There are some situations where you need to use your iPhone without a SIM card or cellular network provider. Is this possible, and what are your options?
It’s possible to use an iPhone without a SIM card. On iOS 11.4 and higher, you can dismiss the “No SIM Card” pop-up message and set up your device as usual. This allows you to use most of the iPhone’s features while connected to Wi-Fi, without the need for a cellular connection.
Although you lose some functionality without a SIM card, your iPhone can be beneficial if you have a WiFi connection. There are several methods for using your device without a cellular network, and we cover everything you need to know below. Read on for more information.
Can You Use an iPhone Without a SIM Card?
Yes, it’s possible to use an iPhone without a SIM card. After the release of iOS 12 in 2018, Apple users can activate their devices without a SIM card and only a WiFi connection.
You may need to activate your device without a SIM card if your iPhone may be bound to a specific contract, payment plan, or network. Other situations include:
- You don’t have a spare SIM card available but have an iPhone device
- You want to give your child an extra phone that’s WiFi only
- You have an older version of iOS
How to Use an iPhone Without a SIM Card
You can use several methods to activate your iPhone without a SIM card. However, some of these solutions depend on the type of iOS you have, so double-check ahead of time.
Dismiss the “SIM Card Required” Message
When you start a new iPhone, a pop-up message states “No SIM Card” or “SIM Card Required.” These messages can be easily dismissed on devices with iOS 11.4 and higher. iPhones with iOS 11.3 or older cannot ignore these pop-up messages. Here’s how to ignore the pop-up on iOS 11.4 and newer:
- Start your iPhone device.
- Next, Slide-right and begin the Setup Procedure.
- Choose Language, Country, and then click Set Up Manually from the following message.
- Choose your WiFi Network and enter the WiFi Network Password.
- Click OK to dismiss the No Sim Card message.
- Click Continue to agree to the Data and Privacy agreements on the next page.
- Select Setup Touch ID or click Setup Later.
- Next, click Setup Your Lock Screen Passcode.
- On the Apps and Data page, click Set Up as New iPhone. If you contain backup data, you can choose Restore From iTunes Backup or Restore From iCloud Backup during this step.
- On the following page, provide your Apple ID and Passcode. If you don’t have these, you can select Create an Apple ID or click Setup Later on the following page.
- Click Agree to confirm the Terms and Conditions.
- On the following page, click Continue and follow the prompts to finish the rest of the setup procedure.
Use iTunes to Activate Your iPhone Without a SIM Card
If you have an older model with iOS 11.3 or lower, you can use iTunes to set up your iPhone without a SIM card. Here’s how:
- Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer with iTunes installed.
- After iTunes identifies your device, you’ll notice a prompt to install the newest software version of iOS for your model. Download the software update.
- After installing the updates, you’ll see a prompt that reads Setup as New or Restores From Backup. Click Setup as New and hit Continue.
4. Continue with the on-page prompts to finish the Setup Process.
Use a Friends SIM Card
An alternative method is to borrow someone else’s SIM card to set up your iPhone device. You can use a separate SIM card to start and complete the setup process.
You’ll need a SIM card, SIM card removal tool, and a WiFi network. Use the SIM card and start the setup process to begin. After the setup procedure, you can remove the SIM card and use your iPhone as a WiFi-only device.
Note: If your iPhone is locked to a specific network or carrier, you’ll need to use a SIM card from the same provider.
What Can You Do on an iPhone Without a SIM Card?
An iPhone without a SIM card works more like an iPod or iPad. Although you won’t have access to network-specific features, an iPhone without a SIM card can still be a helpful device.
Here are some of the things you can do without a SIM card.
Use VOIP Apps for Text, Voice, or Video Calls
You won’t have access to standard texting and calling services without a SIM card. However, you can use several VOIP or messaging apps to communicate with friends and family.
Popular apps like WhatsApp, TextNow, Telegram, and Messenger allow you to stay in touch with other users. Simply download one of these apps from the Apple App Store using a WiFi connection to keep in touch with your friends and family.
Use Google Chrome or Safari to Browse the Web
You can use Google Chrome or Safari to browse the web if you have an active WiFi connection. Safari is built into iPhones, but you can download Google Chrome from the Apple App Store if you prefer it as your primary web browser. In addition, you can use the web browser for any task you would do if you had a SIM card installed.
Stream Movies, Videos, and TV Shows
You can use your iPhone to stream movies, videos, and tv shows, even if you don’t have a SIM card installed. In addition, you can download popular apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and more from the Apple App Store. However, you’ll need an active WiFi connection to stream media.
Use Google Navigation Offline
You can use Google Maps in offline mode even if you don’t have a SIM card and your device isn’t connected to a cellular network. You’ll need to select the offline mode in the Google Maps app and download directions ahead of time.
Although you won’t get active updates, this feature can make your iPhone incredibly functional even without a SIM card.
Use Skype for Phone Calls
You can use additional apps like Skype, Google Hangouts, and others to call standard phone numbers. Many of these services are free and do not require an active SIM card or phone number. However, you may need to make a Skype or Gmail account to access these services.