Cell phone: SIM Blocked

Life Technology
1

Hi and :help:,

My cell phone started acting unusually goofy in the last couple of days. It would turn itself completely off many times a day. When I tried to turn it back on, it would come back on OK. Until last night. Then it got stuck with some illuminated screen, but would not turn off or on. I just plugged it into the charger and ignored it.

This morning, it wouldn’t turn on at all. After removing the battery and simply putting it back in, it would then power up. However, a message immediately was displayed that said “SIM Blocked”. Nothing seems to clear that message.

I’ve tried other people’s SIMs in my phone, they all work. I’ve tried my SIM in other people’s phones, always “SIM Blocked”.

Can someone please tell me:

  1. What “SIM Blocked” means?

  2. What normally causes it?

  3. How to get it unblocked?

Thanks,

Seeker4

2

Did your phone ask you for PUK code? You’ll have to call your carrier and they can give you the unblock code.

I got the same message when trying to activate my new Chunghwa Telecom service. I didn’t realize that the default PIN code for these phones was “0000”. I tried guessing 3 times and it boinked me with SIM Block.

3

[quote=“lsieh”]Did your phone ask you for PUK code? You’ll have to call your carrier and they can give you the unblock code.

I got the same message when trying to activate my new Chunghwa (Zhonghua) Telecom service. I didn’t realize that the default PIN code for these phones was “0000”. I tried guessing 3 times and it boinked me with SIM Block.[/quote]

In the first “test” phone, the SIM asked for a PUK upon power up. Had no idea what that was. After powering down and back up a couple of times, and in different phones, it now simply says “SIM Blocked”.

If by chance it ever says “PUK” or “PUK Code” again, what does it expect to get at that point?

4

It’s time to call/visit your cell phone service provider. They’ll be able to sort it out in about 5 minutes.

5

answerer has the answer, seeker. Time for you call your provider for that info. I did and fixed it in about 5 mins.

6

Thanks to all. I will call Chunghua this morning.

Just curious – in my case, any idea what might have caused this in the first place (see description in original post)?

7

The SIM card has been blocked because you have entered the PIN wrongly 3 times. It is therefore assumed you are an unauthorized user and the block prevents you from trying entering further codes by means of trial and error.

Entering the PIN wrongly 3 times in a row.

Enter the PUK.

It expects the PUK Code. :wink:

PUK means ‘Personal Unblocking Key’ and is required if you blocked your SIM by entering your PIN (‘Personal Identification Number’) wrongly 3 times in a row.

Not certain, seems to be related to the strange behaviour of the phone. Perhaps when you didn’t see anything on the display it was asking for the PIN, so when you tried pressing keys randomly you were actually entering the PIN. This happened 3 times and hence the SIM became blocked.

8

[quote=“Rascal”]

Not certain, seems to be related to the strange behaviour of the phone. Perhaps when you didn’t see anything on the display it was asking for the PIN, so when you tried pressing keys randomly you were actually entering the PIN. This happened 3 times and hence the SIM became blocked.[/quote]
I understand that is the generic situation. In my case, I’m certain that I didn’t enter (or even try to enter) any numbers, definitely not enough to lock it (old network admin instincts prevented that :wink:.) So, we can be fairly certain that something else is also capable of creating the “SIM Blocked” state.

I’m going to Chunghwa this afternoon. If I learn anything, I’ll post it here for future reference. Thanks.