My SIM card is stuck in my phone, what should I do? Several ways to remove a SIM card from Apple devices

An iPhone is expensive, which instinctively forces the owner to treat it with care so as not to accidentally damage anything.

Many people put a SIM card right in the store when purchasing, they don’t pay attention to it, and when they need to get a SIM card, difficulties arise.

We are used to the fact that when we remove the back cover we immediately see it and can easily pull it out, but this is not the case with the iPhone.

The SIM card is located in a special tray, which is impossible to open simply by hand without a key, paper clip, needle or other similar devices.

Is it good or bad? The good thing is that if you need to take out the SIM card, you don’t have to disassemble the phone.

It’s bad - if you have to pull it outside the house, you may not have the tool. Finding it is usually no problem, but you still have to spend time.

NOTE: in iPhone 5s, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6, iPhone 4 s, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 8, the slot is located on the side or only in 3 models in the end part at the top.

How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone using a key

NOTE: Before removing the SIM card, Apple strongly recommends turning off the phone completely.

If you buy a new one, then the kit should include a special key to open the slot.

Then you just stick it into the small hole (there is only one on the right side of the screen).

Everything is simple - there is no need to run to the service. The operation is so simple that even a schoolchild can do it.

If in old devices a SIM card was used “full size”, then in modern ones it’s not even mini, but micro.

How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone without a key - using a paper clip

I don’t know why, but for some reason most of us lose the key that comes with the kit, or rather, they forget where they put it - they say they hid it securely.

What to do then. If you are smart, you can find many solutions, but for some reason on the Internet everyone is grasping for a paper clip.


However, if you want to remove a SIM card without a key, then using a paperclip is a completely reliable option (do not damage your phone with a paperclip).

To do this, straighten one end of the paperclip and use it in the same way as you would open a tray with a key.

How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone with a needle

If you want to pull out a SIM card without a paperclip and without a key, you can do it with a needle, just be sure to dull the sharp end (it can break off).

If this is not done, the slot lock may be damaged. Of course, the needle is quite strong, but it’s better to tinker with it a little than to damage the tray.

How to get a SIM card stuck in an iPhone

Rarely, but situations still occur when a SIM card gets stuck in the tray and does not want to leave its warm place.

This is not a mass phenomenon and most often this happens when the SIM card is inserted incorrectly and the tray is forcibly closed.

Naturally, the most reliable option is to go to a service center, but such a desire is usually absent.

Even if the SIM card is stuck, the slot usually extends a couple of millimeters and in most cases it can be opened completely.

The work is, of course, a piece of jewelry, so if you don’t have sensitivity in your hands, then it’s better not to take it on. If you decide, then you will need something strong, narrow and very thin.

Then this tool needs to be inserted into the iPhone slot from the screen side, and then slowly pull out the slot.


Forced extraction may not work right away, but the problem can be solved - persistence and work will grind everything down.

Just don’t push the “tool” deep - this can damage some elements.

Sometimes the SIM card can take the correct position in the tray if the iPhone is lightly knocked on the table

If the slot does not extend at all (the SIM card is stuck tightly), then most likely you cannot do without service.

A forcible attempt to open the litter box can lead to very bad consequences - you do not want to damage your pet even more. Good luck.

Apple developers thought carefully about everything in advance with the issue of removing the SIM card: it would seem that just press it with the key and there is no need to suffer. It’s just that this special needle tends to get caught somewhere, and if you need to change the card quickly and in an unexpected situation, then you won’t be able to remove the tray from either the iPhone or iPad without improvised means. Fortunately, there are several proven working methods to finally remove this ill-fated SIM card.

Ordinary situation

Let's assume that the SIM card can be removed without complications, and let's turn to a technique based on the principle of replacement. By removing the tray with a key, you are not doing anything other than a small mechanical effect: the needle simply activates the mechanism and is not the only item suitable for this. It is quite possible to remove the tray by replacing the needle with a regular paper clip, which must first be straightened a little. The tip of a paperclip is as good as a special needle at activating the tray eject mechanism, and in most cases your problem will no longer require any other techniques or tools.


Oh yes, if you have never removed a SIM card from an iPhone yourself, be it 3, 4, 4s, 5s or 6, then first you have to find the right slot. For different models it is located in different places, but it always has an oblong shape, similar to an oval.

