SIM card locks overnight after iOS 26 update

I have seen this reported a lot this week. It could be that the phone is restarting. Possibly battery problem, possibly iOS. Is it on charge when it happens?

report it https://apple.com/feedback

A workaround might be using eSIM

PeterB889 wrote:

Both my SIM and eSIM did this overnight. iPhone 13 iOS 26.0.1

Setting a PIN on eSIM would surely be pointless? SIM PINs are to protect the SIM when removed by a thief. I understand that the eSIM-only iphone air no longer has SIM PIN fundtion.

The phone probably restarted. Report it at https://apple.com/feedback as it seems to be a growing problem

biyiklioglu wrote:

As the name suggests, uptime resets with every reboot.

You can check it from a terminal like iSH with the uptime command.

OK if it was happening to me (it did it a couple if times last year) I would go eSIM (I did)

jean-françois16 wrote:

hello,

I have the same problem with my iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 26.1, when I wake up almost once a week I find the iPhone with the sim needing to re enter the PIN code to re connect to the network .

The iPhone was connected to its 18W charger during the night so I suppose it is resetting during the night …

do you know when will a fix be released ?

Thank you

The advice remains, unlock your SIMs until this is fixed, or change to unlocked eSIMs

Then report it https://apple.com/feedback

report it https://apple.com/feedback

miguelbfrom wrote:

Happening the same to me after a Clean install of iOS 26.1

iPhone 15 Pro

Yes it was not fixed yet

• Unlock your SIM(s)
• Report it https://apple.com/feedback

UserL10 wrote:

I’ve experienced the same issue with my iPhone 13. It started after updating to iOS 26.0.1, and I’ve temporarily disabled the SIM PIN until Apple releases a fix.

One morning, I woke up around 6:10 and noticed my iPhone — which had been charging overnight — repeatedly turning the screen on and off. That might be related to the issue causing the SIM to get disabled.

Thank you, that helped by confirming that it was not the SIM misbehaving, but rather the phone turning off and on.

Happened to my wife last night, she missed a dentist call.

It IS an option to unlock the SIM, just cancel the SIM with your provider if the phone is stolen, and be aware of scammers later

then report it https://apple.com/feedback

gn2302 wrote:

This happens to me almost every night

turn off SIM PIN until it is resolved or go unlocked eSIM

then report it https://apple.com/feedback

Yes, we know, and it happened in 26.0, the advice remains

• unlock your SIM until this us no longer bug
• Move to eSIM or if you have them never lock an eSIM

I’ve experienced the same issue with my iPhone 13. It started after updating to iOS 26.0.1, and I’ve temporarily disabled the SIM PIN until Apple releases a fix.

One morning, I woke up around 6:10 and noticed my iPhone — which had been charging overnight — repeatedly turning the screen on and off. That might be related to the issue causing the SIM to get disabled.

Having the same issue on iPhone 14 pro.

It only happens overnight when the phone is not in use.

Apparently there is no phone restarts based on the uptime value yet it asks for the SIM pin.

It is very annoying.

biyiklioglu wrote:

Having the same issue on iPhone 14 pro.

It only happens overnight when the phone is not in use.

Apparently there is no phone restarts based on the uptime value yet it asks for the SIM pin.

It is very annoying.

Would “uptime” record a 30 second gap? How are you observing that?

Kim-from-belgium wrote:

I have the same issue, both e-sim's are being locked during night on the charger.

Even tonight when I updated yesterday to ios 26.1 the bug is still present

There is absolutely no point in locking eSIMs, nobody can take them out and use them, unlock them and move on.

Same problem with Iphone 15. It's unnerving. After the last update it doesn't happen every single night, just around twice a week, but it still does. They need to solve this! With old parents you can't have your phone shutting down randomly when it feels like doing it.