''Sim Not Valid'' on activation screen! *PLEASE HELP*

If you purchase a phone from Verizon, then if you are in the US, then you can only ever use this phone in the US on Verizon and no other operator because Verizon is a CDMA carrier and in the US, then it is locked to Verizon and if in the US, then you need to have a contract with Verizon to be able to use the phone.

However, the Verizon phone does have a GSM sim card tray and this is unlocked and intended for international travel, so that you can use local sim cards in your phone whilst travelling and no incur international roaming charges.

The problem may be that if you are in the US and you are trying to insert a sim card into the phone to activate it that is a GSM sim card, then this will not work because in the US you will only be able to use the Verizon phone on the Verizon CDMA network and no other. If you put a sim card in, this will be local sim cards that are intended to be used whilst travelling.

Also, don't post personal information on this forum - it is a user to user technical support forum and you are NOT talking to Apple here.

Firstly, Apple will NOT reply to you here - this is a user to user technical support forum and not monitored by Apple.

Also, what both Apple and Verizon have told you are both true. Verizon tell you that the phone is unlocked and this is true, because all Verizon phones have a GSM portion to the phone and this is unlocked to use with local sim cards internationally, so yes, the GSM portion of the phone is unlocked in this respect.

What Apple have told you about the phone being locked to Verizon is also true - a Verizon phone is a CDMA phone and works on the CDMA networks, which is different from GSM and the phone is locked to Verizon in the US, so if you go to the US, then you can never use the phone on any other network other than Verizon, so yes, in this respect the phone is locked to Verizon in the US because if you go to the US you will only ever be able to use the phone with Verizon, but the GSM portion of the phone is unlocked, so if you live in Germany, then you can use both a Vodafone and 02 sim card with the phone or any other local sim card that you want and the phone will work.

So what you have been told about the phone by both Apple and Verizon are correct - the phone is locked to Verizon, but only for use in the US on the CDMA Verizon network. Other than that, the GSM portion of the phone is unlocked.

Same.I bought iPhone 6 on ebay (USA). I'm from Ukraine.

Activation fails.

Serial Number: DNWPQU83G5MD

Initial Activation Policy ID: 2320

MEID:

Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56 Service

Policy IMEI: 359303065886587

Applied Activation Policy ID: 2320

Part Description: iPhone 6

Applied Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56

Service Policy Product Version: 10.3.1

Next Tether Policy ID: 2320

Last Restore Date:

Next Tether Activation Policy Description: US GSM/VZW N61/N56

Service Policy Bluetooth MAC Address:

First Unbrick Date: 17/11/15

Last Unbrick Date:

Unbricked:

Unlocked: false

First of all Guys, i am pretty excited and happy to inform you that my device got unlocked internationally. Thanks a Lot to spire88 for providing the detailed information, i really appreciate that since some people without understanding the issue were just posting some generic unrelated solutions and making the people affected by this panic. So from my end clarifying to everyone who falls under this situation, no need to Panic since its a very quick resolution, it took me 1 hour to get this thing resolved below are the steps:

1. Reach out to Apple Support team through Chat

2. Inform the issue that the device activation policy is set to

3. Tell him to update the activation policy to since your device is fully paid and unlocked.

Information to keep handy:

a. Receipt of your original Device (in case swapped with a replacement device)

b. Serial numbers/IMEI's of both devices (in case swapped with a replacement device)

If you clarify the above step 1 & 2, to the representative then he will escalate the issue to Activation engineers and a ticket will be raised which has a resolution window of 24 hours. (Mine got resolved in 1 Hr).

4. Upon updating the activation policy, the device needs to be backed up and restored. (Links below)

5. The service policy will be updated and you device will be fully unlocked for use in Any country in this globe. 😀

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203977

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204184

Thanks again Spire88 for the valuable information. Cheers Guys! Get this thing resolved.

Well, it's 33% correct 😉. You can use a Verizon phone on AT&T and T-Mobile in the US, but not on Sprint, because Sprint is a CDMA carrier. The others are GSM carriers.

