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using an iPhone just as a camera, without ever connecting to a carrier

I would like to use an iPhone (a used XR that someone gave me) just as a camera, rather than connecting it to a carrier for phone service. Any advice about doing this would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Posted on Jun 21, 2021 2:36 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 27, 2021 3:03 PM

I forgot to ask, does the iPhone have to have a sim card in it, in order for me to use it only as a camera, never connected to a carrier?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-WylzC

3 replies

Jun 22, 2021 12:30 PM in response to WylzC

Hello WylzC.


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you'd like to use your iPhone for just the camera and not have to use cellular service with it. Allow us to share some information with you. If you were gifted an iPhone and it's been erased back to factory settings, you can set it up by following the steps listed in the resource below:


Set up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


Review step number 3, it states "You need to connect to a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, or iTunes to activate and continue setting up your device". So if you're setting up your device, all you need is a Wi-Fi network, plus your own Apple ID. If you don't have an Apple ID, the resource below can show you how to create one:


How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support


We hope this information is useful. Best of luck.

using an iPhone just as a camera, without ever connecting to a carrier

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