Do you own an iPhone with a physical SIM card? Then it could be that you have forgotten the PIN code of your SIM card. In theory, you rarely have to enter it and then there is a chance that you forget it sometimes. Then you have to enter the PUK code on your iPhone, but how do you do that?
If you enter the PIN code of your SIM card incorrectly several times, there is a chance that it will be blocked. You can then unblock it with the PUK code. However, it is not always clear how to enter it.
PIN code blocked
Have you forgotten the PIN code of your SIM card and have you tried to enter the correct one three times? Then the SIM card will be blocked. You can then unlock and restore it via the PUK code (Personal Unblocking Key). This code consists of 8 digits and can be retrieved in three ways:
- Check the PUK card you received with the SIM card
- You can usually find the PUK code in your personal environment on your provider’s account page or app
- Please consult your provider’s customer service to resolve the issue
Good to know, you can only try to enter the correct PUK code ten times, after that the card will be permanently blocked and you will have to request a new SIM card.
Enter PUK code iPhone
If the SIM card is blocked, you must enter the PUK code, but it is not always clear in iOS how to do this. You can only enter the PUK code if the iPhone asks for it. If you do not get a pop-up message, you must force it.
Reboot your iPhone and wait until you are asked to enter your PUK code. If this does not work? Then remove the SIM card from the devicewait for a few moments and then insert it again. Then the pop-up message will appear to enter the code.
Switching to eSIM
Several carriers support eSIM, not only for dual SIM, but also for the traditional SIM card. On the iPhone XS, XR, 11 (Pro) and 12 (Pro) you can have one eSIM active at a time. Since the iPhone 13 (Pro) you can use two eSIMs on the device.
If you still have a physical SIM card, you can exchange it for an eSIM. This way you can immediately benefit from all kinds of advantages. This is a digital SIM card. This does the same as a normal physical SIM card, but is already built into the phone. In the highlighted article below we list all the steps and advantages for you.