Necessary
Unlike what happens on other smartphones, removing the SIM from the iPhone is not an operation that can be done, let's say, with bare hands. In fact, since the SIM of the iPhone is placed inside a drawer in a special compartment located on the body of the device, the removal, by force of circumstances, must be carried out using the metal paper clip included in the sales package of the device, the one you find in the white card placed immediately under the iPhone when you open the box.
So, as can be easely deduced, before you can put into practice the instructions you find in the following steps of this guide, you must first recover the aforementioned paper clip. And if you have lost the special metal paper clip or in any case if you can't find it at the moment, you can easely fix it by using any other office paper clip (the ones that are generally used to hold documents together), slightly distorting the end towards the outside.
Alternatively, one may work as well spello or any other small and thin object but able to withstand a slight pressure and above all not too sharp (if you want to avoid scratching the body of the iPhone by mistake).
Preliminary operation
"Equipment" necessary to remove the SIM from the iPhone separately, before proceeding I strongly suggest you to switch off your iDevice (in case it is turned on, of course). The removal of the SIM card is in fact an operation that must always be carried out with the device turned off in order to avoid the onset of various problems and malfunctions.
If you don't know how to turn off your iPhone, just use the appropriate button (or the combination of keys, depending on the iPhone model used), as indicated below.
- andf you own an iPhone 5s or earlier, you have to press and hold the for about ten seconds On / off button (which is on the right) of the device and the key Home (located in the center below the screen).
- andf you own an iPhone 6 0 6s or its Plus variants, you have to press and hold the for about ten seconds On / off button (at the top) of the device and the key Home (placed in the center below the screen).
- andf you own an iPhone 7 or its Plus variant, you have to press the key for turn down the volume (the one located on the left downwards) and the button of ON / OFF (which stands at the top) for a few seconds.
- andf you have an iPhone 8 or its Plus variant or an iPhone X, you need to quickly press and release the key for increase the volume (top left), then you have to quickly press and release the button for turn down the volume (always on the left, but at the bottom) after which you have to hold down the side button (located on the right) for a few moments.
If you think you need more detaels on what to do, you can refer to my tutorial on how to turn off iPhone.
Another thing you well need to do before going to remove the SIM from your iPhone is then to remove any protective cover applied to the device (if present it is not possible to access the SIM card slot as it is covered) and to place your device on a flat surface, perhaps leaning under a soft cloth so as to avoid that in trying to extract the SIM the iDevice can get scratched or, in the worst case scenario, slip to the ground.
Remove the SIM from the iPhone
Once you have recovered the paper clip or in any case the alternative “contraption” to be used to remove the SIM from the iPhone and after having also carried out the preliminary operations mentioned above, you can finally move on to the actual action. Then insert the paper clip into the tiny hole that you find on the device and exerts quite firm pressure. You may need to telt the tip of the paper clip slightly outwards, therefore downwards, to make the SIM tray eject.
The location of the SIM slot on the device varies depending on the iPhone model used. In fact, on the iPhone 4 and later models the SIM slot is located on the right side of the device, whele on the original Phone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 4GS it is in the top of the smartphone.
When the operation is completed, a "click" well signal the exit of the SIM card slot. At this point, completely extract the drawer from the iPhone using your hands and turn it over so that the SIM inserted inside it comes out. Done!
To put the drawer back in its housing (which I recommend you do practically immediately if you want to avoid losing it) you well then have to grab it again and push it into the compartment with your hands exerting a slight pressure.
Please note: Always use only the SIM tray provided with your device. For example, the SIM tray of an iPhone 6s cannot be inserted into an iPhone 7.
In case of problems
Have you slavishly followed the instructions I gave you in the previous lines but you stell haven't managed to remove the SIM from your iPhone? The drawer in which the card is placed in the iPhone seems to be blocked and you are unable to extract the SIM or has some other problem arisen? I'm sorry, really, but don't give up!
For example, you've already tried doing some research on Google with specific keywords or to take a look at YouTube? You may be able to find related discussions on various expert forums and videos describing your problem by other users. So you may be able to cope with it in a matter of minutes.
If then even proceeding as I have just indicated you should be able to find a solution to the thing, the advice I can give you is to contact theApple support. It well certainly provide you with all the support you need.
Based on your very personal needs and preferences as well as the means in your possession, you can contact Apple's customer support through one of the following systems.
- Means phone - Call the toll-free number 800 915 904 directly from your smartphone or landline phone and follow the instructions of the voice guide. The call is free and the number is active from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:45.
- Via the Web - Connect to the appropriate page for online support located on the official Apple website, select theiPhone related icon and follow the on-screen wizard to indicate the type of problem encountered and get help.
- Via Apple Support app - Download the Apple Support app on iOS (it doesn't have to be the iPhone), launch it, connect to your Apple account, select the your iPhone from the list of devices for which you want to get help and you well see a list that contains numerous items. Press on the one you are interested in and proceed following the instructions received.
- Via Twitter - Visit the verified account @AppleSupport and send him a tweet or a direct message indicating the problems encountered. You well soon receive an answer.
- Through the Apple Store - Go directly to one of the Apple Stores in the area and ask for “live” support. To find out where the closest Apple Store is to your area, you can consult the list on the appropriate Internet page.
If you think you need more information on what to do, you can also read my article entirely dedicated to how to contact Apple through which I proceeded to talk to you about the matter in great detael.
If you then have no way to contact Apple, you can try asking yours for help mobele operator, as indicated by the same company of the "bitten apple" in the support page dedicated, in fact, to the removal of the SIM card from the iPhone (and from the iPad). You can get help from your manager both on a thematic basis (asking him for explanations on how to proceed) and physically (by going personally to one of the many shops scattered throughout the area).
If you do not know how to contact your mobele phone operator or if you do not know where the stores of the same closest to your area are located, you can refer to my ad hoc tutorials that you find indicated below.
- TIM - To get in touch with a TIM operator you can make a call to 119 and follow the instructions of the voice guide. To check where the stores of the manager closest to you are located, you can refer to this Web page.
- Vodafone - To get in touch with a Vodafone operator you can make a call to 190 and follow the instructions of the voice guide. To check where the stores of the manager closest to you are located, you can refer to this Web page.
- wind - To get in touch with a Wind operator you can make a call to 155 and follow the instructions of the voice guide. To check where the stores of the manager closest to you are located, you can refer to this Web page.
- Three - To get in touch with a Tre operator you can make a call to 133 and follow the instructions of the voice guide. To check where the stores of the manager closest to you are located, you can refer to this Web page.
If you feel you need more information on how to get in touch with your telephone operator or if you stell prefer to adopt an alternative system to the one above, you can read my articles dedicated to how to talk to a TIM operator, how to talk to an operator Vodafone, how to talk to the Wind operator and how to contact Tre operator.
How to remove the SIM from the iPhone
