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how to activate iphone 5 without sim card

i wanna use this phone but just as an ipod and it will only activate with a sim card. how can i bypass this or just use my iphone as a ipod, cause i already have a phone????????????/ please help

iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Aug 25, 2013 6:03 PM

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Posted on Sep 15, 2017 5:40 PM

You cannot activate an iPhone without a SIM. If the device is locked to a carrier, which the error you indicate says that it is, then you can contact Apple Support and ask and they should be able to provide you with the answer. Once you find out who the carrier the device is locked to is, you can see if they provide unlocking services, and if you qualify. If you do, you can request the unlock and then you can use whatever SIM you wish. See this about the unlocking of an iPhone. How to unlock your iPhone - Apple Support

90 replies

Jan 19, 2016 8:04 AM in response to james12343454

james12343454 wrote:


No you cant because it says this sim card is deactivated and you have to havean activated one

That is not correct. You need to have a SIM card that was activated at some time in the past, but it does not have to be currently activated to set up an iPhone without a cellular data plan. It DOES have to be for the carrier the phone is locked to, if the phone is SIM-locked.


BTW, did you notice that the post you responded to was 2 1/2 years old?

Apr 28, 2016 12:20 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I know this is an old thread, but I think my experience might help others. I bought an iPhone5s from a factory authorized refurbisher on ebay, $180. Thought that was a good deal. It's a Verizon phone. Turning on the iPhone for the first time, starting the "Hello" set up I could get as far as selecting my language, but that's it--said needed a SIM card to go on.


Went (in person) to the Verizon corporate store (not just an authorized retailer) in the Bridgewater Commons Mall in New Jersey, USA. I showed him the phone and the message, and said I wanted a SIM card and he said. sure I can activate that. But, I said that I want to keep using my old phone, just want the new phone for WiFi and he said, without hesitation, "We can't do that. But the Apple store can (he pointed down the hall)."


So I walked down the hall of the mall to the Apple store. They had a new Verizon branded SIM card that they put in my iPhone for free, and it's up and working, I can log in with my apple id, browse the internet, download Apps, use google maps (only when I have WiFi) but can't make calls or txts.


Good luck everyone!

Jul 9, 2016 12:26 PM in response to Jonas_Enterprise

Jonas_Enterprise wrote:


how to use iphone without sim card

Using an iPhone without a SIM is not a problem once the device has been activated. You cannot use it as a cellular phone, but you can use it with wi-fi. The only thing is that you need a SIM to activate a phone. You cannot activate the phone for use without a SIM. If you take the time to read through this entire thread you will have found that answer.

how to activate iphone 5 without sim card

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