Posted 20 January 2018

Why won’t my Virgin Sim Card work in EE locked iPhone 7?

My iPhone 7 is locked to EE and I’m trying to use a new virgin SIM card. When I insert the new SIM card, it says activation required and then proceeds to tell me the sim is not supported under the activation policy. I can see the 4G symbol at the top so the sim is obviously being recognised by the iPhone but won’t let me past the activation stage. Please help! Thank you
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  1. dcx_badass's avatar
    The new virgin purple sims don't work in phones locked to EE, someone posted on here about it a week or two back. (edited)
  2. hearts22's avatar
    I would get an EE sim PAYG for a few pence just to get past the activation screen then use the Virgin sim once that's done.
  3. LittleRedRidingHood's avatar
    Author
    hearts2210 m ago

    I would get an EE sim PAYG for a few pence just to get past the activation …I would get an EE sim PAYG for a few pence just to get past the activation screen then use the Virgin sim once that's done.


    I have an EE sim. I’ve been using it with the iPhone for the last 5 months.
  4. LittleRedRidingHood's avatar
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    The activation screen only pops up when I insert the virgin SIM card.

    This doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. (edited)
  5. LittleRedRidingHood's avatar
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    dcx_badass20/01/2018 18:49

    The new virgin purple sims don't work in phones locked to EE, someone …The new virgin purple sims don't work in phones locked to EE, someone posted in here about it a week or two back.


    Well that makes sense. I can stop pulling my hair now. Thank you.
  6. deleted75953's avatar
    LittleRedRidingHood3 h, 17 m ago

    Well that makes sense. I can stop pulling my hair now. Thank you.


    Yep they used EE masts but that’s about it, the purple sims are supposed to allow them more freedom to set their own prices and do other things. There have been plenty arguments on here lately that that’s not possible but what you see shows it’s happening, Virgin are Movieline away from the traditional way of managing the network fully through EE to something new.
  7. smargetts's avatar
    Don't expect any help from virgin customer service, they just advise to speak to EE to get phone unlocked or tell you that you can use iTunes to unlock by resetting iPhone but when I questioned how exactly this works they have no clue.
  8. hearts22's avatar
    Ask for an unlock to EE.
    ee.co.uk/hel…ork

    It's gonna cost £8.99 at best. iPhones don't use codes. You'll just have to connect it to iTunes once they tell you it's been done.

    Anyway, whenever an iPhone is reset you'll get the activation screen so maybe try to reset the iPhone with an EE sim inside and see if it works after with the Virgin sim? I have a feeling you'll get the activation screen pop up again with the Virgin sim inserted, though. It probably needs an unlock. (edited)
  10. pengwyn's avatar
    I just saw a virgin customers service thread saying they are paying ee to unlock phones as a result of the migration. This would be open to abuse. Certainly something i would try and do
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