How to Disable (and Keep) Your SIM Card While Traveling
One of the benefits of an unlocked iPhone is that you can disable your SIM card while traveling. International phone plans are expensive and it is often much cheaper to buy a new card and local data plan than paying a daily or monthly or usage fee to your carrier.
So how do you remove your primary SIM card when you travel abroad?
- Take your phone and paperclip.
- Turn off your phone.
- Locate the SIM card tray on the right side of the device.
- Insert a paperclip into the tiny hole in the card tray, gently push down and pull the tray out.
- Remove the SIM card and store it in a safe place.
An easy way to make sure you can swap SIM cards quickly – for example, as soon as you land in the US – is to wear a paperclip on your keychain or attach it to your wallet.
My preferred storage location for my primary SIM is written on the cover of my passport. The tiny SIM card is likely to disappear if you throw it in your suitcase or purse, and while your wallet (and your luggage) is easy to lose or steal, your passport is one of the few things you should keep track of while you abroad.
(If your passport is lost or stolen, your problems are worse than your missing SIM card.)
Of course, if you need to hand over your passport for any reason, attach the SIM card to the inside of your coin pocket or some other place that you will often pay attention to.