All modern iPhones and iPads now employ nano-SIM cards. Unfortunately, this can be a bit of a trouble for anyone switching from an older device, considering the nano-SIM is much smaller than the micro-SIMs and regular SIM cards used in the by.

The nano-SIM uses the same tech as its larger counterparts, with the only real deviation being the amount of plastic that surrounds the chip. While it'due south possible for almost people to telephone call their carrier and request a new nano-SIM for their new phone, there is a much quicker style: cut the SIM downwards to a smaller size yourself.

In this tutorial we testify how to cutting down a SIM card (or micro-SIM menu) and turn it into a nano-SIM for your iPhone or iPad.

Warnings before you start

Please notation that you lot cutting your SIM carte du jour down at your ain risk.

We've cut down SIM cards a few times, and it's worked in all just 2 instances. Those aren't really cracking odds. And one example was a bit of a headache considering the SIM card could no longer be used at all (not fifty-fifty in the original telephone).

Delight recollect that in that location are e'er risks involved with dwelling modifications and don't cut upwards your SIM card unless you're happy for it non to work (in this case yous'll need to get a replacement from your carrier or buy a new 1). Proceed at your ain risk.

If you're worried past the risks, consider the advantages of a multi-SIM, which we discuss later on in this commodity.

What you need

To cut your SIM card down to nano-SIM size you need the following equipment:

  • Standard or micro-SIM card
  • Nano-SIM menu (for measurement)
  • Pencil
  • SIM ejector tool (or paperclip)
  • Small-scale pair of straight scissors
  • Nail file

In one case you accept all these to hand it's time to become started.

Removing the nano-SIM

Use the SIM card ejector tool (or a straightened paperclip) to open the SIM carte slot on your iPhone or iPad.

Inside you lot might detect a stock nano-SIM. You'll need this. If you do not have a nano-SIM inside your iPhone, y'all should borrow ane from a friend to help you size up your SIM.

Regular SIM vs nano-SIM

Here we can see a regular SIM carte du jour (right) compared to a nano-SIM (left):

How to cut a SIM card & make a nano-SIM for iPhone & iPad: Nano-SIM compared to SIM card

Information technology appears much smaller, and the whole of the nano-SIM tin fit inside of the metal on the regular SIM card. Because of this y'all might think the SIM cards use different applied science. But they don't: the nano-SIM is the aforementioned blazon of SIM card equally the regular SIM, it's but had all the excess trimmed off. Most of that excess is carte du jour but some of information technology is silicon.

Spotting SIM bill of fare guidelines

Yous may see some reports online that advise you mensurate the SIM card with a ruler. This used to work with the old-style micro-SIM cards, only it doesn't piece of work when creating a new nano-SIM. For this y'all need to place a nano-SIM over the metal of the quondam SIM and line it up by eye.

Some SIM cards, handily, have guide marks on the metal of the sim. These help you line up the nano-SIM on the regular SIM card and provide y'all with an area to cutting out.

How to cut a SIM card & make a nano-SIM for iPhone & iPad: SIM card guide marks

How to measure upward your SIM card

Identify the nano-SIM on top of the regular SIM with the cut-corner on both SIM cards in the superlative-right (as shown in the picture). Apply the guide lines to line up the metal of the SIM carte in the same central position on your SIM card. Make sure you line up the fundamental metal part of the SIM card and non the surrounding plastic. Different SIM cards have different metal vs card dimensions; you should be looking to line up the fundamental office of the metal on your full-sized SIM card.

With the nano-SIM lined up against the regular SIM, describe effectually the nano-SIM (and on to the regular SIM) with a sharp pencil. This will create a guideline for you lot to cut effectually. Dom't worry nearly mark the corner, only pay attention to marking the sides of the nano-SIM accurately.

How to cut a SIM card & make a nano-SIM for iPhone & iPad: Measure up SIM card

Cutting your SIM

Be cautious. It is better to trim dorsum your SIM card a lilliputian scrap at a fourth dimension and proceed slowly than to chop off besides much. Y'all can use a file to file down the edges. We ordinarily start with the pinnacle piece of card and the sides before carefully clipping the bottom (you can also just file down the bottom).

We're using a pair of pocket-sized nail pair of scissors to cutting through the SIM card. It is typically every bit like shooting fish in a barrel to cutting through the metal of the SIM card as it is the plastic card surrounding it. You can also use regular scissors but the smaller pair offer more than accuracy. If y'all're using blast scissors be sure to use a straight pair, not ones with a slight bend.

It's amend to trim it slightly large and clasp information technology in, rather than cut off too much and it exist wiggling around inside the SIM card slot. Trim off the corner manually.

How to cut a SIM card & make a nano-SIM for iPhone & iPad: Cutting SIM Card

Measure into the nano-SIM tray

Now place the cut up SIM carte on height of the nano-SIM tray from the iPhone or iPad. It should be too big to fit into the nano-SIM tray. This is a good thing. At present you need to trim the SIM card down bit by bit until it fits snugly into the tray. Slide the nano-SIM carte into the device.

That should exist it. Plough the iPhone or iPad on and iOS should say 'Searching' in the superlative left corner, followed by the proper noun of your service provider.

Multi-SIMs

If that all sounds a bit stressful, y'all might be interested to hear that there may be an easier way than cut the SIM menu to the desired size yourself.

Recently, many major UK carriers have done away with traditional SIM cards with varying sizes, and take instead replaced them with a single SIM card that tin exist used in whatsoever device. The new 'multi-SIM' provides users with a standard SIM, likewise equally a micro-SIM and a nano-SIM nestled within - much similar traditional Russian dolls.

This pic should requite y'all an idea of what we mean:

How to cut a SIM card & make a nano-SIM for iPhone: EE multi-SIM

At that place are benefits to using a multi-SIM apart from having to cut your SIM yourself, too. If a state of affairs ever arises where you're using a nano SIM and need to switch to a phone that requires a micro SIM, you demand only pop the nano SIM into the micro SIM frame to use it. Unproblematic, right?

(Heed you, annotation that you could e'er buy a SIM adapter kit to combat the upshot if it arises: they cost very little. In the Britain you can get this TechRise model for nether £vi or this Ciscle model for nether £4; in the Usa at that place is an Aerb kit for $four.99.)

These days every major United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland carrier offers multi-SIMs, and all yous need to exercise is phone call your carrier (if y'all're on contract) and enquire them to transport y'all out a replacement multi-SIM (or whatever it'south called on your network). Yous'll probably exist without a SIM card for a mean solar day or two while one is sent, and some carriers may accuse y'all a small amount, but we think it'due south worth it in the long run.