If you want to activate a used iPhone, you have a few options. The first option is the easiest: take it to an AT&T Wireless store (or Verizon/Sprint Store for CDMA iPhones), set up a new account, and receive a new SIM card. A second option is to jailbreak the iPhone and use it as an iPod touch without phone service. A third option is to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone for use on another carrier like T-Mobile.
Take the iPhone to AT&T Wireless
If a friend or loved one gives you their old iPhone, you can make it your own by taking it to an AT&T store and telling them you have an old iPhone and would like to use it as your own. You’ll have to sign up for AT&T service, and they’ll give you a new sim card. Once you install the SIM card, you can activate the iPhone at home using iTunes. This is by far the easiest way to activate and reuse an old iPhone.
Can I Use a Carrier Other Than AT&T or Verizon?
It is possible to unlock the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, 3GS, and GSM iPhone 4 so that they work on T-Mobile in the US, although they won’t work on T-Mobile’s 3G data network, only T-Mobile’s last-gen EDGE data network. This will mean slightly slower speeds.
The CDMA (Verizon & Sprint) iPhone 4 cannot be unlocked and can only be used on Verizon/Sprint in the US.
We don’t recommend unlocking, but if you want to do it, it is not illegal. An unlocked iPhone can be a hassle, however. For example, you won’t be able to take advantage of Apple’s iPhone software updates until the people who created the unlocking software tell you it’s ok to update.
Someone Wants to Give Me Their Old iPhone. What Do I Need to Do?
If a friend or family member wants to give you their old iPhone, and you want to use it as a phone, ask them to erase all content on the iPhone before giving it to you. This is done on the iPhone by going into Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings > Erase iPhone. Note that this erasing process can take up to two hours.
If you want to use the iPhone just as an iPod touch without phone service, read the section immediately below.
Can I Use the iPhone Without Phone Service (Like an iPod Touch)?
Yes, and it will work with iTunes too, allowing you to buy and synch music and apps from the App Store. But, you should ask the person who’s giving you the used iPhone to keep the original SIM card inside the iPhone. Your friend will have to tell AT&T to disable their old SIM card and get a new one. The reason you should keep the old SIM card inside the iPhone is so that you can take advantage of new software upgrades and restore your iPhone.
Your friend should also restore the iPhone before giving it to you so all his data is erased. Just make sure the iPhone is activated (you can open apps, etc) when it is given to you.
What If There Is No Sim Card Inside the Used iPhone?
As long as the previous owner hasn’t left the iPhone in a restored, unactivated state, you can still use all the iPhone’s features (including synching with iTunes) except for the phone functions.
Without the original SIM card, you won’t be able to install software updates from Apple or restore the iPhone until you get a new SIM card.
If you restore or install one of Apple’s upgrades without a SIM card, the iPhone will stop working. It won’t work again until you activate it with a new SIM card or jailbreak it.
In other words, do not restore or attempt to upgrade the iPhone unless you have the original SIM card inside.
I Have an Unactivated Used iPhone Without a SIM Card. How Do I Activate It?
If you’re not going to take the iPhone to AT&T or Verizon to activate it, your only option is to jailbreak it. The term jailbreaking essentially means hacking the iPhone so that you can do whatever you want with it, including installing applications that are not approved by Apple and then unlocking it for use on other wireless phone carriers.
How Do I Jailbreak and/or Unlock My iPhone?
To jailbreak and unlock your iPhone, you’ll need to download some free software. The jailbreak software you’ll need depends on the software version of your iPhone. Your best bet to find the latest jailbreak and unlocking software is to Google the terms Jailbreak and whatever version of the iPhone software is on your phone (for example, Jailbreak and iPhone 4.2.1). Note that oftentimes, when a new iPhone software update comes out, it can take a while to figure out how to do jailbreak it, so jailbreaking/unlocking software may not be available for your version yet. Some advice: do not ever pay for jailbreaking and unlocking software, as the software is always offered for free. Another suggestion for instructions on how to jailbreak your iPhone is to check out this page on iClarified.com. They have step-by-instructions for jailbreaking every version of the iPhone and iOS software.
