To turn off the SIM card PIN, you’ll need the current PIN. On iPhone, open Settings → Cellular → SIM PIN, turn it off and enter the code. On Android (Pixel), go to Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → SIM lock; on a Samsung Galaxy, go to Security and privacy → Other security settings → Set up SIM card lock. After that, the phone will stop asking for the PIN when it starts up.
The key is not to guess the code. Kyivstar gives you 3 attempts to enter the PIN; after that, the SIM card is locked and you need the PUK code, which allows 10 attempts, after which the card has to be replaced. Below are the steps for iPhone and Android, where to get the default PIN and PUK for Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and lifecell, and what to do if the card is already locked. Everything is based on Apple, Google and Samsung help pages and the carriers’ websites as of October 21, 2026.
How to turn off the SIM PIN on iPhone
The steps follow Apple’s article “Use a SIM PIN for your iPhone or iPad.” They’re the same for a physical SIM card and an eSIM.
Open the cellular settings
Open Settings → Cellular (Apple’s help also refers to it as Cellular Data). If your iPhone has two SIM cards or two eSIMs, choose the number whose PIN you want to turn off.
Result: The cellular settings section is open.
Turn off SIM PIN
Tap SIM PIN and turn off the toggle. Enter your current PIN (if you haven’t changed it, the carrier’s default code) and tap Done.
After that, you won’t need the code when you restart your iPhone or put the SIM card in another phone, and the SIM Locked message won’t appear in the status bar.
Result: The SIM PIN toggle is off.
How to turn off the SIM PIN on Android
The names below come from Google’s Pixel help and Samsung’s help. On Xiaomi, OPPO, Motorola and other phones, the path may differ: search Settings for “SIM lock.”
Open the SIM lock settings
- Google Pixel: Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → SIM lock.
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings → Security and privacy (Biometrics and security on older versions) → Other security settings → Set up SIM card lock.
Result: The SIM lock screen is open.
Choose the SIM card if you have two
On a Samsung with two SIM cards, you choose the one you need at the bottom of the screen. The lock is set separately for each card.
Result: The right SIM card is selected.
Turn off the lock and enter your current PIN
Turn off the Lock SIM card toggle (on Pixel or Samsung) and enter your current PIN. The easiest way to check the result is to restart: the phone should go straight to the regular lock screen.
Result: The phone no longer asks for the PIN when it starts up.
How to change the PIN instead of turning it off
Google notes that some carriers’ default PINs aren’t secure and recommends changing them. If you’re turning off the PIN only because you don’t remember the default code or it seems too simple, it’s better to set your own. On a Samsung Galaxy, here’s how:
- Open Settings → Security and privacy → Other security settings → Set up SIM card lock.
- Tap Change SIM card PIN and enter your current PIN.
- Enter a new PIN, tap OK, enter it again and tap OK once more.
Default PIN and PUK for Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and lifecell
| Carrier | Where to find the PIN and PUK | If you’ve lost the holder |
|---|---|---|
| Kyivstar | PIN is usually 1111 (on the package), PUK is on the holder | 466 or 0 800 300 466, a store |
| Vodafone Ukraine | PUK is on the plastic holder | 111 or 0800 400 111 |
| lifecell | Check with the carrier | 5433 or 0 800 20 5433 |
- Kyivstar. PUK recovery is free. Call 466 (from a Kyivstar number) or 0 800 300 466 and name the three numbers you call most often, the dates of your last calls and your account balance; if you can receive a one-time password by SMS, that’s enough. At a Kyivstar store, any one of these will do: the SIM card’s serial number (ICC) from its back, your personal password or the same call details. You need to call from another phone.
- Vodafone Ukraine. From another phone, call 111 (free from Vodafone) or 0800 400 111 (free from any number in Ukraine); from abroad, call +380 500 400 111. To verify your identity, name two numbers you’ve contacted most often in the last 30 days, or the IMEI of the phone the SIM card was in (how to find your IMEI). For contract numbers and numbers registered to a passport, you’ll need your ID details: a specialist will call you back within 4 business hours.
- lifecell. Customer support answers at 5433 from lifecell, at 0 800 20 5433 for free from any number in Ukraine, and at +38 063 5433 111 when roaming.
If the SIM card is already locked
After three wrong PINs, the phone asks for the PUK code. Per Vodafone Ukraine’s instructions: enter the PUK from the plastic holder, then set a new PIN, and the SIM card will be unlocked. If you enter the PUK incorrectly 10 times in a row, the card is locked permanently and can’t be used anymore (Samsung), so it has to be replaced while keeping your number. Vodafone Ukraine adds that the free warranty replacement (within 30 days of activation) doesn’t apply in this case. You could also switch to an eSIM while you’re at it; here’s how to get an eSIM in Ukraine.
If it didn’t work
- The phone still asks for the PIN after a restart. Make sure the lock is off for the right card: on phones with two SIM cards or an eSIM, it’s set separately for each one.
- The default PIN doesn’t work. That means it’s already been changed or your card has a different code. Don’t try codes from other people’s instructions; check the PIN with your carrier, because after the third mistake you’ll need the PUK.
- The phone asks for the PUK, and you don’t have the holder. Call your carrier from another phone at the numbers above, or go to the carrier’s store with an ID.
- The phone has been lost or stolen. Kyivstar advises telling your carrier right away and blocking the card, but reminds you that access to messengers tied to the old number stays open. For a step-by-step plan, see the article on what to do if your phone is stolen.
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 21 October 2026
- Apple — Use a SIM PIN for your iPhone or iPad support.apple.com
- Google — Protect your personal data from theft (Pixel): SIM PIN support.google.com
- Samsung — How to set a PIN to a SIM card on a Samsung Galaxy samsung.com
- Kyivstar — PUK code recovery kyivstar.ua
- Vodafone Ukraine — SIM card: PIN/PUK recovery vodafone.ua
Frequently asked questions
What is the default SIM card PIN?
It’s set by the carrier, not the phone maker. For Kyivstar, according to the carrier, it’s usually 1111, and the code is also printed on the starter pack. For other carriers, check the starter pack documents or ask customer support, and don’t try codes at random.
How many times can I enter the PIN and PUK incorrectly?
According to Kyivstar, you get 3 attempts for the PIN, after which you need the PUK code, and 10 attempts for the PUK. If you also enter the PUK incorrectly 10 times, the SIM card will have to be replaced.
Is it safe to turn off the SIM card PIN?
The phone will still be protected by its screen lock, but the SIM card itself could be moved to another phone and used with your number. That’s why Google and Kyivstar recommend keeping your own PIN on the SIM, especially if the default code is simple.
Does the PIN work for an eSIM?
Yes. According to Apple’s help, a PIN can lock both a physical SIM card and an eSIM; you turn it off in the same SIM PIN section.
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