I purchased a Verizon iPhone SE from Target in Houston. They linked a sim card to the phone for activation however I did not activate it and send it to Turkey for my sister because I wanted her to open the box herself. She ended up with not valid sim card error. Verizon`s global support team says the phone is unlocked in US and Internationally but Apple says the phone can only be activated in US then my sister can put a Turkey carrier sim card. I have been talking to Apple and Verizon they are keep blaming each other. I was told to pay off the device and own then Apple could help me out but they did not help and they are saying Verizon has to make it internationally unlock on their system so they can override that initial activation policy since I own the device. Apple can see that I paid off the device however they are saying Verizon has to submit it to them. Verizon says they see the device internationally unlocked on Apple`s servers. I really need help at this point. I do not want my sister send the phone back to US and then me activate it here and send it back to Turkey. Even a tier 2 senior from Apple told me do this. Come on it is 2017 and someone who has access to it can just solve this with some mouse clicks. I`m so frustrated. I will try to talk to a lawyer and see if I can sue both companies.

Target does not sell unlocked iPhones. But they lie about it and say they do. the only place to buy unlocked phones is from Apple directly. Target sells phones that will work with any US carrier until they are activated; they then lock to the first carrier they are used with.

Hello Lawrence,

I have read everything here but you are keep replying for nothing. You did not add any value which someone already mentioned earlier. Please stop replying if it is not gonna help at all. Your response does not help me. Please stop just replying to be heard...

Hello everyone,

I talked to an Apple care senior on the phone and I was able to convince her to send a request to Apple engineers so they can fix the problem on Apple activation servers. Now I am waiting a response from them whether they are going to fix it or not. I will let you know when my problem get solved.

-iPhone Se 16GB Gold

-Paid off and own the device

-Never activated brand new Verizon iPhone that needs to be activated in US with Verizon sim card than can be used overseas.

-Apple activation servers require the phone to be activated with a Verizon sim card in US

I will post when and where I want to. You are not the forum police ("hosts"). The reason you see a lot of repeat information is the fact that the vast majority of users posting to a thread don't bother to read it before posting. I congratulate you because you did, but you are exceptional.

Sanu951753 wrote:

Similar to this I have an same with my iPhone 6.

It is saying that SIM card error.

So plz give

What is the exact error message? There are several different possible SIM card errors.

I too have the same problem with an iPhone 6 128GB Verizon Wireless carrier, now the problem is that I have two iPhone 6's being used in Germany both purchased from Verizon Wireless was told both phones are Factory Unlocked. Now the 128GB device is giving me a SIM Not Valid message. I was on the phone with Verizon Wireless and Apple for 4 days and wasted several hours of my time. Finally I spoke with a Senior Adviser that submitted a request to the Apple Engineers. From my understanding this an error with the Apple Server that validates your iPhone's IMEI and or a Synchronization issue between Verizon Wireless's database and Apple's servers. Verizon has told me that the iPhone is unlocked but then Apple says the phone is locked to Verizon. Again I am using two iPhone 6's in Germany with Vodafone and o2 carriers, one iPhone accepts the SIM card and the other one does not. The one giving the error message "SIM Not Valid" does not even accept the Verizon Wireless SIM card. I think Apple needs to pay close attention to this issue and get it resolved asap. They have sold millions of this device and made good money. So they need to stand behind their product and figure out this problem or they need to really hire people who are Tech Savvy. I am sorry but Speaking with High Level Tech Support Groups from both Verizon and Apple and I feel they have no knowledge of how this how iTunes Activation Server and Apple Activation works. The iPhone has been Factory Restore via iTunes DFU mode and still no luck. Waiting for Apple to respond back, hopefully some good news.

All Verizon 4G LTE phones, iPhones and other phones, are totally GSM SIM unlocked. You can find a statement to that effect on Verizon's own website.

You can use the Verizon iPhone 5, 5S, 6, 6+ on Verizon, ATT or TMobile in the US, and with whatever foreign carriers that the phone's GSM bands support.

The above statement that the Verizon iPhone is locked to Verizon in the US is not correct.

NKAL2004 wrote:

IThe one giving the error message "SIM Not Valid" does not even accept the Verizon Wireless SIM card.

This indicates either a defective SIM or a hardware issue with the phone. It has nothing to do with the phone being locked or unlocked. The key fact is that it doesn't accept a Verizon SIM.