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What are the Different Methods for SIM Recovery?

By Tess C. Taylor
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,139
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SIM cards, also called Subscriber Information Module cards, are tiny cards that contain a microchip that records and stores data for use in cellular and mobile communications devices. Occasionally, a SIM card must be recovered due to a loss of data or when it has been misplaced by a user or stolen. When this occurs, there are several methods used by mobile device professionals for SIM recovery.

Fortunately, there is SIM recovery software available to help restore the data or files lost from a SIM card. This innovative software can detect hidden information such as address book information, ingoing and outgoing messages, and other files on a SIM card or mobile device for retrieval. The SIM recovery software then creates a copy of the lost data on a new SIM card which can then be inserted into the existing or a replacement mobile device.

SIM recovery can be used to locate missing files that have been accidentally deleted from the SIM card by mobile device users. This information can include address book files, message history, stored images, music and Mp3 files and videos that the user wishes to restore. Despite being deleted by the cell phone user, this data is still embedded in the SIM card itself so it can be located and restored for access on the SIM card.

In addition to restoring a readily available SIM card, telecommunications carriers can also restore SIM card data for users that have experienced the loss, damage or theft of their mobile devices containing SIM cards. Using the digital information tracked and stored remotely at the cell phone provider's location, a good portion of the data lost can be retrieved and copied to a replacement SIM card in a matter of minutes. This can be accomplished by contacting the cell phone service provider. Consumers are then able to upload the data on the SIM card by placing it in an existing or new mobile phone unit.

In the case where the SIM card has been locked due to entry of an unauthorized PIN code, or when the mobile device itself is locked by the manufacturer, SIM recovery may not always be possible by users. The SIM recovery process must then be managed by the cell phone carrier or manufacturer in order to retrieve secure data by using manufacturer authorized codes. Generally, this can be a time-consuming and often costly process, so it is in the interest of consumers to make sure to avoid punching in codes that can lock the mobile device and disable access to the SIM card itself.

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Discussion Comments
By anon925045 — On Jan 09, 2014

I need to recover deleted phone contacts one time because the phone carrier reset my siim card before changing the plan.

I'm trying to find a free or cheap recovery software program. I refuse to pay $70 for a one time fix. Otherwise, I will just have to rebuild my contacts again from scratch. She didn't even use the old card (which was not active at the time anyway).

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