I found a LifeHacker article talking about how you can wipe your iPhone before you sell it. One thing it says to do is to erase and format the SIM card. It says you can do it from Settings, but I didn't see it in there. How do you erase the SIM card? I have a iPhone 4S with iOS 8.1.2.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How do you erase the SIM card?
- Thread starter slapple
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just remove the SIM before selling. The new owner will need to get a new one anyway.
So is there any personal information such as contacts or call logs on the SIM card? That article said there might be.
If nothing is on the SIM card, then should I leave it in the phone when I sell it? Could the buyer use his phone number with the existing SIM card? Or would he have to get a new SIM anyway?
If nothing is on the SIM card, then should I leave it in the phone when I sell it? Could the buyer use his phone number with the existing SIM card? Or would he have to get a new SIM anyway?
until we can break the encryption the simcard, we have no proof what so ever what personal information they keep in those sim cards.
its best to just remove the sim and destroy it when selling your phone
on basic messaging phones, the sim keeps text messages and your phone book. we have no idea idea what is in that sim card when you have a smart phone.
that sim card has 256k of mystery data !
what i have been doing lately on eBay, is getting my hands on 1 cent sims from amazon , like h20 and simple mobile and some tmo sims that i got for 1 cent when they were on sale and including them in their sealed packages as a free item bundled with the old iPhone when i sell the iPhone
Last edited:
I always take my SIM card, likely it is in the phone that I am using. It will not do the new owner any good as if it is a ATT SIM card and you move service, the card can not be used again. As far as information on it, there are no contacts but who knows, just remove and destroy it to make sure. A hammer or 2 seconds in the micro will kill it for sure.
The buyer has to get their own SIM card.
Don't send the SIM card. You can't erase it, and it will be tied to your phone number and your account until you either cancel service or obtain a new SIM card for your account from your carrier.
Well, the SIM card does contain the account information required to use the cell network under your phone number. This is why you don't sell the phone with your SIM card. Remove it before selling your phone, or giving you hone to someone else. Again, the user must get their own SIM, which they can get easily from the carrier of their choice.
I would only do that if the SIM has never, ever been activated.
You misread the article. It was talking about erasing and formatting the SD card, which the iPhone doesn't have. It isn't an article specifically on iPhones.
I think the OP is really talking about the SIM card and not SD card.
Google the Lifehacker article in question. It says erase and format the SD card and can do it in settings.
Although the iPhone doesn't store information on the SIM card some phones still do/can like contacts and SMS information.
If you move your SIM between devices there could be that information on the SIM left over form a previous device.
Even thought the chances are unlikely its best to take old un-used SIMs, break them and throw them in the trash.
Anyone else that you give/sell your phone to is going to have to get a new SIM card anyway so there is no reason to give them yours.
If you move your SIM between devices there could be that information on the SIM left over form a previous device.
Even thought the chances are unlikely its best to take old un-used SIMs, break them and throw them in the trash.
Anyone else that you give/sell your phone to is going to have to get a new SIM card anyway so there is no reason to give them yours.