Q: How to update iOS 9.3 without SIM card

I updated to the previous IOS' with the same physical issue of the phone not recognising a SIM fine. No errors at all.

While a SIM may have always been required to "Activate" the phone, activation has not always been necessary to update the iOS.

I use an iPhone 5S that I purchased in Japan with wifi and internet-based phone services (such as Google Hangouts) in the U.S., and no longer have the original SIM card from the Japanese carrier (because I live in the U.S. now). I have been updating my phone's iOS without a SIM for almost a year now, and it has never once asked me to Activate or required a SIM to update the iOS.

I think what these other users (and I) are asking is, why would Apple require Activation as part of the regular iOS update when a passcode sufficed previously? And is there any way to verify my identity (such as entering the Apple account and password connected with the phone) so that I can use my phone still? I am not particularly hopeful, as there appear to be no other menu options to select/try, but I have to ask.

If there is no way around the Activation as part of this upgrade, is there any way to go back to the previous iOS? (Again, not very hopeful, but I have to ask.)

Thanks for your help and patience, KiltedTim.

The need to re-activate may depend on a number of factors including how you updated (over the air or via iTunes) as well as the extent of the changes in the update.

There's no need for Apple to warn anyone when a SIM has always been required for activation.

You can not downgrade and even if you could, you would still have to activate the phone at this point. You will need a SIM from the Japanese carrier the phone is locked to in order to proceed. There's no way around this.

As I suspected. But it was worth asking! Thanks again.

This is for FelipeV.

When an iPhone is no longer useable as a phone, it makes a really excellent music player!!!  Maybe you might have given your answer just a little bit of thought before trying to sound so smug.

I have used my iPhone 4s with all the software updates successfully until 9.0.3, which will not allow me past this screen even though it is on my wireless network.

Have tried iTunes and this also failes to work.

So, yes there is a very good reason!!

Lastly if you are into ecology at all, it has kept this out of the junk heap.

Would really like to see some help in this forum, not people trying to sound superior.

Level 7 huh?

It has been recommended on countless tech site to use an old iPhone as a music player, so I have used my iPhone 4s as such while it is no longer functioning as a phone!!

Therefore the picture is not self explanatory.

If you cannot be helpful, maybe just don't respond?

Level 9, really?

Again, an older iPhone makes a great music player; I HAVE UPDATED every time a new software comes out WITHOUT A SIM CARD IN THE PHONE!!!!

If you can't help just maybe go on to something else/

KiltedTim is correct.

A sim has always been required to update.

It doesnt have to be active but it still needs to be there.

*edit*

You have an iphone 5?

Is the phone carrier unlocked?

If so, restore the device in itunes again and when the carrier selection screen comes up, select Straight talk.

It will let you bypass the sim requirement.

Its a long shot though.

Straight from the Straight Talk site at http://iphone.straighttalk.com/

7. Does my iPhone use a SIM card?

No. Although your iPhone on Straight Talk may contain a SIM slot, DO NOT insert a SIM card into it. Your iPhone on Straight Talk works on a CDMA network; inserting a SIM card could alter your settings and stop it from working properly.

The answer (which was well thought out) is the same as you (and others) have been told. At some point, updates requiere (re)activation And having the warning you suggest is pointless as the PRIMARY function of an iPHONE is well, a phone, which by extension requires a SIM to function. Therefore your "problem" will probably not be encountered by many who happen to use the phone as a phone.

And, yes, we all have iPhones that we use as iPods. I have two. And they have inactive SIMs. Nothing new here. So perhaps you ought to get an inactive SIM, and your problem will be solved.

And, please, the holier than though ecologist attitude: there are many other green ways of recycling an iPhone other than using it as an iPod. But you already knew that, didn't you?

Have a nice day.

Tim and others here have helped. You just refuse to accept the facts and won't be happy until everybody agrees with your point of view, which is exactly that..a point of view and which is probably not shared by TPTB at Apple.

If it still bothers you can tell Apple at:

www.apple.com/feedback

Maybe they will listen to you and put a BIG warning on the screen when you attempt to activate without a SIM.

To FelipeV:

To answer for you question, My friend had a contract with a Japanese carrier. He quit the contract after 2 years but he could keep the Iphone 5.

He is using it to listen internet radio at home via wifi and all his contacts and pictures are in it. So yes, some people use it without a sim card at home.

To Joeycrunch:

Your Japanese Iphone is locked to which carrier? Softbank, Au or Docomo?

If you have google chrome on your computer, it can translate webpages. You have to fix it in the settings.

Just gooogle amazon japan and search pre-paid cards.  Thats how I got my softbank pre-paid card.

My friend has an AU Iphone5 and its locked now after the update, so I ordered him an AU pre-paid activated sim card from Amazon Japan.

If you have some friends in Japan maybe you can order the simcard to them. And they can forward the package to you once they get it.

The Au simcard that I ordered cost me about 1.5 - 2 bucks. Its worth a try.

Zsedenyia wrote:

 

He is using it to listen internet radio at home via wifi and all his contacts and pictures are in it. So yes, some people use it without a sim card at home.

 

 

Yes, we know that so no need to lecture on that point. But that is not the PRIMARY use for a phone. Therefore the warning you seem to think is so important, is pointless. 99% of iPhone users will never encounter the problem you are having.

The message is pretty self explanatory, if you had bothered to read it. Al the answers have been helpful. You just do not want to accept reality...

I was able to successfully update my iPhone 5 to 9.3 without a SIM card, but my iPhone 4s will not 'activate' after the upgrade (even though I am not trying to activate it for use as a phone).  For those who say that a SIM card has always been required: no, this is not true, at least as a practical matter, even if it was true as a matter of policy.  And I've never seen that written as policy, so please provide proof of your statement that a SIM has always been required.

The lesson here is that I will not upgrade my (non-SIM-containing) iPhone 5 any more, for fear that it will be rendered useless just as my iPhone 4s has been.  Note to Apple: this is not a good way to encourage people to upgrade.

A SIM is and always has been required to activate the phone except in the case of CDMA iPhones. Uf an update results in a need to re-activate the phone, the SIM will be required.