Old sim card in new phone (Will it work?)

Old sim card in new phone? How possible will the old sim card in a new phone.

This is what we will be looking at on this very post, the possibility of using an old sim card in a new phone.

So you bought a brand new phone and trying to figure out if you should upgrade your sim card to a newer model, or probably use the old sim card in the new phone.

Let’s proceed to that, possibility of using an old sim card in new phone.

Old sim card in new phone will it work?

Old sim card in new phone will work if the old sim card is not damaged, and compatible with the new phone.

However, there are certain things you should know while planning to use an old sim card in a new phone. They are listed below;

1. The cellular network

I don’t recommend using an old sim card in a new phone if the new phone is of 5G network and the old sim card does not support the 5G network.

For example, you bought a new Samsung galaxy s21 ultra which has a 5G network, but your sim card can only support a 4G network. In this case I don’t recommend you using the old sim card in the new phone unless there’s no 5G network coverage in your location.

However, if the old sim card supports the 5G network, then you don’t need to bother yourself asking the possibility of old sim card in new phone.

You should use the old sim card in the new phone as long as the old sim card is compatible or support the 5G network.

2. Carrier locked phone

This is very essential and you need to look out for this aspect, if the new phone is carrier locked and the old sim card is of  a different network with the new phone.

In this case you cannot use the old sim card in the new phone unless the sim card is of the same network with the locked phone.

However, you can chose to unlock the phone though it will cost you a lot of money especially if you bought a the phone newly.

Carrier network is another thing to look for on this aspect of old sim card in new phone.

If the phone is locked and the sim is from a different carrier network, then there’s no need cause you need to get a new sim card that is compatible with the new locked phone.

Many a time, locked phones usually comes with a sim card inside the phone pack. All you need to do is to activate and swap the sim with your old sim card and you’re good to go.

3. The sim card size

old sim card in new phone

The sim card size plays an important role on this topic of old sim card in new phone. If the old sim card is of a mini or micro sim, while the phone is of a nano sim then there’s no way you can use the old sim card in the new phone unless you go ahead and cut the sim card.

However, I don’t recommend this option of cutting the sim card but rather you should contact your network provider and request for a sim replacement.

Remember, sim replacement or sim swap will still retain your old phone number so you shouldn’t bother about that.


You can read more:


These are the major things to look out for on this very topic of old sim card in new phone. What matters most is the cellular network coverage, and if the new phone is compatible with the sim card.

The reason why most people tends to change their sim card to a new one is in the case where the old sim card does not support their cellular network service like the 5G network.

This should be one of the most important thing you should bear in mind immediately you purchased a brand new phone that supports a 5G network.

In general there’s nothing wrong to use old sim card in new phone as long as the old sim card is compatible with the new phone. 

Do new sim cards work in old phones?

The simply answer is yes. New sim cards perfectly work in old sim as long as the new sim card fits into the old phone, and it is compatible with the old phone.

What makes you think new sim cards cannot work in old phones, you’re very wrong if you’re thought so. I tell you a new sim card can properly work in an old phone as long as the new sim card fits into the old phone sim slot.

One major factor that hinders the use of a new sim card in an old phone is the size of the sim card and the size of the phone sim slot.

Old phones tends to have a mini or micro sim slot which is not compatible with the new sim cards which is usually a nano sim.

However, if the sim slot of the old phone isn’t the pull out type of sim slot, then there’s a way to adjust the nano sim to work in the old phone.

There are some people that thinks that using an old sim card in a new phone will cause a poor network coverage but that is not the case as old sim card doesn’t cause network hitches in a mobile phone.

How to put old sim card into new iphone

To put old sim card into a new iPhone, simply pull out the sim card slot, insert your sim card into the sim slot and slide it into your iPhone. 

If your sim card is a nano sim, you shouldn’t bother asking how to put old sim card into new iphone because it will perfectly fit into your iPhone. What matters most is whether your sim card is compatible with your iPhone in terms of your iPhone being locked to a specific network carrier.

However, if your phone is fully unlocked then you are good to go. 

But if your area or environment have a 5G network then I don’t see the need and the reason to use your old sim card in new iPhone especially if the iPhone support 5G network service. 

These are the things you should know when it comes to using an old sim card in a new iPhone. Remember, to upgrade your sim card to a 5G sim card doesn’t cost much at all and it only requires a sim swap from your network provider and you are good to go.

Can i use my old sim card in my new iphone 13

The simple answer is yes. You can use your old sim card in your new iPhone 13 but only if your sim card is nano sim and support 5G network service. 

iPhone 13 is one of the phones that support 5G network and it will be such a shame that you leave in an area where there’s a 5G network and you chose to use your old 4G sim card in a 5G phone. 

If your old sim card doesn’t support 5G network then there is no need using the old sim in your new iPhone 13, 13 pro or iPhone 13 pro max. Rather what you have to do is to contact your network provider and request to upgrade your sim card to a 5G sim card.

Many a time they will do it for free without any charges or it may cost $3 to get a new 5G sim card and swap it with your old sim card. Remember, the phone number won’t change and everything that is stored in your old sim card will be transferred to your new 5G sim card. 

Can i use my old sim card in a new unlocked phone? 

Yes you can use your old sim card in a new unlocked phone and everything will work perfectly fine. 

However, I will repeat this once again. 

If you happen to buy a 5G new phone while your old sim card doesn’t support 5G network service, then I see no reason to use old sim card in new unlocked phone. Now what you have to do is to get a new 5G sim card and do a sim swap with your old sim card. 

All the data plus your phone number will be moved or transferred to the new sim card. 

If you don’t know how to do it, kindly contact your network service provider to help you out. 


You can read more:


I do hope to have properly explained the question of old sim card in new phone will it work. As you can see, you don’t have any problem using an old sim in a new phone as long as they are compatible with each other.

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

Leave a Comment