Just now I made a stupid mistake: I changed the SIM cards in my iPhone and my new Galaxy S3 to test if the Galaxy was SIM card locked (it wasn’t). But after putting the original card back into the S3 (just push it in until it clicks), I wasn’t thinking what I was doing when putting the other SIM back into my iPhone. The iPhone has a small tray where you need to put the micro-SIM in, so that it fits (great design Apple…). But because Android phones don’t have a tray I totally forgot about the tray and popped in the SIM without it.
The moment I did it I knew I made a mistake, because it did not click, and I realized I forgot the tray. When I tried to get the SIM out I saw it got stuck and there was no way to get it out. A quick Internet search gave me a lot of solutions (go to the Apple store, use Scotch tape, use a set of tweezers, use a toothpick and even use a vacuum cleaner!). Well, the Apple store is always a last resort solution, so I did not try that. The Scotch tape may work if the SIM is only inserted a little bit, but mine was in way too deep for that to work. The tweezers at home are too thick, just as the toothpicks. And well, the vacuum cleaner I decided not to try…
So then I started thinking, the tray has a few millimeter on each side, so there must be space on both sides of the SIM card. There should be a way to insert something on both sides of the card and then try to pull it out. But what? At that point my eye fell on the paperclip that I had used to get the SIM card tray out (another fantastic Apple design… for some reason people seem to be afraid to criticize Apple, but their products sure have some design/UX flaws). The paperclip fit in next to the SIM card, and when I got a second paperclip it just fit in on the other side! Then I started to pull slowly. At first I did not see any progress, but then I noticed the card had come up a little bit. So I tried again, and again, and again. And finally after about 2 minutes the edge of the SIM card came out. One extra pull with both paper clips and I could use my fingers to get it out! The SIM card was not damaged and it worked fine again.
Why did I post this here? Not because I think any of my regular readers will have this same problem, but more because my blog has a pretty high Google ranking and this problem may be something that others will encounter as well. I hope I can save people who Google the problem some time and expensive trips to the Apple store, where they may need to take your phone apart in order to get the card out (another great Apple design…).
You could use the vacuum cleaner, though put a pair of used stockings in the tube..so the sim doesn’t end up in the dustbag.
Stick some tape on the simcard using tweezers, tootpicks etc…which then would allow to pull it out.
Thanks Marcel, good tips!
I just had pretty good experience with taking my iPhone in for service here in
Shanghai after I had fallen into our Koi pond. The Apple store will take reservations and when we showed up we got going on time. They have way to check that
you got it wet so I had to pay BUT it was
less than at Non Apple alternative that wanted to use recycled parts. And two
hrs later, as they promised (we had dinner), it was done and works fine.
But I don’t like having regular SIM and micoSim – you have to cut the regular one
and you can take a cut micro and put it back in regular SIM slot, keep the extra
from when it was cut, but it can get stuck. With “regluar” SIM slot, it is fairly easy to “unstick” since you open the back and can see everything.
TNX DUDE.
just did that yesterday and was beating my iphone on the desk to get it out, finally got it out
Just happened to me. A friend used a razor blade and did it in 1 minute…lol.
try using a U shaped bobby pin if tweezers are too thick to get in.
thank you! same thing happened to me!
Saveԁ as a favorite, I like уour
website!
My daugher has just done the same, brand new phone and sim now stuck in Iphone 5. Phones works so will it be safe?
This just happened to me (new iphone user). Paperclips don’t seem to be doing the trick for me or I am just useless with them. *This* close to braking down. ;___;
Many thanks, mate. Bought the phone as a Christmas present for my wife, and inserted the card without the holder. Bummer! Knew that I’d done wrong straight away. But the paper clips worked a treat. Have to admit that I was sweating it prior to reading this, and getting the card out in about 30 seconds. Thanks again.
Just did the same thing. Thank you for this tip, saved me a trip to the apple store!
Hmmm… how stupid i felt! I was doing the same, i had the sim card out of my iPhone (3GS) to test another phone which does not have a sim tray, put it 3 quarters of the way back in the iPhone and realized what I’d done! Unfortunately i pushed it in further with tweezers.. DOH!!! The paper clips worked, thanks.
