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Cutting a SIM for the iPhone5

C

Coleman2010

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 9, 2010
1,944
173
NYC
I apparently cut down and ruined 3 of my foreign SIM cards trying to cut them down to fit in the iPhone 5.

I used this guide and I don't know what I did wrong but the phone displays NO SIM when I insert the SIM cards.

I used the guides from here:

http://www.ihackintosh.com/2012/09/how-to-convert-mini-micro-sim-in-to-nano-sim-for-iphone-5/
http://www.airportal.de/nanosim/

In the guide it says to print the PDF 100% on A4 sized paper. I only have an 8.5 x 11 printer. Is that where I messed up? Is the scaling off because I printed on 8.5 x 11 paper?
 
Coleman2010 said:
I apparently cut down and ruined 3 of my foreign SIM cards trying to cut them down to fit in the iPhone 5.

I used this guide and I don't know what I did wrong but the phone displays NO SIM when I insert the SIM cards.

I used the guides from here:

http://www.ihackintosh.com/2012/09/how-to-convert-mini-micro-sim-in-to-nano-sim-for-iphone-5/
http://www.airportal.de/nanosim/

In the guide it says to print the PDF 100% on A4 sized paper. I only have an 8.5 x 11 printer. Is that where I messed up? Is the scaling off because I printed on 8.5 x 11 paper?
Click to expand...

How long did you wait? It takes a good 3 to 5 minutes to register the new sim.

Also, did you mess with the thickness? I have done 2 out of 2 sim cuts successfully without a guide and never had to reduce the thickness.

Just hold a nanosim up to your microsim, line up the connections (lines, or dot at the bottom), mark with pencil, cut with scissors or box cutter.
 
It's actually really easy. I've cut 4 sims down to fit the iPhone 5 just free handing it with no guides whatsoever. Just cut it right up to the metal, and then cut the corner notch.
 
Coleman2010 said:
I apparently cut down and ruined 3 of my foreign SIM cards trying to cut them down to fit in the iPhone 5.

I used this guide and I don't know what I did wrong but the phone displays NO SIM when I insert the SIM cards.

I used the guides from here:

http://www.ihackintosh.com/2012/09/how-to-convert-mini-micro-sim-in-to-nano-sim-for-iphone-5/
http://www.airportal.de/nanosim/

In the guide it says to print the PDF 100% on A4 sized paper. I only have an 8.5 x 11 printer. Is that where I messed up? Is the scaling off because I printed on 8.5 x 11 paper?
Click to expand...

This is the first I've heard of this. I personally cut my SIM using the exact same PDF (even cut it a tad too small:eek:) and it works fine. Did you slice the chip in the middle?
 
Nahmeanz said:
It's actually really easy. I've cut 4 sims down to fit the iPhone 5 just free handing it with no guides whatsoever. Just cut it right up to the metal, and then cut the corner notch.
Click to expand...
That's what I did wrong. I cut part of the medal. I used the guide and it must have scaled wrong so I cut too much off.

----------
XboxMySocks said:
This is the first I've heard of this. I personally cut my SIM using the exact same PDF (even cut it a tad too small:eek:) and it works fine. Did you slice the chip in the middle?
Click to expand...
I nicked some of the medal off around the outer edges, I didn't cut the chip in the middle. When you printed the guide did you print 100% on 8.5" x 11" paper?
 
That's your problem. For future reference, A4 is standard 8.5x11 paper.
 
kuebby said:
That's your problem. For future reference, A4 is standard 8.5x11 paper.
Click to expand...
A4 is 8.27x11.69
8.5x11 is US letter size.

You don't have to print on A4, just use letter 8.5x11 and print at 100%. It should be very obvious whether the scale is correct when you put your SIM on top of the printout. It should match 100%. I have done this on a foreign SIM and it worked perfectly. Although on the 2nd iPhone5 I had to push it down a bit to be recognized.
 
outie2k said:
A4 is 8.27x11.69
8.5x11 is US letter size.

You don't have to print on A4, just use letter 8.5x11 and print at 100%. It should be very obvious whether the scale is correct when you put your SIM on top of the printout. It should match 100%.
Click to expand...

That's it then, when I lined up on the guys it was a little off. :(

I'm going to pick up another T-Mobile SIM and try again. :-(
 
Oops, my bad... Maybe because A4 is so close to 8.5x11 it just works...
 
Don't laugh at my cutting skills. The scissors were a little dull. :p

The one of the left is the AT&T Nano SIM and the one of the right is the one I cut.
 

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kuebby said:
That's your problem. For future reference, A4 is standard 8.5x11 paper.
Click to expand...

No, it's not. It's similar in size, but it is NOT the same size, and you could very well have had slight scaling problems if you printed with 'scale to fit' on.

A4 is 8.27"x11.69" So it is both skinnier and taller than 8.5x11 paper.
 
articulatefool said:
How long did you wait? It takes a good 3 to 5 minutes to register the new sim.
Click to expand...
I inserted the T-Mobile SIM I cut and let it sit for 5 minutes. It still says no SIM so it must be ruined. My iPhone 5 is 100% for sure unlocked.

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Mliii said:
This^^^
But use a REALLY sharp and sturdy scissors or exacto blade/box cutter.
Click to expand...
If you look at my photo you can see I cut some of the metal. That's what I did wrong. :(
 
Coleman2010 said:
Look at my photo and don't do what I did!!! :p
Click to expand...

Lol :D
Thanks bro, I learned from your example and was able to cut it right.
Just to test out my iphone 5 unlock. I bought a 99 cent simple mobile sim that runs on Tmobiles network.
After 10-15 seconds that said no service then the simple mobile logo came on the top left corner.
 

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Applejuiced said:
Lol :D
Thanks bro, I learned from your example and was able to cut it right.
Just to test out my iphone 5 unlock. I bought a 99 cent simple mobile sim that runs on Tmobiles network.
After 10-15 that said no service then the simple mobile logo came on the top left corner.
Click to expand...

You must not like folders!
 
Coleman2010 said:
Don't laugh at my cutting skills. The scissors were a little dull. :p

The one of the left is the AT&T Nano SIM and the one of the right is the one I cut.
Click to expand...

Your cut is wrong, you've cut too much off the right edge and not enough off the the left.

I cut this one successfully, pic before cut showing marking lines

8023996945_ef6264bd76_z.jpg
 
Last edited:
Coleman2010 said:
That's what I did wrong. I cut part of the medal. I used the guide and it must have scaled wrong so I cut too much off.
Click to expand...

Cutting through the metal isn't necessarily a problem. For some SIMs it's even necessary.

Anyway, when you put a SIM in, it should be immediately recognised. If it says 'No SIM', it will never be recognised because you did it wrong. It may take a while for a correctly cut SIM to register with the network, but during that time it will say 'No Service'.

Oh, and get yourself some real A4 paper. It's wonderful in so many ways.
 
CBR900RR said:
Why don't you guys buy a $10 nano sim cutter from ebay.
Click to expand...

Cheaper and faster to do it yourself.

It really isn't hard at all. Just put the scissors over the card and squeeze.

Most of us don't need our hands held that much for DIY related things.
 
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