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Galaxy Note 5 SIM card guide

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What's the correct size of Galaxy Note 5 SIM card? How to install SIM card for Galaxy Note 5? How to remove SIM card from Galaxy Note 5?

Galaxy Note 5 uses the sealed-body design. So, the SIM card slot is not under the back cover as in previous generations of Galaxy Note devices.

Actually Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot is located on the top of the phone (see Galaxy Note 5 layout). This is similar to Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6 edge+.

In addition to the new location, Galaxy Note 5 also uses a SIM card tray to hold the SIM card. You have to eject and pull out the Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray to insert or remove SIM card for Galaxy Note 5.

Galaxy Note 5 also uses SIM card with different size from Galaxy Note 4 and other Note devices.

This guide will show you the correct SIM card size for Galaxy Note 5, how to insert SIM card for Galaxy Note 5 and how to remove SIM card from Galaxy Note 5.

Table of Contents hide
1) What is the correct Galaxy Note 5 SIM card size?
2) How to install/ insert SIM card to Galaxy Note 5?
2.1) Step 1: Loosen Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.
2.2) Step 2: Pull out Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.
2.3) Step 3: Install/ insert SIM card.
2.4) Step 4: Insert SIM card tray into Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.
3) How about Galaxy Note 5 dual SIM models?
4) How to remove SIM card from Galaxy Note 5?
4.1) Step 1: Loosen Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.
4.2) Step 2: Pull out Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.
4.3) Step 3: Remove SIM card as shown below.
4.4) Step 4: Insert SIM card tray into Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.
5) Is Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray identical to Galaxy S6?

What is the correct Galaxy Note 5 SIM card size?

For mobile phones, over the years, there have been 4 different sizes of SIM card. It is usually referred as 4 different form factors (reference):

  • Full-size SIM card. It has the size of a credit card (85.60 mm *53.98 mm*0.76 mm). You cannot find it now.
  • Mini SIM card.  This is now often referred to as big SIM card. Some old smartphones are still using mini SIM card. Its actual size is  25mm*15mm*0.76mm. The first generation of Galaxy Note uses mini SIM card.
  • Micro SIM card. It is smaller than mini SIM card (15mm*12mm*0.76mm).  Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 4 all use micro SIM card.  Because micro SIM card has identical thickness as mini SIM card, it is possible to trim a mini SIM card into a micro SIM card easily (although it is not recommended.)
  • Nano SIM card. This is currently the smallest SIM card for smartphones. It is both smaller than micro SIM card, and thinner (12.3mm*8.8mm*0.67mm). Galaxy Note 5 uses nano SIM card.

So, the correct Galaxy Note 5 SIM card size is nano SIM.  You cannot use SIM card in Galaxy Note 4 (or Note 3, or Note II) in Galaxy Note 5!

Because nano SIM card is thinner than Micro SIM card, it is NOT recommended to trim micro SIM card to nano SIM card. You should try to get the official nano SIM card from your carrier. A lot of carriers now offer 3-in-1 SIM card (mini, micro and nano).

A few high-end smartphones also use nano SIM card, for example, Samsung Galaxy S6,  Moto X, Moto X 2nd Gen, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5, Nexus 6, HTC One M8 and HTC One M9. So, if you are using any of these phones currently, the SIM card can be used on Galaxy Note 5

Please make sure you have a nano SIM card before proceeding. Inserting a wrong size SIM card may damage Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

How to install/ insert SIM card to Galaxy Note 5?

To install/insert SIM card to Galaxy Note 5, please follow these steps as shown below:

Step 1: Loosen Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.

You need insert the ejection pin (which can be found in the box of your Galaxy Note 5) to the hole. Gently push it to the end. The SIM card tray should be ejected a bit.

Please make sure the ejection pin is perpendicular to the hole. Failing to do so may damage you Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

Step 2: Pull out Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.

Now, you can gently pull out the SIM card tray from the Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

You should pull it out only when the tray is ejected a bit. If not, try to press the ejection pin slightly harder.

Never try to pull the Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray violently or with any tools.

Step 3: Install/ insert SIM card.

Put your nano SIM card into the empty/hollow area with metal part facing downwards.

Actually, if you match the shape of SIM card with the hollow area, the metal part of your SIM card must be facing down.

Make sure the nano SIM card is perfectly fitted into the hollow area.

You can only use nano SIM card on Galaxy Note 5. Using other SIM cards will damage the Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

In most regions, the damaged Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot or damaged  Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray is not covered by Samsung warranty.

Step 4: Insert SIM card tray into Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

If you SIM card cannot fit into the hollow area perfectly, you should remove the SIM card.

