Can You Change The Phone Number On A Sim Card

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SIM cards make it easier than ever to transfer your telephone service from one phone to another. When y'all insert your SIM card into a different compatible or unlocked phone, you tin instantly use your existing telephone number and cellular service on your new phone. Nosotros'll show you lot y'all how to make sure your SIM card is compatible with your new phone, and how you tin hands transfer the SIM card between phones.

i
Bank check the size of the SIM menu each telephone uses. SIM cards come in three major sizes, and your phones may use dissimilar sizes. This is especially truthful if the phones were made several years autonomously. Most carriers will provide you with the right size SIM card for free.
- A Standard SIM is 15mm by 25 mm.^[1]
- A Micro SIM is 12mm by 15mm.
- A Nano SIM is eight.8mm by 12.3mm.
- You lot can cutting larger SIMs downwards with a special SIM cutter tool, or just ask your carrier for the correct size.
- If the SIM you have is besides minor to fit into the new telephone, you can get an adapter card—these cars let you lot identify a smaller SIM (such as a Nano SIM) within a bill of fare that's larger (Micro or Standard).
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Become a new SIM if yous are switching carriers. If the phone yous're switching to is from the same carrier or it's unlocked, you shouldn't demand a new SIM. Just if you're switching from one carrier to another, you'll need a SIM card for your new carrier. The SIM bill of fare is gratuitous when signing up for a new plan, and some carriers may even provide all 3 sizes of your SIM carte du jour just in instance.^[ii]
- Phone carriers used to operate only two types of networks: GSM and CDMA. It used to be truthful that nigh CDMA phones didn't require SIM cards, only that's no longer the case—unless you're using an older CDMA model, y'all'll definitely demand a SIM.
- If the new telephone is from a different carrier than the SIM you have, the SIM may nevertheless piece of work if the phone is carrier-unlocked. Only if the phone is locked to a specific carrier or account, y'all'll need to have the carrier unlock the phone.
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Support your contacts (optional). The most convenient way to back upwardly your contacts on an Android or iPhone is to sync them to your Google account or to your iCloud account. This way, the aforementioned contacts volition be available on whatever phone you lot apply upon logging in with the aforementioned Google or Apple account. But if y'all're using an Android, have contacts salve to your phone's memory, and would rather save them to your SIM menu so they will already be on your new phone, you lot can export them to your SIM card on many Androids.
- It's no longer possible to transfer contacts direct to a SIM on an iPhone.
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1
Remove the phone'south case if there is one. If you're using a protective phone case or cover, you'll need to remove it to go the SIM bill of fare out. There'south no need to remove your glass screen protector (if you lot take one)—simply the case.
- Although it may non be required depending on the models, turning off both phones before you begin tin can help ensure that removing and inserting a SIM card goes smoothly.
- If your phone has an eSIM (and electronic SIM menu), you lot can't physically remove it from a phone. If you demand to transfer your eSIM to a new phone, your carrier will need to do the swap. Give your carrier a telephone call for assistance.
two
Locate the SIM card. Depending on the type of phone you take, the SIM bill of fare tin be located in dissimilar spots:
- iPhone: iPhones have SIM trays, which are located in different places depending on the model.^[3] Expect for the small hole on a rectangular panel:
  - Left side: iPhone 12 (all models).
  - Correct side: iPhone 11 (all models), iPhone XS & Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone SE (all models), and all models of iPhone eight, 7, 6, 5, and four.
- Android: If your Android has a removable battery, you'll usually find the SIM bill of fare behind the bombardment or otherwise inside the battery encompass. If not, you'll take a SIM tray on ane of the phone's edges. The location is different depending on your Android, only you can identify the SIM tray by locating the pocket-size circular hole on a rectangular panel.
3
Remove the SIM card from the old phone. Removing the SIM is pretty easy once you figure out where it is. When removing the SIM, try to avoid touching the gilt contacts on the bottom side.
- If in that location is a SIM tray, you should accept a SIM tool that came with your phone. It's usually a small oval-shaped tool with one pointed protruding end that'south has the diameter of a paperclip. If you don't take the original tool, you lot tin can use a paperclip—just extend one terminate of the paperclip then it'south pointed outright, and and then insert it into the hole on the SIM tray. Push in gently until the tray pops out. Then, lift the SIM card from its identify inside the tray, or just flip the phone over so it falls onto a soft surface.
- If the SIM is behind your battery, you can either slide it out or printing information technology in a lilliputian to popular information technology out, depending on your telephone.
- If yous wind upwards damaging your SIM card during the swap, you can usually go a replacement SIM at no cost from your provider.
4
Insert the SIM carte into the new phone. If the new telephone as well has a SIM tray, open it now. If there's a battery embrace, remove the comprehend and locate the SIM slot. The SIM has a small notch at 1 corner that acts as a guide—this means it will merely fit into the tray or slot ane way, making it uncomplicated to insert properly. Slide the tray back in or replace the bombardment and cover when finished.
- If the SIM is also small for the tray or slot in the new telephone, get an adapter carte kit—these kits are cheap and come with adapters that suit all iii SIM sizes.
five
Turn on the new phone and go through the setup process. If you're setting up a new smartphone, you'll exist taken through an initial setup procedure. During this process, your SIM volition typically be activated for your new phone automatically.
- When activating a new telephone, yous'll be asked to sign in with a Google or iCloud account/Apple ID. If you lot backed up your contacts from your former telephone 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 telephone was already prepare, you'll commonly get service a few moments after you insert your SIM carte du jour. Only insert the SIM card, ability it on if it wasn't on already, and so look to meet if you connect. You'll see the signal confined announced in the telephone'southward notification area, and you'll commonly see the carrier name next to them.
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Contact your carrier if you cannot connect. If your SIM is still non activating in the new telephone, yous'll likely need to contact the carrier. Since the phone isn't connected, y'all'll need to either telephone call from some other line or visit a carrier store to have the phone activated.