  • The slot is located on the right side of the iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s and iPhone 4 GSM, iPad Pro, iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini.
  • The tray is located on top, next to the power button, on older models: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G GSM. At the same time, when trying to remove a SIM card from an iPad, you need to insert a paperclip into the key slot not perpendicularly, but at an angle of 45˚.
  • The slot at the bottom left can only be found on iPad Wi-Fi + 3G.

The use of a paperclip is most popular due to its availability and versatility, but if a paperclip is not available in your situation, it can be replaced with other similar items. The end of a large needle or wire is quite suitable for these purposes.

When your SIM card gets stuck...

Did you try the paperclip trick and the tray came out, but you couldn't pull it out completely? Most likely, the problem is the SIM card, which did not fit properly in the tray, preventing the tray from being removed from the slot. The main thing at this stage is not to be nervous: if you try to remove the SIM card using physical force, you risk breaking the mechanism. In this case, even if the tray fits back into the slot, it will not stay in it, and you will have to fix it in the case with tape or tape.

Better take a needle or blade and try to position the SIM card so that it does not interfere with movement while you remove the tray. Yes, the work is painstaking and can take a lot of time, but this problem is completely solvable if you have a little patience and show a little skill. Just don’t push the needle too deep inside the body: there are other parts and elements there that can easily be damaged by a careless movement.

You can also simply tap the gadget on a table or other surface: if the card is held loosely in the tray, this can help it return to the desired position and help you pull out the tray completely.

Many owners of iPhones and iPads lightly sand the edges of even new purchased SIM cards with fine sandpaper to prevent this problem. This will make it easier for the card to get into the desired position in the tray, even if it is stuck in the spacer, because rough edges and plastic burrs will no longer get in your way.

If the tray does not eject at all

There is no need to fanatically press the button with a paper clip if, with light or moderate pressure, the tray does not come out of the iPhone or iPad. Most likely, in your case you will have to contact a service center for help, unless, of course, you have the useful skill of disassembling and assembling such equipment. And it would definitely be a bad idea to try to pull out the tray mechanically: picking with a knife or other sharp objects will not only ruin the appearance of the equipment, but can also lead to more serious damage if a piece of the tool breaks off and remains inside. You don't want your beloved 5s or 4s to suffer even more damage, do you?

Often, a complete blocking of a slot occurs when the SIM card in use was cut from an old one that did not fit the parameters. Believe me, re-issuing the card will be much faster and will require much less money than a similar breakdown of an iPhone or iPad. Don’t be lazy to replace the card so that you don’t have to contact the service center for help later due to your own carelessness.

Some problems with an iPhone or iPad, such as removing a SIM card without using a key, can be solved on your own, but the main thing is to remember that service centers exist for a reason and are also ready to help in a difficult case. Go for it, but adequately assess the situation and don’t panic!

Last time, we looked in detail at how to clear memory on an iPhone using and without iTunes, and wrote a short instruction that you can read. Currently, it is difficult to imagine a phone working without a SIM card. All iPhones and most iPads are designed for communication between users, friends, colleagues and people close to us. Communication is possible both via the Internet and through the network of a mobile operator using a SIM card. How to insert a SIM card into iPhone 7? Read on.

A SIM card is an intermediary that provides the telecom operator with information about your device, its access to voice communications and data transfer. Full operation of the device is impossible without a SIM card. So, in this article we will deal with the seemingly simple question of how to insert a SIM card into the iPhone 6 and most other iPhone models. First, let's look at what type of SIM is required for normal operation of the device.

According to official information from the Apple website, the iPhone uses the following types of SIM cards, which are shown in the image. Therefore, be careful and check with the telecom service operator’s consultant or insert the SIM directly at the communication salon, in the presence of an experienced assistant.

How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 5s

All we need is to find out where the SIM card tray is located on the smartphone itself and a tool to remove the SIM card from the gadget.

The main difficulties that may arise on your way to removing a SIM card are the availability of a tool, but this is not a problem. Let's make do with improvised means.

To begin with, if you still have a paperclip that came with the device, we recommend using it. Remove the case from your smartphone and find the SIM card tray. As a rule, its distinguishing feature is the presence of a hole in the housing on the side of the device. Insert an original Apple paper clip into the hole and press with enough force to allow the tray with the SIM card to slide out of the grooves.

After removing the tray with the SIM card from the device, the message SIM card is not active will appear on the smartphone. We advise you to turn off your smartphone before inserting or removing a SIM card.

