]
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