If security is essential for you, you might have chosen to add and enable a PIN code for your SIM card on your iPhone. That means that each time you turn your iPhone on, it asks you to unlock the SIM card by entering its PIN. What if you have forgotten it? In that case, you need to use a PUK code to bypass the PIN code and set a new one. However, where do you enter the PUK code on an iPhone? If you want to see how to enter the PUK code on an iPhone, read on:
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NOTE: For this tutorial, we used an iPhone SE running iOS 12.3. If you are using a different iPhone model or another iOS version, things might not look exactly the same, but they should be similar.
What to do if you forgot your SIM PIN?
Unless you manually disabled the SIM PIN, each time you turn on your iPhone, it asks you to enter the SIM card's PIN code to enable it. When it does, you have to type the correct code on a screen that looks like this:
SIM is locked on an iPhone
What if you cannot remember the PIN code of your SIM card? You might try to guess it, but unfortunately, you can only do so three times, after which your SIM card locks and your iPhone can't use the SIM anymore.
Then, it asks you to enter the so-called PUK, which is the PIN Unlock Key. You should be able to obtain it from your mobile carrier or find it in your SIM card's box. If you need detailed help on that, here are 3 ways to get the PUK code of your SIM card.
Where to enter the PUK code on an iPhone?
Right after you enter the wrong PIN code for your SIM card for the third time, your iPhone shows the PUK screen. If you know the PUK code, you can type it right now.
Enter the PUK on an iPhone
If you accidentally closed the PUK code screen, the fastest way you can get back to it is to open the Phone app and try to call someone. When you do that, your iPhone tries to access the SIM card but it can't because it is locked, so it reopens the PUK screen.
Use the Phone app to call someone and trigger the PUK screen
How to enter the PUK code on an iPhone?
On the PUK screen, type the PUK code and press OK.
Take care to enter the correct PUK code because if you enter it wrong ten times over, your SIM card becomes unusable and you need to ask a replacement from your mobile carrier.
Enter the PUK code on an iPhone
If you entered the correct PUK, your iPhone bypasses the PIN code of your SIM and then asks you to create a new PIN.
Create a new PIN code for the SIM card
Confirm the new PIN code for your SIM and tap OK.
Confirm the new PIN code for the SIM card
Wait for a couple of moments until your iPhone connects to your mobile network. When you see your mobile carrier listed on the top-left corner, you are done.
Check to see if the iPhone unlocked the SIM
Did you manage to use the PUK code to unlock your iPhone's SIM card?
As you have seen, entering the PUK code to unlock your SIM card's PIN is easy, as long as you know that PUK code. Did you manage to recover your SIM card? Did you have any issues during this process? If you have anything to add or ask, feel free to use the comments section below.
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