Which way does the sim card go in an iphone

Removing a SIM card from an iPhone 12 Pro

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The SIM card in your iPhone is crucial to your making calls, but it's also small enough to lose, and easy enough to put in the wrong way. Here's how to successfully remove a SIM card, and put one back.

At least when SIM cards first came out, they were embedded in plastic that was credit card-sized and hard to lose. As the subscriber identity module became more common, and as phones needed have more components packed inside, the circuitry part stayed roughly the same, but the enclosing plastic shrunk to almost nothing.

So now when you have a SIM card in your hand, it's so small that you could really have it on your fingertip. And that would mean that removing it from your iPhone, or fitting another one, is fiddly enough.

But then there is also the fact that these SIM cards have to go in the right way around, and the right way up. Maybe if you had to do this a lot, you would learn which way was which, but most people rarely change them.

With one exception, SIM cards are fitted in a tray that slides in and out of your iPhone. There are differences over where these trays are. And the exception is that there are now eSIM cards, virtual ones that need no fitting.

How to find your SIM card tray

The SIM tray is on the left side of your iPhone, as you face the screen, if you have any of these models.

• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max

It's likely that the next iPhone will also have it on the left, but that isn't known yet.

Most older iPhones, from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 11 Pro Max, have the SIM tray on the right. Whereas the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS all have the tray on the top.

Regardless of its position, the way you remove the SIM card is exactly the same on all iPhones. And so is the need to remember which way was facing up when you took it out.

SIM cards do have one corner cut off so that you know which way around to fit it into the tray. However, it's still possible to put it in with the wrong side facing up.

How to take SIM card out of iPhone

1. Turn the iPhone off
2. Find the SIM tray
3. Look for the small hole next to it
4. Insert either a SIM eject tool, or the end of a paper clip, into the hole
5. Press firmly until the tray pops out partway
6. Pull on the tray to remove it completely

You may have a SIM eject tool if you have bought a new SIM. A partially straightened paperclip is as straightforward to use.

It is possible to remove the SIM card without turning the phone off. However, manufacturers, including Apple, warn of a possibility that static electricity could damage the card or the device itself.

L-R: insert a paperclip into the tray hole, press firmly, then pull the tray out

How to re-insert the SIM card into an iPhone

In theory, you just reverse the steps for removing the SIM card. In practice, you need to take a little care because the card is so small and easily lost.

Place the new SIM card into the tray, being careful to have it the same way up and the same way around as the one you removed. Then press on the tray, pushing it into the phone.

Make sure that you press firmly. The tray is not correctly inserted, and the SIM card will not work, unless the outside of the tray is flush with the body of the iPhone.

You don't need a paperclip for this, the action of pressing the tray back in secures it.

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This wikiHow teaches you how to properly remove a SIM card from any model of iPhone. The SIM card is located inside of a special tray that can be pulled free from your iPhone using a special SIM eject tool or the pointed end of a paperclip. Once the tray is removed, you can easily pop the SIM card free from its seat and insert a new one.

Things You Should Know

• Insert a paperclip into the hole on the side of your phone or the top of it to slide the SIM card tray out.
• With the tray ejected, remove your SIM card.
• Some iPhones may have 2 SIM cards instead of one.

1. 

   1

   Hold your iPhone upright with the screen facing you.

   • Use this method to remove the SIM card from the iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 8 (all models), iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone SE, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and 5s, iPhone 4s, and iPhone 4.
   • This method will also work for all iPad models, except if you have the 4th generation, 3rd generation, and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, the SIM tray will be on the left side instead of the right.

2. 

   2

   Locate the SIM tray on the right edge of the iPhone. It's near the center of the right edge on the iPhone 8 and earlier, as well as the iPhone XS Max, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. If you have an iPhone XR or iPhone 11, it'll be closer to the bottom-right edge.[1]

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3. 

   3

   Insert a straightened paperclip or SIM eject tool into the hole on the tray. The hole should be pretty easy to spot on the bottom of the SIM tray. Push the tool in gently to eject the tray.

4. 

   4

   Pull the tray outward and remove the SIM card. You should be able to easily lift the card free from the tray. If you plan to insert a new SIM card, pay attention to the orientation of the current card before removing it. This will make it easy to figure out how to insert the new card correctly.

   • Some X and 11 models have room for two NANO SIM cards instead of just one. If you have dual SIM cards in your tray, make sure you're removing the one you don't need. You'll usually see the carrier's name on the card.

5. 

   5

   Insert the new SIM card (optional) and reinsert the tray. The SIM card will only fit into the tray in one direction/orientation due to the notch—if you feel that you have to force the card in, it's likely upside-down or backwards. The tray itself should also be easy to press gently back into place.

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1. 

   1

   Hold your iPhone upright with the screen facing you.

   • Use this method to remove the SIM card from an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, and the original iPhone.

2. 

   2

   Locate the SIM tray on the top edge of the iPhone. The SIM tray is at the phone's topmost edge at the center, right next to the Power button.

3. 

   3

   Insert a straightened paperclip or SIM eject tool into the hole on the tray. The hole is on the left side of the tray. Press the tool in gently to eject the tray from the phone.

4. 

   4

   Pull the tray outward and remove the SIM card. You should be able to easily lift the card free from the tray. If you plan to insert a new SIM card, pay attention to the orientation of the current card before removing it. This will make it easy to properly place the new card.

5. 

   5

   Insert the new SIM card (optional) and reinsert the tray. The SIM card will only fit into the tray in one direction/orientation due to the notch—if you feel that you have to force the card in, it's likely upside-down or backwards. The tray itself should also be easy to press gently back into place.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do I get the IMEI number of my iPhone?

  

  You can dial *#06# or go to Settings > About > General and scroll until you find the IMEI.

• Question

  How do I save my contacts to my SIM card?

  

  You don't, but you can save your contacts using iCloud. Go to Settings, then iCloud and turn on 'save contacts'.

• Question

  Do permanently deleted photos get saved to the SIM card on my iPhone?

  

  No, a SIM card is only for storing information about your phone number and cellular service. You might be confusing the SIM card with an SD card. Also, permanently deleted photos are by definition gone forever.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

1. Hold the iPhone upright with the screen facing you.
2. Locate the SIM tray on the right edge.
3. Insert a SIM eject tool or paperclip into the hole on the tray.
4. Remove the SIM card from the tray.
5. Slide the tray back in.

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