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Question

How do you transfer SIM cards from 1 telephone to another?

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iPhones, iPads and many Android devices have 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 yous don't take a tool, it's rubber to improvise with a paperclip, earring, or anything else that fits in the hole, equally long as yous remember to push directly in and non to pry. On devices with removable batteries, the SIM carte du jour is commonly located under the telephone's battery.
Question

How do I transfer a SIM card to a new phone?

This answer was written by 1 of our trained squad of researchers who validated information technology for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

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Question

Can you just switch SIM cards in iPhones?

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If both iPhones you're switching from and to are not locked and your SIM cards are not prevented from existence used in another telephone, then yous can switch the SIM cards effectually your different iPhones. If it doesn't work, then information technology means either the SIM card cannot be switched around (something your carrier or provider determines) or i or both of the iPhones are locked to a specific provider or the SIM menu is not the correct size.
Question

What happens if you take out your SIM carte and put it in some other phone?

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If the new phone is not locked and your carrier allows you to switch your SIM card to another device, so what should happen is that you lot can receive calls and use the data on the new telephone as well. However, nothing will happen at all if the SIM card is not able to switch devices (something the carrier determines) or the other telephone is locked to a specific SIM card and/or provider. Of grade, the onetime phone without a SIM carte du jour won't work until y'all restore the SIM card or replace information technology with a new ane.
Question

Tin I switch my SIM card to a unlike phone?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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You can often switch your SIM card to a unlike phone, provided the phone is unlocked (meaning, it is not tied to a particular carrier or device) and the new phone will accept the SIM card. All you need to do is remove the SIM from the phone information technology is in currently, then identify it into the new unlocked phone. If the new phone is locked, however, the SIM cannot exist switched to it, equally it won't work. Always back up your contacts before switching SIM cards and information technology's a proficient thought to check your carrier's website, as many bear information about the switchability of their SIM cards.
Question

Practice I have to stop service on my old phone if I swap SIM cards?

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

How exercise I remove a SIM card from an iPhone 5 and put it in an iPhone half dozen?

Information technology should be the same process, simply if the SIM tray isn't the aforementioned size and doesn't let it, yous'll have to contact your visitor and transfer the information to a compatible SIM.
Question

When a used SIM menu is put in another used phone, will it take a day for the SIM card to activate?

Allan Cramer

Community Answer

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

Can I purchase a local SIM card while traveling to eliminate roaming charges?

As long as your telephone is unlocked, you'll be able to insert a SIM from a dissimilar network and connect to it instead of your original network. You'll accept a dissimilar telephone number when using different SIM cards.
Question

Is a SIM bill of fare the aforementioned as an SD card?

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

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Article Summary X

1. Back up your contacts.
2. Get a new SIM if you're switching carriers.
3. Remove the SIM from the old telephone.
4. Insert the SIM into the new phone.
5. Start the setup procedure (if the phone is brand new).
6. Contact your carrier if you can't connect.

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