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Purchased Iphone SE With No Sim

P

pauly800

Suspended
Original poster
Dec 7, 2014
183
6
I bought an iphone SE online through apple. The thing is i do not plan to use this phone in the US and use it out of the country. However since its unlocked, i can use it anywhere i know with the right sim. The issue is when i bought the phone online, i clicked on no sim. I recall there were options to choose tmobile and other carriers etc but i did not think about this because i am using it out of the country.


Well i am setting up my iphone SE and got the message no sim. Then it says you cannot activate it without a sim card. Does this mean 100 percent i need a sim card? If i had clicked on tmobile sim card when ordering it, its still same cost i believe right? The thing though is you always need a sim card to set up an iphone? I think i have a spare tmobile sim card with me but i have to look through my bags etc. So if i find the tmobile sim card, is it easy to put the sim card in? I don't see where you can open it yourself. Does this require me to go to a phone shop or repair shop? And how much do i have to pay for this? Assuming i don't have a sim card, how much for the tmobile sim card. Assuming i have the sim card, how much does it cost for them to pu the sim card in. The thing is i don't plan to use this iphone here but outside the us so i won't be purchasing any plan.


I'm pretty frustrated now as I did not know you need a sim to activate the iphone. So what are my options here? When i leave the country, i will be putting another countrys sim card into this phone. So at the time when ordering it online, i just put no sim.
[doublepost=1475191129][/doublepost]I called apple and i was told i could use a sim card from another iphone. I have an iphone 4s. Can someone tell me what other iphone sim cards would work with this? Basically I need to set the iphone up here in the US and when i leave the country, the sim card I use will be from another country when i get that one. My sim card i have is another country based but that should be fine? Also i have not removed sim card before but is it pretty simple to remove the sim card from iphone 4s and put it into the iphone SE?


And what other sim cards work with the SE? I feel foolish since i didn't know you need a sim card to activate the iphone so thats why i choosed no sim card as oppose to tmobile.
 
It has to be an iphone 5 and up right? Also is it pretty easy to do? I have not removed sim card and put it in before. As when i go to phone shops, they do this for me.
 
You can also get a nano sim card from apple. Even if the Sim card is not activated with a carrier, it will activate the phone and allow you to set-up
 
Kahsheh said:
You can also get a nano sim card from apple. Even if the Sim card is not activated with a carrier, it will activate the phone and allow you to set-up
Click to expand...

This. Most carriers will give you a free "dead" SIM. I did it a few years ago with the original iPhone.
 
Can i get the sim card from the apple store? I spoke to an apple rep on the phone and they did not mention this. I said what if i cannot get a sim... can i just buy one at a phone shop etc? I was told i can but then i have to sign up for a plan which is something i am not doing since i will be using it outside the USA... not here.


The person also told me you cannot get sim card from apple. I had thought couldn't i go to apple store and bring my iphone SE and then say, i bought this iphone recently but I put no sim. Can i get a sim?
 
pauly800 said:
It has to be an iphone 5 and up right? Also is it pretty easy to do? I have not removed sim card and put it in before. As when i go to phone shops, they do this for me.
Click to expand...

One of the easiest things you can do to a phone.
 
Hmm. Only certain models of iPhone does not have SIM card tray, where you put your own sim rather than using whatever available inside. But those models are for users bought with certain carriers in United States.
If your iPhone is said to be unlocked, you should be able to find a SIM card tray on the left hand side of your SE. Find a pin and you can pop the tray out. You can bring your own sim and go to Apple Store to let them help you replace SIM card.
 
Well i looked at my iphone 4s and the sim is at the bottom of the phone. So it doesn't have sim tray.


I saw the sim tray on the iphone SE is on the right side right?


Yes iphone should be unlocked as i bought it online through apple. But you really can't get a sim and buy it? I bought a sim online before a while back and it cost a few dollars i believe. But is it true most places won't sell you a sim just like that? True or false apple won't give you a sim card if you go there and show them your iphone which you bought but don't have a sim card. Its not like i lost the sim card. I just put no sim because at the time i figure i don't need a sim which was foolish of me.
 
pauly800 said:
It has to be an iphone 5 and up right? Also is it pretty easy to do? I have not removed sim card and put it in before. As when i go to phone shops, they do this for me.
Click to expand...

IPhone4S uses a micro SIM. All phones after the iPhone 5 require the NANO SIM. Easy to do with either a paper clip or the provided tool. It might cost around $10 for the SIM itself but I can't imagine anyone putting it in for you and charging you to do it.

 
Last edited:
pauly800 said:
I saw the sim tray on the iphone SE is on the right side right?
Click to expand...
Ugh, my bad. Yes. Right hand side.

And yeah, since you buy unlocked, there is no sim inside. You need to get a sim and unlock iPhone.

I am not sure what it happens in United States but in Sydney, I can get a sim from supermarket pretty easy and recharge that SIM.
 
Im using desktop computer now. When i plugged iphone SE into desktop, it shows itunes but it has message no sim.
I had thought i could activate it this way but it doesn't.


Boddonnell... yes I am. My iphone 4s the one with issues in my other thread, i currently have the non-usa sim in it. But that is not compatible with this iphone SE.
 
pauly800 said:
Im using desktop computer now. When i plugged iphone SE into desktop, it shows itunes but it has message no sim.
I had thought i could activate it this way but it doesn't.


Boddonnell... yes I am. My iphone 4s the one with issues in my other thread, i currently have the non-usa sim in it. But that is not compatible with this iphone SE.
Click to expand...
You'll need a nano sim to activate and your 4s will have a micro sim. If you can't get a nano sim for the carrier you want to use right now you can always buy/borrow a sim from any carrier (since your phone is unlocked you can use a nano sim from any carrier) in order to activate your iPhone. Once it is activated the sim doesn't need to stay in (hence why borrowing will work too). You can put in the sim for the carrier your want to use later and it won't be an issue.
 
Your 4s takes a micro SIM and the SE takes a nano SIM which is smaller than the micro SIM. You can't simply put the micro SIM in your SE (it won't fit) without either cutting it or requesting a new nano SIM card from your carrier.

Any carrier SIM card can activate your iPhone even if it's no longer in service considering your iPhone is unlocked but just make your using the correct size. You can remove the SIM card once your iPhone has activated.
 
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