You can absolutely complete setting up a phone without a SIM card on most modern devices. Yes, you can set up a phone without a SIM card, but only if the device's manufacturer allows it. The answer depends entirely on the brand and model: iPhones and Google Pixel phones can be fully activated using only a Wi-Fi connection, while newer Samsung Galaxy devices (S20/Note20 and later) will force you to insert a SIM card during setup, and if you bypass that step, the phone will factory reset the first time a SIM is inserted. If you need to remove one from a device that already has it, see locating the SIM card on Android phones before proceeding. This guide walks you through the exact steps for each major platform, so you can get your device running on Wi-Fi alone without risking data loss or a locked setup screen.
Can you really set up a phone without a SIM card?
Yes, but it is not universal. Apple's iOS and Google's Pixel line are designed to let you complete the entire initial setup over Wi-Fi, with no physical SIM present. Samsung, however, draws a hard line: any Galaxy S20, Note20, or newer model requires a SIM card to be installed before you can proceed past the welcome screen. If you manually override that requirement, the device will perform a factory reset the moment a SIM is inserted later, wiping all your data. For older Samsung models (S10, Note10, and earlier), you can set up without a SIM, but the same reset will occur when a SIM is first added. The only way to avoid this reset entirely is to use a device that supports eSIM or to insert a SIM before setup begins.
How to set up an iPhone without a SIM card
Setting up an iPhone without a SIM card is straightforward. Press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears. You will land on the "Hello" screen. Follow the onscreen instructions, when the iPhone detects no SIM card, it will explicitly prompt you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Tap the network you want to use. You can then choose to use Quick Start with another iPhone or tap "Set Up Without Another Device" to proceed manually. Sign in with your Apple Account or use another Apple device for authentication. iOS will then ask you to allow automatic updates and configure features like cellular service, a phone number, or Apple Pay, all of which can be skipped or set to "Set Up Later." You will also be prompted to enable Siri and Screen Time. The entire process works over Wi-Fi, so you never need to worry about inserting a SIM card to activate your iPhone.
How to set up a Google Pixel without a physical SIM
Google Pixel phones are built for SIM-free setup. When you power on your Pixel, follow the on-screen instructions. The setup wizard will guide you through SIM or eSIM activation, if you don't have a physical SIM, simply choose to set up with eSIM later or skip that step entirely. You'll connect to a Wi-Fi network and log in with your Google Account. After the initial setup, you can transfer data from your old phone using the on-screen steps. If you skip data transfer or don't finish setup the first time, on a Pixel 9 or later, you can transfer data later via Android Switch or by tapping the "Finish setting up your Pixel" notification. On earlier models, you'll see a "Pixel setup isn't done" notification within a few minutes, or you can open Settings and tap "Finish setup" at the top. Even if you skip data transfer, you must log in to your Google Account to download apps and use certain features. Note that Pixel 10 and later phones in the US have no physical SIM slot at all, so eSIM is the only option, but the setup process remains identical, and you can complete it entirely over Wi-Fi. This method is the cleanest way to handle connecting to the internet without a SIM card, as the phone never asks for one, but be aware of the consequences of removing SIM card from your phone if you pull one from an active device first.
The Samsung Galaxy exception: SIM cards and forced resets
This is the critical warning for Samsung users. On Galaxy S20, Note20, and all newer models, a SIM card is mandatory at the beginning of setup. The phone will prompt you to insert a SIM before you can transfer data or proceed. There is no official bypass. If you attempt a manual override to skip the SIM message, the device will complete setup but will be reset to factory settings the first time a SIM is placed in it. This reset wipes all your data, including accounts, photos, and downloads. For Galaxy S10, Note10, and older models, you can set up without a SIM, but the same factory reset will occur when a SIM is first inserted, this is called SIM profiling. The good news is that no Samsung device will reset again after that initial SIM profiling, so you can switch SIM cards freely afterward. If you own a newer Galaxy and have no SIM available, your only option is to borrow a SIM from any carrier just for the initial setup, then remove it after the phone is fully activated.
Using Wi-Fi and eSIM as alternatives to a physical card
On compatible devices, setting up with Wi-Fi is as simple as tapping a network name during the initial setup screen. This works for iPhone and Pixel, and it bypasses the need for a physical card entirely. For eSIM, the process is different: you don't insert anything. Instead, the phone's embedded SIM is activated remotely by your carrier, usually via a QR code or an app. During setup, the phone will ask if you want to activate an eSIM, you can do that later if you prefer. The key point is that even unlocked phones must follow the manufacturer's SIM profiling rules. Unlocked does not mean SIM-free; it means you can choose any carrier, but the device's firmware still enforces whether a SIM is required at first boot. So, before you start, check your device's model and generation. If you have an iPhone or Pixel, you're good to go with Wi-Fi alone. If you have a newer Samsung, you'll need to find a SIM card, even a temporary one, to avoid a forced reset later. Understanding these differences ensures you never get stuck mid-setup or lose your data.
For the wider topic, see inserting a SIM card.
