A guide to SIM cards, the small chips

that connect your phone to a cellular

network
Writen by Dave Johnson 

May1,2021,12:56 AM

SIM cards are tiny chips stored inside many cell phones. Tongchai Cherdchew /
EyeEm/Getty Images
 A SIM card, or subscriber identity module, is a small card in your cellphone that
connects you to the network.
 Your SIM card contains your phone number, and lets you make phone calls, send
text messages, and more.
 SIM cards have evolved over the years and come in several sizes, including mini-,
micro-, and nano-SIMs. 

Most mobile phones rely on a small card called a SIM (subscriber identity module) to make

phone calls and send text messages. Without it, your phone isn't able to connect with the cellular

network and can only function as an internet device (the lack of a SIM card doesn't prevent your

phone from using Wi-Fi). 

What to know about SIM cards 

A SIM card is important because it stores your phone number and other important information.

Generally, you can transfer one SIM card between two phones and the new phone will inherit

your phone number without issue.

 A SIM card identifies you on the wireless network. Pheelings Media/Getty Images

Most SIM cards are provided by phone companies, and contain some basic identifying

information like serial numbers and identifying codes. These let the network know what your

phone number is, and what phone carrier you use (T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.). 

SIM cards can carry a great deal of data, like your contact list and text messages. If you change

phones, as long as you keep the SIM card, these contacts and text messages will come with you

to the new phone.

Types of SIM cards

SIM cards need to fit in mobile phones, so as time has progressed, there has been a
need for smaller cards as phones have become increasingly thin and filled with larger
batteries and more sophisticated electronics.

Today there are several kinds of SIM cards:

 Full SIM: No longer in use, the original SIM card was developed in the 1990s and
measured 86x54mm. Despite the large size, virtually all of it was a plastic card — the
actual contact surface was the same as later cards.

 Mini-SIM: Because the full-size SIM is no longer used, these days this is often
thought of as the full or standard SIM. It measures 25x15mm and the contact surface
is surrounded by a large segment of plastic.  

 Micro-SIM: A micro-SIM has the exact same contact surface but is smaller
(15x12mm) because the plastic is trimmed away, leaving a card almost entirely of just
the contact surface. 

 Nano-SIM: This is the smallest SIM format in use today. It has a smaller contact
surface, making it physically incompatible with older phones that expect a micro-
SIM. It measures 12.3x8.8mm.
 eSIM: An embedded SIM, or eSIM, is a new, emerging format in which the SIM is
embedded directly into the device and is therefore not removable. Although not
widely used, the advantage of an eSIM is that it allows you to change phones without
transferring SIM cards; the mobile operator transfers the account information
remotely. 

How to remove a SIM card

SIM cards vary in size, but they all work the same way — they're designed to be easily

transferred between phones. Your phone probably came with a small SIM card removal tool (it

looks like a small pin), but if you've misplaced yours, you can use a small paperclip.

Find the SIM tray on the side of your phone and insert the SIM tool or paperclip in the hole; the

tray should pop out easily.