The SIM card or eSIM is your device's ticket to the T-Mobile network!
On this page:
What's a SIM card / eSIM?
SIM card
- A SIM card is a small chip that contains information your device needs to connect to the T-Mobile network.
- T-Mobile SIM cards come with adapters to allow for use with Nano, Micro, or Standard SIM sized devices.
eSIM
- Embedded SIM (eSIM) is just a SIM card gone digital, so you don't have to wait for a physical SIM.
- Just download your eSIM over Wi-Fi and connect to the T-Mobile network in minutes!
Set up your SIM card
If you're an existing T-Mobile customer upgrading to a new device, contact us to activate your new SIM card before following these steps.
- With the device off, open the SIM card tray and insert the SIM card.
- For orders with multiple device, use the order confirmation email to see which SIM card goes in which device.
- Here's a short video to guide you through the process.
- Turn the device on. Your service should be working.
- If you're bringing your own device from a different carrier or company and data isn't working, add T-Mobile's APN settings.
- If you don't see bars of signal, check out No Service Troubleshooting.
- If you're bringing your own device from a different carrier or company and data isn't working, add T-Mobile's APN settings.
- To transfer data from your old device, see Set up a new T-Mobile phone.
- Contact us if you want to transfer an existing phone number to T-Mobile.
The steps for activating your new SIM depend on which SIM card you got:
SIM card with Magenta sleeve
If you received a T-Mobile SIM in the packaging shown below, please follow the enclosed instructions or visit www.sprint.com/sim to activate.
SIM card without Magenta sleeve
If your SIM card didn't have a Magenta sleeve, choose which device type you're activating:
- New device and new SIM: Visit www.sprint.com/activate and follow the steps.
- Current device and new SIM: Visit www.sprint.com/simswap and follow the steps.
I just signed up for T-Mobile Home Internet
The SIM card is already in your device and active! Check out Getting Started with T-Mobile Home Internet for information on device placement and setup.
I replaced my Home Internet Gateway
You'll need to remove the SIM card from your old gateway and insert it into the replacement. Choose your device below:
Buy a SIM card
- Postpaid: See our SIM card page to order online. You can also find one in a T-Mobile store.
- Prepaid: See the Prepaid SIM Card page to order online. You can also stop by a store.
Set up your eSIM
If you're switching between Apple & Android, don't have your old device, or have a Prepaid plan, contact us to activate your eSIM before following these steps.
There’s a few ways to setup your eSIM:
- During the initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing iPhone.
- If you've already set up your iPhone and are connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone will prompt you when the T-Mobile Cellular Plan is ready to be installed.
- Didn't get a prompt or chose to activate later? You can activate your eSIM from the device Settings > Cellular.
- To activate a new Prepaid account, check out the T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app.
- During initial setup, you'll be prompted to activate an eSIM or transfer one from an existing device.
- If you've already set up your Samsung and are connected to Wi-Fi, choose Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM to transfer the eSIM from another device.
- Our Tutorials have steps for supported devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S22.
- eSIM Quick Transfer not supported on T-Mobile For Business.
- Contact us so we can activate your eSIM.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and scan the QR code. Check in Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network for most Androids.
- Our Tutorials have steps for supported devices, like the Motorola razr 5G.
QR code
Contact us to activate your eSIM before scanning the QR code.
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Get help with your eSIM
- For Apple devices, check out Apple eSIM troubleshooting.
- For Samsung devices, check out Samsung eSIM troubleshooting.
- Bringing your own device? Make sure it's compatible.
Watch our video on installing SIM cards!
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