I've purchased SIM cards on vacations a few times now, but always had the clerk install it for me. I'm wondering how necessary this is. Not the actual installation of the SIM card, but rather whatever set-up needs to be done in the phone. Frankly, I have no clue what's involved since I just handed my phone over to the clerk.
It is something simple to do on one's own?
Its usually a language barrier - you often need to respond to messages in the local language to complete the setup. I have zero issue with the technology if its an English language country but otherwise I get the local to do it
A few things may prevent the SIM from working automatically. First, many prepaid SIM cards use "SIM lock" with a code printed on the package - you have to type in the PIN each time you turn the phone on to use it. There's a way to remove that SIM lock in settings - depends on the phone. Unless you usually use a SIM lock (I doubt most people do), I'd want to remove that immediately. You can probably figure that out - just one thing to be aware of.
Also, occasionally mobile data won't work on a new SIM card until you set the APN in settings. I haven't had to do that with my Dutch Vodafone SIM used in several Android phones now, but occasionally we still hear about phones that need to have the APN set manually. It's not really hard to do once you figure out HOW - just a setting buried in your phone's settings (depends on make/model of your phone). And you need specific details for the SIM card's manufacturer of what settings to enter for the APN.
So...a clerk would know how to do that, presumably. Some people would be able to figure it out by themselves. Sometimes the SIM just works pretty easily without doing anything such as with my Vodafone SIM. It just varies.
Having bought many SIM card plans in many countries I can tell you I take my SIM out and save it and put in the new one. Then I restart my phone.
That’s pretty much it.
Sometimes there is a code to enter for the new SIM, but only one time. Once it is activated you don’t use it again unless you reboot your phone.
The new SIM number is on the card that comes with the new SIM card.
You access your phone in he same way you would at home, by number code, fingerprint or whatever you use.
When I am over my trip in the airport coming home, I reverse the process and throw the Euro SIM away.
