How to Remove Your iPhone's SIM Card

If Gazelle's condition calculator appraises your iPhone at an enticing value, then it's time to focus on removing the SIM card from your AT&T iPhone, cancelling service to your Verizon iPhone, wiping your personal data, restoring your iPhone software settings and preparing your iPhone for shipment.

Removing Your iPhone SIM card (GSM/AT&T models)

Your SIM card stores information that uniquely identifies your phone on a cellular network. By removing your SIM card, you protect your private service-subscriber key and free your phone to be resold on the second-hand market.

If you have an iPhone 2G, 3G, or 3GS, locate the SIM card tray in the top edge of the casing, between the headphone jack and power button. If you have an iPhone 4, 4S, or 5, locate the tray on the right edge of the casing. Gently insert Apple's SIM card removal tool or a straightened paperclip into the pin-sized hole in the SIM card tray. Once you release the catch in bottom of the hole, the SIM tray will eject from the phone body. Remove your card from the tray and reinsert the tray so it is secure and flush with the casing.

Deactivating Your iPhone 4, 4S, & 5 (Verizon & Sprint models)

Unlike an iPhone on AT&T's GSM network, Verizon & Sprint associates your CDMA iPhone 4, 4S, and 5 with your cell phone service by using a built-in mobile equipment identifier (MEID), rather than a removable SIM card. Disassociating your phone from your account requires a phone call to Verizon or Sprint’s customer service. First, retrieve your iPhone's MEID from the Settings > General > About menu and record the value in the MEID field.

Next, call Verizon or Sprint’s customer service number and request that they completely disassociate your phone from your account. Let them know that you'll be selling your phone on the second-hand market and be sure that your iPhone's MEID is clear for use on a different account. The carrier may require additional time to process your request—possibly up to your next billing cycle—so be sure to get the official date of deactivation.