Issues regarding SIM card lock (PIN and PUK)

Issues regarding SIM card lock (PIN and PUK)

Definition of PIN and PUK for the SIM card lock

PIN: Personal Identification Number. It is used to protect your SIM card from being stolen.

PUK: PIN Unlocking Key. It is used to unlock your SIM card when it is locked due to entering an incorrect PIN three consecutive times.

How to obtain the SIM card PIN and PUK

The PIN or PUK of the SIM card lock is provided by your carrier. You can obtain them in the following ways:

Call your carrier and provide a proof of ID and service password.
Bring your ID card with you and go to your carrier's service center for assistance. (It is recommended that you call the service center in advance for confirmation.)
Log in to the carrier's online service center and search for PUK to obtain one. (Some carriers may not support this method.)
When you apply for a SIM card, the related information is usually provided with the SIM card.

To use a PIN for SIM card lock:

Open Settings, search for SIM card lock, and access the SIM management screen.

When the PIN is enabled for SIM card lock, you need to enter it whenever you power on your phone or insert your SIM card in order to use mobile data, make phone calls, or access contacts on the SIM card.

To ensure your SIM card security, it is recommended that you replace the initial PIN with a new one when enabling it.
There are several types of phone cards, such as SIM cards, UIM cards, and USIM cards. The SIM card is used as an example.The allowed number of times you can enter a PIN incorrectly is three times, and the allowed number of times you can enter a PUK incorrectly is 10 times. After you enter the correct PUK, you need you set a new PIN.

What to do if the SIM card is locked when the number of incorrect PIN or PUK has exceeded the allowed times.

If you have entered an incorrect PIN three consecutive times, your SIM card will be automatically locked. In this case, you will need to enter the correct PUK to unlock the SIM card, then set a new PIN for your SIM card.
If you enter a wrong PUK 10 consecutive times, your SIM card will become invalid and you will need to apply for a new SIM card.

Relationship between the lock screen password, PIN, and PUK

The lock screen password, PIN, and PUK are passwords used in different situations.

PIN for SIM card lock: It is used when the prompt indicating you to enter the SIM card PIN is displayed above the text input box. The valid length of a SIM card PIN is 4–8 digits.

Screen lock password: Generally, the length of a screen lock password is 6 digits.

If you have enabled the PIN for SIM card lock, you need to enter it whenever you power on your phone or insert your SIM card (the PINs for both SIM cards are required if SIM card lock is enabled for your dual SIM cards).
If SIM card lock is disabled, or there is no SIM card inserted, no prompt indicating you to enter the SIM card PIN will be displayed.