How to remove sim card on iphone 12

Swap the SIM card in your iPhone or iPad when changing carriers using this handy guide.

On your iPhone or iPad, it’s the SIM Card that does the job of providing cellular network services on the go. The SIM — or Subscriber Identity Module — is a tiny physical card that goes into your device and tells it to connect to a particular network that it is configured for. At times, you may need to remove the SIM card from your iPhone or iPad. You may be traveling internationally and may want to switch to a local SIM card in your iPhone, or you may want to temporarily switch to a different carrier network for some time. By following this detailed guide to removing the SIM card from an iPhone or iPad, you’ll be able to swap the SIM in the iOS device in just a few simple steps.

To know how to take out the SIM card from an iPhone or iPad, you have to first understand what tools do you need to remove the SIM card from an iPhone or iPad. Well, saying “tools” here is kind of a misnomer, as what you only need is a SIM ejector tool. Now, all iPhones and iPads come with an Apple SIM ejector tool, but just in case you don’t have access to one, any metal paper clip will do. Just make sure that you straighten up one of the ends.

Now that we have the necessary tools to eject the SIM Card from iPhone or iPad, let’s go ahead and locate the SIM tray. Depending on which generation or model of iPhone or iPad you have, the location of the SIM card tray on your iOS device will vary. But it’s fairly easy to find the location of SIM tray — you just have to look at the sides of your iPhone or iPad and locate a slim cutout with a single pin hole. This hole is where you insert the SIM ejector tool or metal paperclip as explained above.

On all iPhones sold by Apple in recent years, the SIM Card is located on the right side of the iPhone. When holding your iPhone with the screen facing you, the SIM card tray will be located on the right hand side, right next to the Sleep/Wake button. Locating the SIM card tray on an iPad is a little trickier compared to the iPhone, as Apple has changed the location of the SIM Tray on iPad depending on the model and the space available inside. On most modern iPads, the SIM slot will be on the same side that has the volume buttons.

How to Remove the SIM Card in iPhone or iPad

Now that we have the tools required to eject the SIM card from iPhone or iPad and now that we know where the SIM tray is located on the iOS device, let’s look at how to actually remove the SIM Card from an iPhone or iPad.

1. Hold the Apple SIM ejector tool or the metal paperclip in one hand.
2. Carefully and slowly insert the tool into the hole of the SIM card slot without applying any pressure.
3. Gently apply pressure on the pin, making sure that the PIN is being pushed straight inside and not at an angle.
4. With a little pressure applied, the SIM card tray pops out of the slot.
5. Carefully pull out the SIM card tray out of the slot with your fingers.
6. Proceed to Add, Remove or Swap out the SIM card in the SIM card tray.

To insert the SIM card tray back into the iPhone or iPad, you don’t need the SIM ejector tool. Simply place the SIM card onto the SIM tray in the correct orientation, then insert the tray back into the SIM slot and gently push it back into the slot.

Be careful never to apply a lot of force or pressure. You’ll always need to apply gentle pressure, both while removing the SIM card from the iPhone or iPad and also while inserting a SIM card into the SIM slot of your iOS device.

If you need to swap out your iPhone SIM card or remove it for any reason, Apple has designed their iPhones so the process is relatively straightforward. With new iPhone releases, Apple has changed the positioning of the SIM tray. However, the method to remove the SIM remains the same.

The SIM tray and SIM card are pretty delicate, so we’ll go through the steps to remove it safely on the iPhone 7 and later models.

Removing the SIM card from your iPhone 13 is quite simple once you have either the ejection tool, a paper clip, or an earring. Something small to eject the tray, but not too sharp as to damage it, then follow these steps.

1. Locate the SIM tray card on the lower left-hand side of your phone.
   
   
2. Insert the tool you’re using into the small hole on the tray.
   
   
3. Press the tool to eject the tray; you may need to apply light pressure.
   
   
4. The tray will pop up to allow you to take it out entirely and remove your SIM.
   
   

How to Remove a SIM Card From an iPhone 12

You’ll likely find removing your SIM card from your iPhone 12 relatively straightforward. All you need is the ejection tool that usually comes with it; if not, an earring or open paper clip will suffice. You just need something small to fit in the hole on the SIM card tray. Here’s how to remove your SIM card.

1. Find the SIM tray card around the middle left-hand side of your phone.
   
   
2. Insert your tool into the small hole on the tray.
   
   
3. Press the tool by applying light pressure.
   
   
4. The tray will pop up, then you can take it out to remove your SIM.
   
   

How to Remove a SIM Card From an iPhone X

Removing the SIM card tray from the iPhone X is easy when you know how. You’ll need the ejection tool that usually comes with the phone, but an open paper clip or an earring will do if you don’t have that. Essentially, anything small enough to fit the tray but that is not too sharp. Then follow these steps.

1. Locate the SIM tray on the right-hand side of your phone.
   
   
2. Insert your tool into the small hole on the SIM tray.
   
   
3. Apply light pressure to press the tray and eject it.
   
   
4. Once the tray pops up, you can completely remove it and take out your SIM.
   
   

How to Remove a SIM Card From an iPhone 8

Removing your SIM card on the iPhone 8 is quick and easy. You just need the ejection tool, an earring, or a paper clip. Any blunt object small enough to fit the SIM tray. Then, follow these steps.

1. Find the SIM tray toward the upper right-hand side of your phone.
   
   
2. Insert your tool in the tray hole.
   
   
3. Lightly press the tool to eject the tray.
   
   
4. The tray should pop up, allowing you to completely remove it to take your SIM card out.
   
   

How to Remove a SIM Card From an iPhone 7

Removing your SIM card from your iPhone 7 is quite simple once you have an object to pop the SIM tray out. You can use the ejection tool, an open paper clip, or an earring. Something blunt and small enough to fit in the hole on the SIM tray. Then, follow these steps.

1. Find the SIM tray toward the upper right-hand side of your iPhone.
   
   
2. Insert your ejection tool into the small hole on the tray.
   
   
3. Press the tool to eject the tray. You may need to apply light pressure.
   
   
4. When the tray pops up, you can pull it out completely to remove your SIM card.
   
   

FAQ

How do I import contacts from my SIM card to my new iPhone?

If your SIM card supports it, you can import the contacts saved on your SIM to your iPhone; here’s how.

1. Insert the SIM with your saved contacts into your iPhone.

2. Go to “Settings,” “Contacts,” then “Import SIM Contacts.”

3. If prompted, decide where you want to import your SIM contacts to.

4. Wait as the import process completes.

5. Tap the “Phone,” then “Contacts” to check that your contacts have been successfully imported.

How do I find out which SIM card my device is using?

Here is a list of the different SIM cards and the models that use them.

Nano SIM Card

• iPhone 5, iPhone 13 Pro Max

Micro-SIM Card

• iPhone 4, iPhone 4s

SIM Card

• iPhone, iPhone 3GS

Your iPhone SIM Card Is Now Safely Removed

Apple makes the SIM card removal process easy, and provides the perfect tool to make it even easier. The camouflaged SIM card tray can be identified by its tiny hole on the left or right-hand side of the phone. With gentle pressure, the tray pops up, allowing you to completely take the tray out to remove your SIM card.

Were you able to remove and then reinsert your SIM card with ease? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

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