I just got a iphone 2g used one from a friend!! I connected to itunes and it say this activaten may require a little more time. And that was yesterday at 6:30 P.M. And Still didnt work today so i went to the att store and they gave me a knew sim card and it is still saying the same thing and that was 5:30 today and i really need it now. PLEASE HELP!!!
If you have an old AT&T cell phone, make sure it is turned off. Then try shutting down the iPhone and turning it back on once or twice. If that doesn’t work, call AT&T and speak to a customer service representative, explaining the exact problem. They will eventually get around to asking you for your IMEI and SIM card numbers, so they can manually activate it.
You can read about similar experiences to yours here.
Hey!
I I’ll be in the US end of August and thought about buyiing an iphone 4.
Is there a chance to activate it without an American Social Security Number?
I am from Germany and don’t have anything like that.
If I buy an 3 GS, do I need to have a SSN, too? Or is this only a requirement of the i4?
Or is there any other way to activate it?
Thank you!
All I used was a US credit card and a US address. I’d think if you can get a US credit card, than you can buy and activate an iPhone 4.
None of this activation stuff applies to UK iPhones. My girlfriend bought a 2nd hand iPhone 3g, put her existing O2 simcard into it out of her old phone and after synching with iTunes started making calls on it with no problems.
hi..i bought a used iphone 4 which was sealed in the box the seller took its sim card out right before handing the iphone 4 to me so i guess its still unactivated. now how can i activate it..i chked with at&t store they say they can give me a new micro sim but i’ll have to take a 2yr contract even if i dont tell them its for iphone att will detect after my first call and put me into contract even if i have voice/data plan without contract. is this true? is there any other way that i can be with att without getting into 2yr contract as i want to download apps from apple apps store and not jailbrk/unlock it?
You’ll have to hactivate, jailbreak, and unlock it and use it on T-Mobile. You can still download apps from Apple’s app store that way.
i have a problem with my new iphone 4, when i spk the voice distorts even with 4 signal bars but when i use a hands free/speaker to talk then it works fine. pls help.
iphone 4 with iOS 4.0.1.
Take it to an Apple store, or give Apple a call.
I purchased an iPhone from a friend, and then put my SIM card in just to see if it works. My computer then told me the phone was activated. Does this mean I have to pay for a data plan now?! I don’t have the money for that, I was hoping to just use the phone for texting and calling or something. PLEASE HELP!
confusedandscared: I need more details to help you. Is it an AT&T sim card? Then, yes, it’s likely that eventually they will bill you for a data plan. Your only current option is to use T-Mobile.
just got a new used iphone 8gb i didnt know what to do so i can use it . my budy help me out and got my sim card in and it was working but it had all someone else contacts and agenda so my budy reset it and now it wont turn on just a apple comes up for a few sec and turns off. i tryed syncing it with my itunes what should i do
i have my friends 3g because he got a 4g and i have an att sim card but it wont use it it and i need help please
I have an iPhone 2G that I am currently using its original SIM card. I would like to know if I can put my SIM card into an iPhone 4 and what would I have to do to activate it?
I have a quick question, If my friend bought a brand new Iphone 4. And hasn’t yet activated it. Can I activated it onto my Current ATT account with his unactivated SIM card? Or will will it transfer his whole service plan to me? I just want to replace a current phone on my account?
iPhone 4 uses a microSim, so no, your SIM card would not fit. Some people say you can cut a regular SIM card so that it’s microSIM size. I have never tried it, but it seems to work. The only other solution is for you to either have to sign a new two-year contract to get a new microSIM and 3G data service, or unlock the iPhone 4 for use on T-Mobile (also requires a microSIM or cut down SIM card).
my sister purchased the new iphone 4 and she gave me her old 3g iphone. can i use it as my spare phone without 2 year contract from at&t?
Yes. Details in the article.
I just bought and iphone 3g from a friend and he said it is jailbroken. however when i turn it on, it just has a pineapple on the screen and nothing else happens. what do i need to do to get this thang going?
Shannon: The pineapple means the iPhone was jailbroken, but if it doesn’t do anything after that, there’s a problem with the software. You’ll have to restore the iPhone to factory settings and jailbreak/unlock all over again.
How do I restore factory settings if i cant get past the pineapple. I havent got a new sim from att yet but plan to today. Will that change anything?
