This wikiHow teaches you how to protect your iPhone’s SIM card with a 4-digit code that keeps others from making calls or using the internet.

Steps

  1. 1
    Open your iPhone’s Settings. It's the app with a gray gear icon on your home screen.
  2. 2
    Scroll down and tap Phone. It’s about halfway down the list.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and tap SIM PIN. It’s near the bottom of the list.
  4. 4
    Slide the “SIM PIN” switch to the On position. The switch will turn green.
  5. 5
    Enter the 4-digit SIM PIN. If you’ve set up a SIM PIN before, enter the code when prompted. If not, use your carrier’s default SIM PIN.[1]
    • If you don’t know your carrier’s default SIM PIN, don’t try to guess it, as that may permanently lock your SIM. Contact your carrier to find out the correct PIN.
  6. 6
    Tap Done. It’s at the top right corner of the screen. The SIM PIN is now enabled.[2]
    • This code (called a SIM PIN) is different from the screen lock passcode, and is only required when turning on the device.
    • Each time you restart your phone after powering it down, you'll see a pop-up screen that says "SIM Locked." To unlock it, tap Unlock, then enter the PIN.
    • You can change the SIM PIN at any time by returning to this screen and selecting Change PIN.

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Tech Specialist
This article was written by Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 3,435 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: May 25, 2021
Views: 3,435
Categories: IPhone
Article SummaryX

1. Open your Settings.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Tap SIM PIN.
4. Slide the "SIM PIN" switch to the On position.
5. Enter the 4-digit SIM PIN.
6. Tap Done.

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