topic Re: Activing a replacement SIM in SIM cards & Porting

Activing a replacement SIM

Marionette777 — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:22:48 GMT

Hi, this is driving me mad. I have an upgraded SIM but cannot activate it. Following EE directions, I kept the old SIM in the phone (Android) and went online to active the new SIM. It just takes me to a page for "linking" and when I select mobile, it searches then says it cannot link. I don't want to link I want to activate! How on earth please do I get out of this loop?

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

XRaySpeX — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:45:02 GMT

@Marionette777 : Follow How Do I Activate and Set Up My New SIM?

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

Schockwave — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:45:56 GMT

Hello @Marionette777 ,

You can just use your old SIM card, no need to use the new SIM card. Why are you trying to use the new SIM card if your old one works?

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

XRaySpeX — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:53:09 GMT

In what way was your SIM upgraded? If you mean that you upgraded your plan then the existing SIM should continue to work. It would be just a change of plan on the same no. & SIM. If a new SIM was sent out it was just in case old SIM is faulty.

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

Marionette777 — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:12:50 GMT

Changed to a much cheaper contract and they sent me a new sim.

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

Schockwave — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:37:03 GMT

@Marionette777 , just use your old SIM card, no need to use a new SIM card, as when you change to a cheaper or more expensive plan, you do not need to replace the SIM card, as @XRaySpeX wrote the replacement sim card was only sent out in case there was a problem with the old one.

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

Marionette777 — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:00:14 GMT

Thank you all for your helpful comments. So I just physically(!) visited an EE shop. The assistant there was very helpful and he had no idea why I had been sent a new SIM either. He checked that I am now on the cheaper contract deal which I wanted and started this mess so I will continue with my existing SIM and just keep the replacement somewhere, where I can helpfully lose it. Thank you again.

Re: Activing a replacement SIM

XRaySpeX — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:10:34 GMT

Thanks! You're welcome 🙂 ! Glad I could be of assistance & trust it is now sorted.