I have a sliver with unlimited texting and unlimited calling, the network is at&t. If i buy a iphone 3g 8gb from a friend can i just put my SIM card in it and not use the data on it or shut the data stuff off? just want it for calling and texting.
I have a used iPhone 3GS 8gig running 4.0.2 from a friend in the States. I, however, am in Canada. All I want to do is use it for wi-fi until a jailbreak and hack come out and I can get a Canadian plan with the phone. Is this possible? Does the phone need a SIM card to work at all, even for just wi-fi? Or because there’s no jailbreak yet, I can’t use the phone for anything?
i recently got my at&t lg vu stolen and im offered an iphone from my friend and all i need to do is get a sim card. will the used and jailbroken iphone work with my lg vu sim card?
I have a quick question. I have an old I phone. My father has a newer one, but switched phone companies and he asked me if I wanted the newer one. Since I already have an I phone and am paying for service, is there an easy way to switch my number to his phone?
Restore his iPhone to factory settings. Put your SIM card into the iPhone. Activate the phone on your computer.
I am currently using an iPhone 3G. I bought another 3G from a friend to jailbreak. The used 3G currently displays the connect to iTunes screen. Can I put my dim card from my 3G into the used 3G and activate it with iTunes.
I know nothing about iphones. A friend is moving up to the newest iphone and is offering his old one to me. I do not want the data plan from ATT. His phone is jailbroken. Will I be able to use the GPS apps and get on the net in WiFi spots?
As long as it is activated (jailbroken), yes.
Hi
I picked up a used Iphone 2g that is locked to At&t. It has the at&t sim in it, but since I am in canada, I dont have an at&t account to activate it with.
I’d like to be able to get into itunes so that I can jailbreak it.
Can you point me in the direction of how I can get past the at&t activation screen on itunes?
Thanks!
I heard on a local radio channel that Apple has now also teamed up with Verizon and will be producing/releasing an i-phone that uses Verizon’s CDMA technology. has anyone heard of any jailbreak updates/advances that will allow a att or t-mobile i-phone work with verizon?
No, it requires a CDMA radio inside the iPhone. No version of the iPhone yet has one.
My iPhone 2g is jailbroken and (kinda) unlocked. As long as the original sim is in the iPhone can be used as an iPod touch. The minute I put in “my” sim, it goes to the “connect to iTunes, emergency calls only” screen. I can make calls from the “emergency calls only” screen but can’t get into the iPhone itself. Any suggestions?
Hey! I just bought an iPhone 3GS jailbroken and unlocked on version 4.0.1. The phone has never been activated on Apple website, may I activate it and maybe see there that I have some Apple warranty? Or I should activate it only later without jailbreak for warranty if I have some problem? I’am from Portugal and the iPhone came from outside, that’s why I think that maybe I shouldn’t activate it.
Thanks for helping :)
Ok. I hate to sound repetitive, and I DID read the article carefully over and over, but I still can’t get it:
I’m trying to make an ipod touch out of my husband’s old iphone 3G.
We both got iPhone 4’s recently.
I plugged it into my computer, and iTunes recognized it and gave me the “summary”, called it “Jim’s iPhone” as it was already called, and I downloaded music and a movie onto it, and there’s a couple apps left from my husband….
But NOTHING I tried made the phone capable of picking up our home WiFi.
We have the original SIM in the phone. I also tried my old LG Xenon SIM, too. No luck.
What am I doing wrong? Is it because I have an iTunes account for my new iPhone 4?
Everything I read says “have a sim card in, plug it into iTunes, and boom…it’s ready.”
Well, that’s NOT happening!!!
Help??
Thanks!!!
So I have a 3G that’s supposedly (according to Apple’s service page) originally from the US and therefore locked to AT&T. I also have an AT&T SIM card. It’s blue, unused, and is labeled “The New AT&T” and “3G”.
Restoring to stock 4.1 and inserting the AT&T sim card still gives me the screen that says I need an official carrier SIM. I hoped for a true activation (instead of crappy no-push hacktivation) and then jailbreak+unlock from there. Am I missing a component, is my phone not from the US after all, what? Any ideas?
Try checking out this forum thread and the reply from “SpaceKitty” about halfway down the page.
