topic Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data? in SIM cards & Porting

Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 06:31:00 GMT

I have the same issue. When I have upgraded and kept the same number in the past I have always had a new SIM so the old phone stays on to transfer files etc. How can this be done if you move the SIM from one phone to another?

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

bristolian — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:45:36 GMT

Post move to a new thread.

It is the SIM which holds your account details & phone number. You can transfer this from one phone to another in a matter of seconds, independently of the data on a phone. There's no need to unnecessarily replace a perfectly working SIM, just because you're changing phones.

Transferring or copying personal user data from one phone to another should not require a SIM active. It can actually make for a more seamless transfer if a SIM is not present - if you want a new phone to have your existing user data installed first.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

XRaySpeX — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:49:05 GMT

@Kat_Devine : Moving data from 1 phone to another doesn't use a SIM . It's done by Blurtooth or possibly via a PC.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:25:55 GMT

I have upgraded my phone (keeping the same number). When I have done this in the past I've received a new SIM card, but there isn't one with the new phone. Are they despatched separately now? I've seen some people answer on other posts that you move the old SIM to the new phone but I then don't understand how you can move files to the new phone, since the old one presumably won't work without a SIM.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

bristolian — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:28:16 GMT

@Kat_Devine wrote:
I have upgraded my phone (keeping the same number).

Rather than starting a new thread, please use the "reply" function to add to your existing post - and keep all replies in the same place.

To offer assistance to what seems to be your question, what make & model of phone are you moving from & to?

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Chris_S — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:26:31 GMT

Hi @Kat_Devine

It's great news to hear that you've upgraded, I hope you love your new phone!

You have the option to request a new sim at the point of upgrade, but if you don't request a new sim, you can keep your old sim and just pop it into your new phone.

You can transfer all of your date when you have your new device, the process would differ depending on which brand of device you have.

Is your new device an Android or an Apple phone?

Chris S

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:11:05 GMT

Hi there, my old phone is a Samsung S20 and the new one an S25 🙂

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:11:46 GMT

Thank you Chris - I didn't see an option; I've just always got a new SIM automatically before, but in fairness it's a while since my last upgrade! My new phone is Android (Samsung S25) and it replaces an S20.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

bristolian — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:32:07 GMT

Samsung Smart Switch is your friend here - seamless backup & restore between compatible devices. You can do direct transfer between 2 x Samsung phones, or backup one to PC and subsequently restore. I suspect your S-devices are ones without SD-card support, else that would be another option.

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/smart-switch

Absolutely no need for a SIM in either device for this to work, I advise from personal experience.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:33:26 GMT

Thank you, that's very helpful. That's my job for the weekend sorted then! 🙂

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:58:44 GMT

You should find that Smart Switch is already installed on your S25. In fact I'm surprised it did not invite you to use it at 1st switch on.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

Kat_Devine — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:56:21 GMT

Thank you - I haven't switched it on yet as it didn't have a SIM card. Apparently I have to keep the old SIM, so I'll try switching it and see whether it works. Last time I upgraded, smart switch worked fine, but both phones had a SIM.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

XRaySpeX — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:07:18 GMT

SIMs have no part to play in Smart Switching. It communicates by Bluetooth or invites you to backup & restore via a PC over WiFi.

Re: Upgraded Phone Without New SIM – How to Transfer Data?

bristolian — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 12:20:09 GMT

The method I've used the last few times to backup & restore between Samsung phones, deliberately involves backing up with the SIM removed, and restoring before a SIM is inserted.

All the SIM does is enable a mobile network connection.