My son had his iphone5 for 3 weeks and did this. I was going to play it safe and take it to the apple store but I decided after reading this that I could do it. I used a metal dental pick…like a real one that dentist use. Took me 10 minutes…I was worried about damaging the sim card with the metal pick, but it works fine!
you are an absolute legend! I just did it and freaked out! So glad you posted this or I would have gone insane!
Did the same thing…sed the paperclips after all else had failed and they worked..Thank you..you are a Genius and saved alot of heartache and frustrations
Worked for me too but the sim card looks a bit rough…hoping for the best. Thanks!
Excellent worked after a few tries don’t worry if it goes back in keep trying and it will come out ….paper clips saved a drive to the apple shop x
Thanks dude!!. The trick wrked for me!!.. Instead of paperclips, i used the sim card eject pin provided by apple itself!!..
Great, thanks! Was able to get it out with one large paperclip 🙂
THANKS A LOT!!
I didn’t have paper clips on hand so I asked my girlfriend for 2 bobby pins. I think this may work better due to the bobby pins having small bulblike things at the end. Pulled it out in my first attempt
your tip just saved my a$$
thanks
Worked like a charm. Thanks.
O-M-G! What a great help you’ve been. It worked! I was panicking, but then I saw this site. Thank you, thank you so very much 🙂
I made the same mistake thank for letting me no what to do.
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I
stumbleupon every day. It will always be helpful to read through content from
other authors and practice a little something from
their sites.
I have the iPhone 5 and didn’t have the nano SIM card so I tried to cut my own and it wasn’t working and I had pushed In the SIM card without the tray and it won’t come out. Any help?
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH
I have been trying to get my SIM card out for 30 minuets! Then I saw how you did it, I tried and it worked! Thank you sooo much!
Thanks a lot dude! Took a little longer than just 2 minutes though. Had to use a safety pin as well because the card got stuck at the end, so had to tilt it a little at the end, but it sure worked. Thanks a lot! 😀
thank you so so so much it worked within 1 mintues
im struggeling 🙁
Thank – you so much! Just got mine & hubby thought he’d help & jammed the sim card in there good – so glad this worked, I was freakinng out!
Thanks so much…managed to do this to my iPad mini….you saved my day and alot of money.
Thanks a lot Marc, mine was removed in under 15 seconds. Sincere appreciation for this tip as it saved me a huge headache, that too while i am Stockholm which is thousands of miles away from home.
Two metal (uncoated )paperclips one on each side and pull outwards worked like a charm..used thin steak knife to leverage last bit of sim card loose ..thanks for suggestion was out of country so saved me a big headache !!
I unwound the paper clips and straightened them and wedged them in, lo and behold the card came out with a little help from tweezers. No trip to Apple tomorrow !!!
Great help thanks !
Thank you so much! Life saver. I feel less stupid now that I’ve seen other people have done it too!
Thank you very much!My heart can beat again. It started with the phone just dieing so i thought that if i took his out i could get to the battery like in my old style phone.Little did I know. Also found the hold the home and sleep button to reboot it. Thanks again.
Thanks for the suggestions,this site gives me hopes,I was so panicked,but instead of using paper clip,I cut a small piece from the hard plastic cover from the ipad charger and put in between the simcard,it come out immediately
You’ve actually saved my evening and my Iphone with this information! Thanks a lot!!!
Great hint with the paperclips – phone back on.
Thanks a lot!!!!
Thx dude great tip. The paperclip works
OMG thank you so bloody much! It took me not even a minute to get it out with an open paper clip and pair of tweezers!! You are a LEGEND!! Not only have you saved me a trip and probably a cost by not going to apple. You have also made me feel less of a retard knowing others have done it too lol 🙂 YOU ROCK!!!
Made same blunder – card in without tray. Narrow piece of cardboard, slick on one side, slid under card worked. Pushes card against roof of slot and pulls sim card out far enough for tweezers or finger nail with no damage to card. Photo print paper, if rough enough on one side should work well.
OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH, just had exactly the same problem, my mum was screaming at me haha, you literally saved my life, worked straight away!!
Thank you much for this information. I also made the same mistake with my sim card and tried the paperclip idea. It worked fast as you said. Thank you so much for sharing your info.
I have done a stupid mistake as well by inserting the iphone 5 sim card to my iphone 4s along with tray…. And now, i couldn’t pull out the tray anymore and it really baffles me to pull it harder thinking that it might caused further damage on my phone… Please help…..