I had an htc aria with the 2gb smartphone data plan. My friend gave me her iphone 3gs to use instead. I have jailbroken it, and it works with my sim card except for 3g. Is there a way to unlock the sim card or upgrade it to add the iphone data plan without signing a new contract?
I have an iPhone 3GS which was jail broken… I was having issues with it and iTunes so I just done a reset via iTunes forgetting this would re-lock the phone to the original carrier only. What do I need to do to unlock it again? I cannot even activate the phone now… I’ve just downloaded 3.1.3 ipsw so I can rest the firmware but as it was a friend who joilboke the phome for me last time I have no idea what I am doing… I am using a PC… help please!!!
You don’t need to activate the iPhone in order to jailbreak it. Just do a Google search for whatever the last version of the iPhone OS software was along with the term jailbreak. For example, jailbreak iPhone 3.1.3.
The iPhone does not require activation for you to jai
I have a pay as you go sims card and i just bought an iphone off ebay and i was wondering if my sims card will work in the iphone. Also i was just looking at pics of the iphone on the computer cuz i havent got it yet and the screen says t mobile. I did not see this when i purchased it but now its kinda to late. So will it work as ATT or what?
I am looking to buy an iphone off of Craigslist. I am concerned about how this is going to work. I have AT&T service now – not an iphone but a Samsung Impression. This particular iphone I want to buy from Craigslist is NOT unlocked or jailbroken. Is it as simple as inserting my existing SIM card into this iphone? Or do I have to take it to an AT&T store? And if so does anyone know how much that will cost?
My iPhone 2g is jailbroken and (kinda) unlocked. As long as the original sim is in the iPhone can be used as an iPod touch. The minute I put in “my” sim, it goes to the “connect to iTunes, emergency calls only” screen. I can make calls from the “emergency calls only” screen but can’t get into the iPhone itself. Any suggestions?
Have an unlocked iphone 4 with tmobile…i been told you cannot or should not download updates at the i-tunes store or it will relock…ive downloaded several apps which now are showing updates…am i ok to update the apps….???
Thanks for the help…..
I have the same question as Melissa (#52 above) posted on November 26th, with a slight twist: my ATT number is on a corporate account that I don’t control. It currently has an iPhone 3G on it, which I’d like to replace with a 4G. I know the SIM card from the 3G won’t physically fit but can be trimmed to fit. But is it just plug-and-play, or do I have to do something more to transfer the existing service from the old phone to a new one?
I have an iPhone 3G that has been jailbroken – not unlocked. I want to activate it with my AT&T sim card. However, when I took it to an AT&T store to activate it, they said there were no bars so something was wrong with the phone. My son jailbroke it and said it should work. What do I need to do?
my son purchased an Iphone on ebay,every thing is working but it’s not reconizing a sim card from tmobile.I called apple but they want me to pay $69.99 for insurance & thenical support.cannot afford it.
If your son is trying to use it on T-Mobile, then Apple won’t help you at all toward that goal, not matter if you pay them $69.99 for “technical support.” Your son’s iPhone needs to be jailbroken and unlocked for it to be used on T-Mobile. Apple doesn’t offer tech support for that. You’ll have better luck taking it to a T-Mobile store for advice. I pointed to some guides at the end of the article on how to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone. You’ll need to do it yourself. It’s pretty easy, but I recommend finding someone tech savvy to help you.
If you’re signing up for a legit 2-year AT&T contract, restore the iPhone first. To restore the iPhone, connect it to iTunes, give it a quick sync to back it up, go to the Summary tab for your iPhone, then click Restore. Take the iPhone to AT&T in the unactivated, restored state and they can get you set up.
If there’s a hardware problem (something wrong with your antenna or the radio inside), that’s a different story.
Got a used 3g. Will my at&t sim card for my old phone work? Also I can’t get it to turn on am I doing something wrong?
Got a new 4g, and want to give my old iphone to my friend so he can use it as an itouch. How can he access wifi?
Currently have an unlocked/jailbroken 3G using 3.1. The phone fell in water over the holidays so I need to replace it. I’m looking at an unlocked/jailbroken 3GS using 4.0.
Can you tell me what will happens in iTunes when I try to cinq the new phone since it is currently holding my old phone’s information?
