What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

How to Unlock SIM on iPhone

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12
After a reboot or after swapping your SIM card, your iPhone might show a screen saying “SIM is locked” and ask you to unlock it. Unlocking the SIM card does not require a reboot or any kind of special equipment, but rather a simple procedure that you can follow. Check out how to unlock your SIM card on iPhone below.

Contents

  • 1 How to unlock SIM card on iPhone
    • 1.1 Unlock iPhone SIM card via Phone App
    • 1.2 Unlock SIM on iPhone via Settings App
  • 2 Changing or disabling the SIM PIN code on iPhone

How to unlock SIM card on iPhone

You might have seen the screen that informs you of the “SIM Locked” status before, it looks like this on the iPhone:

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

If by mistake you press “Cancel” in the upper left corner of the “SIM is locked” screen, the SIM card remains locked. Since you actually want to unlock the SIM card, there is a quick way to get the SIM card unlock dialog back.

By the way: If you’ve never defined or changed your iPhone SIM card PIN, check the default unlock PIN your carrier is using for the card. You can retrieve the default PIN by looking at the documentation or manual that was sent with the SIM card. The documentation also includes a Super PIN in case you entered a wrong PIN number repeatedly. This way your carrier can unlock your SIM card.

Tip: You are not sure if your iPhone is unlocked? We show you how to find out if your iPhone is locked.

Unlock iPhone SIM card via Phone App

Phone app → Call any number

The easiest and most straightforward way to get the “SIM is locked” dialog back so you can unlock your iPhone is to open up the Phone App, then initiate a call with any number or any of your contacts. The dialog will return, allowing you to enter your SIM PIN. You can even enter a bogus number such as “333” and hit the green button, instead of calling an actual number.

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

Unlock SIM on iPhone via Settings App

Settings app → Cellular → SIM PIN

Another way to pull up the unlock prompt is to visit the “Settings” app. Head over to the “Cellular” section and finally select “SIM PIN”. Your iPhone should now ask you to unlock the SIM card.

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

From here, you’ll also be able to change the actual SIM PIN itself. Read on to find out how to do it.

Changing or disabling the SIM PIN code on iPhone

Settings app → Cellular → SIM PIN → Change PIN

By following the same menu path as above, we can actually go in and change the SIM PIN that protects the SIM card our iPhone is currently equipped with.

After entering the current PIN, simply tap “Change PIN” to enter a new one. You can also slide the toggle to the “off” position and disable the SIM PIN altogether. We recommended to at least use an iPhone Passcode for security and privacy purposes.

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

You need to reset or reboot your iPhone and do not know how? No worries in our article How to reset iPhone we explain how it’s done.

In iOS 12, Apple introduced a way to secure our SIM cards in the iPhone by locking it with a PIN code. The overall process is very simple and straightforward, and it gives us an extra layer of security each and every time we restart our iPhone or even remove the SIM card to pop it into a new iPhone.

But what happens if you set up a SIM PIN from long ago, and can't remember what it was? You may attempt to do so multiple times, but then you get them all wrong and you'll find yourself locked out of your SIM card. Hey, we've all been there at some point or another, right?

If you find yourself locked out of your best iPhone, especially with the iPhone 14 coming up soon, because you can't remember your SIM PIN, then fret not! The process to unlock your SIM card is not too difficult. Here's how to do it.

How to (accidentally) lock yourself out of your SIM card

Of course, you don't want to lock yourself out, but this is how it happens.

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Cellular.

What does sim locked mean on iphone 12

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select SIM PIN.
  2. Tap the toggle to turn SIM PIN to OFF.

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. If you fail the three attempts, your iPhone will ask for a PUK Code, which you can only obtain by calling your carrier.

(Image credit: iMore)

At this point, STOP trying to guess your SIM PIN, because the PUK code is different and if you fail 10 attempts, your SIM card is locked forever and you'll need to purchase a new one.

How to get your PUK Code and unlock SIM card on iPhone

Contact your carrier. Usually, this can be done by calling 611 from your mobile phone, but you'll be unable to make calls if you are locked out of your SIM card. In this case, you'll want to use another device for calling them. You can also try a live chat with customer support via your carrier's website or take it to a carrier store.

Personally, I called my carrier (T-Mobile) through Skype, because it was the only alternative I had (I only have one phone). Make sure you have something like Skype that can make outbound calls, or use someone else's phone.

Once you obtain the PUK code, input it on the Enter PUK screen. If you backed out of this screen, you should be able to access it again by going into Settings and then tapping Cellular, or it may just pop up on its own when you try to access anything involving cellular. If it is not showing up, reboot your phone.

You only get 10 attempts to input the PUK Code — don't waste them. The PUK code is typically 8-digits long, so make sure that you type it correctly the first time.

When you input the correct PUK code, you'll unlock the SIM card on your iPhone, so all voice and data should work once more.

Be careful with your iPhone SIM PIN

So there you have it. If you are ever digging around in your iPhone's settings and manage to accidentally lock yourself out of your own SIM card, then this is how you unlock the SIM card on your iPhone.

If you're worried that your SIM card got into the wrong hands and they can use this info to get into the SIM Card, fear not. Your carrier will ask you to verify your identity and information before giving you the PUK code, so this information is only good if you're the account holder or have access to the account or SIM card.

Updated August 2022: The PUK code is still the only way to regain access to your SIM card once you're locked out.

Can you unlock a SIM locked iPhone?

Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.

How do I unlock my iPhone 12 SIM card?

On your iPhone 12 device, launch the Phone app and dial *#06# to pull your device's IMEI number and write it down somewhere you can easily access later on. Call your carrier's customer care hotline and ask request for a SIM unlock.

How do I take the SIM lock off my iPhone?

To Unlock the SIM card, open the Phone app and tap on the Recents tab, available in the bottom-left area of the screen. The SIM Locked pop up will show up on your screen to notify you that you aren't able to dial calls, until you don't type the 4-digit PIN code. Enter it and you're iPhone unlocks!

What does it mean when your SIM card is locked?

You can lock and unlock each SIM card you use on your device with a PIN (Personal Identity Number). When a SIM card is locked, the subscription linked to the card is protected against misuse, meaning that you have to enter a PIN every time you start your device.