Your SIM card contains your phone number, and lets you make phone calls, send text messages, and more. SIM cards have evolved over the years and come in several sizes, including mini-, micro-, and nano-SIMs.
In summary, when you put your SIM card in another phone, the only data that will be transferred is your own phone number and possibly a few text messages and contacts saved on the SIM card. The rest of your data, including photos, videos, and other files, will remain on your old phone.
SIM Cards Change Your Number
You need to understand that when you replace your SIM card, you'll automatically be getting a new phone number since cell phone numbers are actually associated with the SIM cards and not the individual phones.
No. SIM cards do not store data.
Data that SIM cards contain include user identity, location and phone number, network authorization data, personal security keys, contact lists and stored text messages. SIM cards allow a mobile user to use this data and the features that come with them.
When you replace your SIM card in your phone, you lose access to any data on the old card. Photos, apps, and other documents that aren't stored on the SIM are not affected by the card switch.
No, removing the SIM will do nothing at all. If these are simply the screen slide to unlock pass codes, just restore the devices as new in iTunes.
What do I do with my old SIM? Dispose of it safely. Once you activate the new SIM the old one won't work anymore.
The SIM card memory is not enough to save your pictures. It stores a small amount of info including: your phone number. some contacts and text messages.
Does a SIM card hold pictures? Photos aren't stored on your SIM card, which makes it important to back up your photos if you ever decide to switch your SIM card out. If you have an iPhone, consider saving them to iCloud, or if you have an Android, save them to your SD card.
SIM cards store data specific to you, such as your contacts and phone number. SIM cards also have an ID number, or international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and a personal identification number (PIN) to protect against theft.
Plug in both phones with a cable if using one, or to charge if sending data wirelessly. Open the Smart Switch app on both phones, the app can be downloaded from the Google Play store if it isn't pre-installed. Go to Settings > Smart Switch on the new phone. Select Transfer data and click on Continue.
SIM Card Tracking
Even a dumb phone (i.e. not a smartphone) can track you through the SIM card. SIM cards connect to nearby signal towers for you to receive calls and send SMS texts, but that signal can be used to find out your location.
Text messages are stored on your phone, not on your Sim. Therefore, if someone puts your Sim card into their phone, they will not see any text messages that you have received on your phone, unless you have manually moved your SMS's to your Sim.
Additionally, SIM cards store two passwords: your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and your Personal Unblocking Key (PUK). The PIN code is required to unlock the SIM card when inserting it into a new phone or after a reboot.
The SIM card has enough memory to typically store up to 250 contacts, some of your text messages and other information that the carrier who supplied the card can utilize. Photos are not stored on SIM cards, so make sure they are backed up.
That means, when you change phone, the contacts go with you on the SIM. Although most phones now let you store them in the cloud with far more rich data like addresses, emails and even pictures. SIMS can also store SMS text messages.
The only information stored on your iPhone SIM card is your phone number and billing information related to your cellular service. This means that your contacts, text messages, photos, and other personal data are not actually stored on the iPhone SIM card.
To be extra safe, it's a good idea to remove your SIM card, which may contain your phone number, security information and billing info. To remove, locate the SIM tray (usually on the right side of your device) and insert a paperclip into the hole to pop out the tray.
Removing the SIM card will disable your ability to make calls, use mobile internet, and send or receive SMS text messages. On an iPhone this isn't always a problem, as you can still connect to Wi-Fi and use it to send iMessages — but at that point, you may as well buy an iPod Touch.
Changing your SIM card doesn't mean you'll lose your data. Your contacts, app, music, photos, and other data not stored on the SIM card will remain accessible. The only data that will be deleted is your old SIM card account information. Your Apple ID and iPhone settings are not affected.
If you have an unlocked phone and switch phone companies by simply switching out the SIM card, your messages should remain intact on your phone.
Advice? Apple doesn't store information on the sim card. Transferring the card only switches carrier service information.