Is it possible to make this upgrade or should I purchase another unlocked phone with 3.1?
I have an old AT&T SIM Card from my old phone (not the original SIM card) with an iPHONE 3GS that is used … i accidently restored it .. how do I activate it agai so I can use my own AT&T Sim Card
so i don’t have to get a new contract with AT&T
My grandmother gave me her old 2g iphone. She said all I had to do was put my sim card in it and hook up to Itunes. So I did and It wanted to a restore, so of course like a dummy, I did a restore. I went to my local att and store to activate it and add the data package. They told me they could not unbrick(?) it. or activate it because it was a 2g. Can someone help me please I still want to be able to use this as a phone if at all possible. The screen is stuck on the usb cord with the itunes and emergency calls only.. Please someone help!
i have bought the i phone 4 off someone,they had in on contract,if they cancel the contract will the phone get switched off,plz can anyone let me know.
I’ve got an old iPhone 3g from my friend, he “Ereased” it so it needs to be activated. Before he ereased it it was unlocked (I live in Norway where you can use any carrier you want) but since he had bought it on contract it was locked to “Telenor” for a year. But after the ereasion (is that even a word? o.O) it seems to have gotten it’s lock back. I do not use Telenor. How can I unlock it and activate it or whatever so I can use it with OneCall? (another Norwegian carrier)
Thx from Norway :)
Yes, the iPhone can be used with OneCall in Norway. You’ll need a OneCall sim card. Unlock the iPhone and take it to a OneCall retailer and explain what you’re trying to do.
Ok, thanks! To unlock, do I have to hacktivate it or something or can I just Ask Telenor?
My boyfriend got me an iphone from his friend and had it unlocked. He told me I couldn’t turn it off or let it run out of batteries. Of course I did and now all I can get is a screen with a picture of the USB cord and an arrow to connect it to itunes. I tried to hactivate it, but the software doesn’t read my phone. I can’t even turn it off. Even when I hold down the power button and the home button, the screen goes black but it comes back on. The option with the slide across on the screen to turn it off isn’t an option. Is there a problem with the phone? I’m so frustrated!!
I have a Verizon plan and of course the new iPhone will be used with verizon. I would like to upgrade to the iphone but htey want you to pay for a data plan. My questions is why do you have to pay for a data plan if the phone is setup for to receive free Wi-Fi like a IPod Touch? Will the Verizon iPhones use GSM- Sim cards, or CDMA?
A friend of mine gave me his old Iphone. I have the original SIM card and I went to the store to get a new sim card. NOW…my brother is going to put me onto his AT&T plan. Is this possible? Is it just a matter of giving AT&T the IMEI number and the new SIM card number off of the phone?
my cousin has the iphone4 , however her phones have been shut off , can I use the iphone on my plan if I put my sim card in it, even though its technically still on her plan?
Go ahead and try, but it’s very unlikely it would work. First, the iPhone 4 requires a micro sim card. Second, putting a random AT&T sim card into an iPhone almost never works. I’ve read a few successful reports online, but most often, it does not work. If your cousin is giving you the iPhone 4, your best bet is to take it to an AT&T Wireless store and tell them you’d like to move your account onto the phone. You’ll have to pay for a data plan.
I want to upgrade my mom’s “basic” phone to an iphone 3GS without having to renew my contract or purchase one from AT&T. I would upgrade her plan to a data plan but I can find cheaper iphones elsewhere than AT&T. Would the SIM card from her “basic” phone work in the iphone? What would I need to do?
can i activate iphone 3g it is locked to at&t but i live in uk and have jailbroken phone but its still saying waiting activation please help
I was given a verizon iPhone. It’s deactivated. How can i activate it to my account?
okay i have a jailbroken 3g and i already have an account with family mobile(powered by tmobile) but when i put my sim card in it says no service. what gives?
2months ago one of my friends found an iphone 3g that was reported what can he do to activate it? Can he be able to use it if he jailbrakes it?
thanks for your advice
I have just purchased the iphone 3gs. my daughter wants one for her birthday. She currently has a blackberry torch and is not able to upgrade for 1 year. the at&t store offered to let me pay full retail price for hers. So my question is can i buy a used one and have at&t put that phone on my accoutn and remove her blackberry torch?
