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…).
Ha, me too! thanks – couple of paperclips and few mins and panic over! Funny how many dozy people there are…
2 needels…. THX MARK!
thanks for the help. it was just easy with the use of paper clip. took me just a minute. -from Philippines
Seriously. Thank you SO much!!!!!!!!!!!! Best advice EVER!!!!!!
THANK YOU – YOU SAVED MY LIFE!
i just want to sat that you saved my life.
thank you 4ever
Very good info. Lucky me I found your site by chance (stumbleupon).
I’ve bookmarked it for later!
I had same problem, stuck the card into new iPhone 5 without the tray. I tried paper clips, wouldn’t budge, then found super small crochet hook thingy that did the trick immediately! It’s about the same girth as paper clip.
OMG i just got my new sim card and was SO excited and i was stupid and forgot the tray, lake you and i was SO sad.. got a new iphone 5 today thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
totally just did this and was relieved to find i’m not the only muppet that did this 🙂 thanks for the tips!
Awesome! The paper clip trick worked for me on my wife’s iPhone5. It is a serious design flaw on Apple’s part like many of their designs.
Thanks so much I used the paper clip! I thought i was over
My tray pinged out across my office and before I knew it and obviously without thinking I had inserted the SIM without a tray and got it well and truly stuck. I had to persevere with the paperclip and the iphone pin thingy and after about ten minutes I finally got it out! I also found the tray. Yay!!!
I just purchased my first ever I-phone and inserted the SIM card directly into the phone! I tried the paper clips, the vacuum cleaner, and a needle and after much effort, was able to retrieve the SIM card by using a pair of earrings. THANK YOU for the advice. I’m sure it was a combination of all these things that finally did the trick.
Dude this advice was awesome!!!!!
I love u u saved my life
Thank you soooo much the paper clip works!!!!
My sim card with small tray got stuck in Samsang Glaxy Q phone, where only bigger sim card can inserted. I tried all different ways but its not working, please help me so I don’t break my old phone as well. thanks
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUUU!!!!!
OMG I just did the same thing and did the paperclip trick! It worked! Thanks!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Thank you SO much. I used a Bobby pin & a plastic tootpick. It worked. Like many others who have commented, I was totally freaking out & was sure i would have to have apple take the phone apart.. Anyway yeah it worked pretty quickly. I don’t know why I didn’t think to put pressure on both sides like that.
Thanks again 🙂
it workd thnx
An unfolded paperclip worked a treat.
I couldn’t co-ordinate holding two paperclips steadily very well, but I could get it out with a single paperclip down the side.
Immensely relieved.
Thanks.
I used a single unfolded paperclip and just as you said it would the sim card eventually came out far enough for me to get hold of it with tweezers. I am delighted, I thought I had ruined my brand new phone before I`d even had a chance to use it.
Thanks so much for your advice!
Thank you! I felt so stupid and dreaded seeking help! All fixed now. Cheers!
I just made the same stupid mistake. I used a small pair of scissors.
Thank you so much for these tips. It took a few minutes but it worked. My Dad is happy his phone is fixed after breaking his iphone 3s just 10 mins earlier by trying to get that sim out to put into his new phone. Thanks again 🙂
Thank you! Add us to the list. I thought it wouldn’t work but just using the Apple pin down the side and pulling worked (unlike tweezers or two paperclips).
Tried every thing on here, but nothing worked! Use tangle ear rings, they are curved so are good for pulling it out 🙂
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!Just purchased an iphone 4 and made the stupid mistake of putting my sim card in w/o the tray. I spent hours of watching useless youtube clips with no avail….. until I saw this! I got it out in less than 3mins. THANKS!
I similarly did something stupid by putting the card back without the tray. I spent quite awhile trying to get it out and only making it worse. Found this and used the paper clip. Voila! Out it came. I can’t thank you enough! You and this blog is great and saved me time, perhaps money and a lot of embarrassment. Thank you so much.
I did try this on my Iphone 5 but this is my solution look for a needle then put the needle on a fire allow it to hot the place it on your card and allow it to dry when a hot iron is put on a plastic then what happen
Feel less foolish knowing others have the same problem. Trying to get the sim out but no luck so far. Wish u wd put a video of how u did it !!!!
Thanks dude! Your 2 paperclips solution worked like magic!!!
I made the same mistake. Just got a samsung and I took out the sum to test the samsung. Without thinking, I put the sun back in my iPhone without the tray. I read all the posts and I tried using 2 sewing needles and roughly 2mins later, I got it out. I hope this helps someone also.
THANK YOU!!! 2 seconds and I had it out!! Apple store is about 65 miles away! Such a relief!
Thank you so much! I just did the exact same thing with my iphone 4s and I thought that I need to take it somewhere just to have it opened up. I did try the tweezers at first and it just pushed the sum further inside! I only have 1 paper clip so I just used my earrings to pull it out on both sides. It took me an hour including some rest in between and eating my breakfast. But the tweezers did also help in the end because I was only able to pull out a tiny bit of 1 side of the sim, so I had to use the tweezers to pull it out. I’m really happy I don’t have to think about removing my stuck sim the entire day!
Saved my bacon except I ended up using a pin
I put a sim in iPhone without tray too..
Dear, here is your new friend from Brazil. Your instructions worked very well and I have just saved the iphone 5s from my son. The Apple´s stores refused even to try.
Fantastic ! Thank you Thank You !
I’m trying the paperclips right now but it wont come out all the way.. Will apple charge you to take out your sim card?
It worked, just inserted the paper clip points, one on each side of the sim, and I managed to get it on the first pull !!! Marc, thank you very much for the tip
OMG this worked, you are awesome and you are my hero tonight!
Thank you! 🙂
THIS WORKS! Thanks for the tip, I did not want to go to the Apple store and get gouged… (I was on hold for 15 minutes just waiting to talk to someone…)
I have 2 other blogs too, but, just wanted to say thanks for the paperclip cure. It worked in less time than it took you. Holy Moly, you are great!
Thanks just done the same on a new iPhone 5 yes using a pin got it out don’t have a Nono card to see if the phone works will be going to my Apple Store tomorrow to see if they have a Nono card and see if they will fit it for me and…. HOPE IT WORKS.?
Woww!!! am amazed. The paper clip worked perfectly for me am excited. Thank you for the innovation
Awesome info. Gota love blogs!
OMG i feel like a champ right now. Thank you so much. was soo worried
Thank you soooo much! You saved my life!