How to get a SIM card out of an iPhone 5 if you don’t have the original paperclip?

Probably everyone has toothpicks at home. Many people use toothpicks after meals, but not everyone thought that they could be used as one of the improvised means for removing a SIM card from an iPhone.

ATTENTION! WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ACTIONS YOU CARRY OUT WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO REMOVE THE SIM CARD.

As a rule, a standard toothpick will not fit into the hole in the iPhone SIM card tray. To remove the SIM from the iPhone using a toothpick, you should sharpen its edges a little (make it narrower). Try to trim just a little on both edges. If you make it too thin, the toothpick will break when you remove the SIM card, be careful.

How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4

The safest way to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4 without using the original key is to use a paper clip. Surely many people have a very ordinary paper clip lying around. Bend it or straighten the long end as shown in the image and insert it into the SIM card tray of the iPhone 4.

Where are the SIM slots located on other versions of the iPhone?

Almost every iPhone comes with a SIM card tray. The only exception was the iPhone 4 variety with CDMA networks. Therefore, if you have an iPhone 4S or newer, then you will definitely find a SIM card compartment on your smartphone. We will describe in words where the slot is located and on which models:

iPhone 3G3GS: on the top between the headphone jack;

iPhone 4-4S and later: On the right side of the case, which is opposite the side with the volume buttons.

Every time you replace a SIM card, you should make sure that you install it in the tray in the correct orientation, so be extremely careful. Our instructions will also help those users who ask the question “How to insert a SIM card into iPhone 7.”

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Practical and at the same time presentable, “Iphone 4” captivated its users with its ease of use and technical reliability in operation.

Some unknowns, or How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4

A fairly standard situation can affect everyone: the purchased phone does not show obvious signs of the presence of a SIM card slot. The device shines monolithically with a sparkling body, making it clear that the apple is not so easy to crack. And yet, how to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4? If you did not participate in the process of introducing an electronic subscriber ID into the phone and did not attach importance to the importance of what was happening, as a result, you are now in a state of complete ignorance: where does the SIM card come from and how to remove it from the phone? And the situation related to changing the number has arisen right now. The new SIM card simply craves the digital embrace of the mobile “miracle”. But the “invisible” SIM card slot is still undetectable. An incredibly simple solution lies in the design feature of the brainchild. Let's figure out how this “dream” device works.

An ingenious device for ordinary people

The iPhone case hides “great secrets” that deserve absolute attention. Therefore, the question of how to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4 becomes quite logical. The conservative design of Apple products has a number of advantages that translate into advantages over competing analogues.

And the advantageous differences lie in the convenient location of the navigation keyboard, instant tactile feedback and other winning features, including the location of the SIM card slot. The owner of an iPhone does not need to open the case, remove the battery and install a SIM card in a cleverly designed SIM receiver. It is enough to have a special paperclip (pin or needle) with you and find a hole in the right end side, which is a kind of internal mechanism that will open as soon as you briefly press the paperclip on it. After installing the card, push in the receiver slot. Now the question of how to get a SIM card from iPhone 4 has become resolved for you.

Slot that doesn't match the size, or Why isn't it there?

The 3rd generation iPhone has changed the location of the SIM card connector. How to remove a SIM card from an iPhone 4 if there are only buttons on the right side? This is solved as follows. The SIM card for such phones is inserted at the top, next to the “on/off” button. It is worth noting that the SIM card itself, intended to serve as an iPhone device, must be of micro-Sim format, that is, have a smaller size. In a specialized store where you can buy everything for iPhone 4, they will definitely help you “convert” the SIM card format. In principle, household scissors cope with this task with a bang. If you are sure of what you will do and how, carefully trim the edges of the card - the main thing is to be careful and attentive so as not to damage the electronic chip. Before cutting, take the dimensions of the recess in the SIM card tray, only then proceed. Good luck to you!

How to remove a card (SIM card) from the phone if it is stuck?

    It all depends on how the SIM card is stuck and what type of mount it is. Sometimes it’s enough to just insert the card deeper, or rather press it and let go, and perhaps it will come away. If the SIM card mount is horizontal, then you need to carefully pick up the SIM card with something, or, in extreme cases, take it for repair.

    If the SIM card is stuck, it is convenient to remove it with thin tweezers.