I was gifted a Verizon Iphone 4 from a girlfriend and activated through her account. She is now mad at me and shut the service off. Can I still use this phone and activate it with an account in my name? I don’t know if she listed the phone as lost stolen or just missing..hell has no fury as a women scorned
I have bought a refurbished iphone 3G. When I ordered in the Amazan i saw it was unlocked. now I power on the iphone and it tells to insert a sim card and install. whats problem. how can I use it just as ipod or I’m using Net10, can I use my net10 sim in this iphone? any one please help me.
I was looking for an iphone to use as an ipod. I found an add and called. The person informed that someone tried to place their sims card in the phone but had to go to itunes to activate it. If I buy this phone used and want to use it as an ipod touch with the options of a camra and vedio what are the steps I need to take. I am egnorant when it comes to the uses of an Iphone. Do I need to jail break it first or what. Please give me the steps I need to take. All yeah it does not have the orginal sims card with it.
If you’re not going to activate an iPhone (with a sim card), then you have to jailbreak it to use it. The site iClarified has step-by-step instructions on jailbreaking for you. There is a link at the end of the article above.
I have a used phone that I have activated with AT&T. How can I remove the previous Name, Password and email info and enter my information? I tried to change the password but the email was sent to the previous owner.
Restore the iPhone. Here’s how:
Plug-in it into you computer, open iTunes, click on your iPhone in the sidebar, and then click Restore.
I lost my iphone and need to purchase a new one. Don’t want to pay the $749.00 through sprint, as I’m in the middle of a two year contract. Can I buy one on Ebay and take it to Sprint to activate it? If so what should I look for, any “unlocked” 4s or does it need to be a Sprint phone. Should it come with a sim card. Will they/Sprint charge me for this activation and/or sim card? Any suggestions for where to purchase one?
Thanks for any advice you can give.
You would need to buy a Sprint iPhone (an iPhone that has been used on Sprint before, if you’re buying a used iPhone). Then you would contact Sprint and tell them you lost your old iPhone but have a used Sprint-compatible iPhone. Sprint does not use sim cards. Instead, phones are manually activated via a computer, which allows your individual handset to connect to Sprint’s network. Verizon works the same.
If I were you, I would just call Sprint and tell them about losing your iPhone and ask them what you’d need to do to get a used Sprint iPhone back on their network. Again, Sprint does not use sim cards.
Sprint Consumer Customer Service: 1-888-211-4727
I just bought an iphone4 ios 6.0 off a lady that had AT&T and i have t-mobile.i went to t-mobile and had my sim card changed to micro sim but i still can get passed activation..i just need to get to the main screen so i can access internet to unlock it but how do i get to main screen if i cant get passed activation?..help please
Unlock the iPhone using the instructions at iClarified.com. See link at the bottom of the article.
My friend is giving me her old iPhone 4, and I want to use it on T-Mobile with a sim card that they give for free. Can you please explain to me what I have to do?
Jailbreak and unlock the phone. iClarified has instructions here.
We have a 3GS iphone 4.1 IOS It was given to us jailbroken. We updated as FB stopped working. We are trying to reactivate phone and jailbreak it again. The phone keeps saying that there is no sim detected. IS there a step by step published process that we could follow?
Hey I have an IPhone that I found and no one has collected it so i am deciding to keep it. I just want to use the IPhone. When I try to use the app store, it says I need to unlock it. Can someone plzzzz tell me how and if I can? THank you :) HELP
Restore it to factory settings. Jailbreak it and unlock it. Instructions at iClarified.com.
I have a iphone 3gs that I bought from a friend and I nor does he have the sim card. When I turn on the phone it goes to the activation set up with language, country and when it gets to the wifi or itunes for activation I have a problem because the wifi is not holding on and i dont have access to comp to connect to itunes. Now i have a net10 sim card that I put in the sim tray but instead of saying no sim it now says no service and I still cant activate the iphone. I NEED HELP!!!!
My friend has given me an iPhone 4 she has used prior to upgrade. She had the carrier Verizon, and I’m planning on activating it on Sprint. I’m not sure how to go about doing that.
iv bought a 3gs second hand but need to set it up to my apple id how do i do it