    • If the card is stuck and it is not possible to pull it out with your fingers, then you need to take tweezers, hook it by the edge (carefully so as not to damage the contacts) and pull it out.
  • It all depends on whether the SIM card is really stuck in the phone, or whether it is held in place by special connectors for this purpose. So before pulling, pressing, squeezing, or hooking anything, you just need to figure out what exactly is preventing the SIM card from leaving its place normally. In principle, a SIM card cannot just get stuck; you need to find a special latch and use it to remove the SIM card.

    Modern mobile phones use SIM cards whose external size may vary. In order to unify them, they came up with an external frame that can be put on a miniature SIM card and inserted into a phone with a different type of card receiver. If such a SIM card moves in the frame after being installed in the phone, removing it will be a problem. The solution is a narrow strip of thin but hard plastic, which needs to be inserted into the card reader under the SIM card so that both the SIM card and the frame in which it fits are lifted (first, be sure to push the frame as deep as possible). After this, carefully use tweezers to pull out the frame along with the SIM card. This method is suitable for any phones and cards. The point of the action is that we install a gasket between the SIM card contacts and the spring contacts in the phone. It is convenient to use transparent packaging of goods as a strip of plastic or cut a suitable strip from a plastic bottle.

    Most often, the question of how to remove a card (SIM card) from a phone arises among owners of phones such as the Sony Ericsson w580i. There, this is really a problem (when the SIM card does not pop up after clicking on not). And it’s useless to talk about this without a clear example, so I found a video, only it’s in English, but I’ll explain what the guy says, and everything will become clear. If a person can get a SIM card out of this phone, then he can handle other phones quickly.)

    So, video:

    And now for an explanation

    To remove a SIM card from a Sony Ericsson w580i phone (and other similar ones), you can use regular

    STAPLES FOR BINDER (STAPLER).

    The only condition is that there should be about 10 pieces glued together. You have seen the entire procedure, so take the staples, insert them between the phone body and the SIM card, and remove the SIM card using the movements shown.

    I also had this happen once. Then I took a compass and carefully made a line on the SIM card, which I then grabbed with my fingernail and pulled out the SIM card. Now this line on the SIM card helps me easily get the SIM card out of the phone. The main thing is not to damage an important part of the SIM card, doing everything carefully. Also in some phones it is possible to remove the SIM card using tweezers.

    A needle or thin scissors can damage your phone or SIM card. Try to disassemble the device. If you can’t do it yourself, take it to a service center, they will help you remove it carefully and will definitely not damage your phone or SIM card.

  • How to remove a memory card from your phone

    If SIM card stuck in phone and it doesn’t work out easily from there pull out, then the first thing you need to figure out is that card holds. The point is that in different phones (sony, samsung, philips, nokia) The fastening mechanism is arranged differently SIM cards. There are models phones where there is a latch for cards, is there phones where is the mount SIM cards you just need to pick it up. And if you press and press in the wrong direction, you can damage either the fastening or the SIM card, instead of just remove stuck sim card from phone.

  • I had this problem: it’s inconvenient to take the SIM card out of the phone. Usually I press down and pull it out, but this doesn’t work. Then I took a needle, tried to lift the SIM card a little with its help, and then with the help of a needle I pulled it out a little, and then, as usual, with my finger.

    And if the SIM card holder rises, then tweezers can help.

    Use a needle or paper clip to press the end of the card until it clicks (without fanaticism) to open the latch, and release. If the card does not come out on its own, under the action of the spring, then use a needle or paperclip, resting against the end of the card, to slightly move it in the transverse direction of the card (it could rest against the structure of the slot from the inside). If this does not help, then disassemble the phone and push out the card from the inside. But it’s better to take it to a phone repair service. You may have to change the entire slot.

    How to remove a card (SIM card) from the phone if it is stuck?

    We stock up on patience, screwdrivers and maybe some tape. we try to stick a piece of tape and try to pull it out or push out something hard and thin, but if neither one nor the other method helps, we can only disassemble the phone or contact a specialist so as not to damage the SIM card or phone

    I am in favor of taking the device to a service center. This service costs 2-3 dollars, and if something happens due to the fault of the master, then there will be a demand from them.

    You can try removing the top cover of the case if it is in the way and if the device is no longer covered by the warranty.

    I came up with a cool option. You take some glue, smear it on your finger, press it to the SIM card, wait until it dries and pull =)) This is an option for phones like mine. An option for those of whom the card only sticks out slightly is a paper clip.