Only when the SIM card fits into the hollow area perfectly, you then insert the SIM card tray into Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot as shown below.

You may need press it gently to get the tray locked properly. Never insert Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray violently.

Galaxy Note 5 SIM card, installing SIM card

How about Galaxy Note 5 dual SIM models?

In some regions, Galaxy Note 5 supports up to 2 SIM cards. This is usually referred as Galaxy dual SIM models

The SIM card slot location for Galaxy Note 5 dual SIM models is identical to that in normal Galaxy Note 5 mentioned above.

The major difference is that the SIM card tray has 2 hollow areas for you to fit 2 SIM cards as shown below.

galaxy_note_5_sim_card_dual_sim_card_tray

If you are going to use one SIM card only, put SIM card in slot 1.

If you are going to use two SIM cards, slot 1 is for primary SIM card.

How to remove SIM card from Galaxy Note 5?

To remove Galaxy Note 5 SIM card, please follow these steps:

Step 1: Loosen Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.

Step 2: Pull out Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray.

Step 3: Remove SIM card as shown below.

galaxy_note_5_sim_card_remove_sim_card

Step 4: Insert SIM card tray into Galaxy Note 5 SIM card slot.

Please note, Galaxy Note 5 can work without SIM card.  Of course, if there is no SIM card, you can only use WiFi for connection.

Is Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray identical to Galaxy S6?

Although Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6 edge+ use the similar SIM card tray, the dimension of Galaxy Note 5 SIM card tray is different from that in Galaxy S6.

So, do not try to insert SIM card tray from other phones into Galaxy Note 5.

Do you have any questions on Galaxy Note 5 SIM card?

If you have any questions on Galaxy Note 5 SIM card or installing Galaxy Note 5 SIM card, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you.

For other Galaxy Note 5 features and detailed Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides , please check Galaxy Note 5 how-to guides page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Tonya Deoring says

    I have had problems with my SIM card saying invalded and locked. I haven taken this problem to the Sprint Store and it took sales person 3 SIMS to finally get one to work. Now, what can I do about this problem my galaxy5note is paid off. Please help me!!

    Reply

  7. Apit says

    My note 5problem is i cannot turn on both sim..when i put sim 1 to 4G or everything my sim 2 no service..and when i put sim 2 to 4G,sim 1 no service..i open setting and try to on my “dual sim always on” cannot funtion..pls help me..

    Reply

  10. Tamara says

    My friend was trying to remove my Sim card from my note 5 and the pin he was using got broke off inside the pin hole and now I cannot remove the sim card. I live in BFE no where near any type of cell phone service center. I don’t even have a neighborhood geek squad to help me out. How can I remove the Sim card? If I remove the back cover will that help?

    Reply

  11. Tanya Marie Carnahan says

    Hi I just bought the note 5 I tried inserting my nab sim card from the mobile and insert it in my note 5 tmobile phone it days sim card not found so I took out out tried it on a different phone sim card works went and got a bank card for note 5 works but it doesn’t work for other phone why?

    Reply

  12. Anonymous says

    I had damage to my screen on my Note 5 and sent it to Asurion and they sent a new phone. I took the nano sim card out before sending it back but forgot to wipe the phone yikes!. Worse yet I forgot to get my impotant saved Voice to Text (VTT) data that was saved on my old phone transferred to my email. I am wondering if anyone knows if the VTT info is on the sim card I removed from my old phone and if so, how to retrieve it?

    Reply

  14. Gowtham says

    Is there any option to add micro sd card in note 5!!Does it have a micro sd card slot near mother board in back panel??

    Reply

  15. CJ says

    Hi. Can you tell me if the second sim slot is good for a 3g enabled sim? I have had a galaxy S4 dual sim and the second sim slot would only work on a 2g network here in Australia? Unfortunatley the 2g network will be switched off here in December 2016 so the second sim slot will be useless here after then if it is only 2g capable? Cheers CJ

    Reply

  17. shuhayda says

    hi, im from the uk and wanting to get the note 5. im on t mobile 3g network. if i order a t mobile nano sim from t mobile would this work in the note 5? currently note 5 is not going to be lauinched in the uk but im ordering one off the internet so my question is would note 5 worrk in the uk? 920i or 920c model?

    Reply

  22. fifiee says

    i use 2 sim card. sim 1 is 2g and sim 2 is lte,3g. i take mobile data on sim 2 and i also setting on my hp sim 2.so far there is no problem but lately i was curious if i use over internet data that i supposed to be in my sim 2 why my kredit on sim 1 were charge?? is i need setting my internet network to sim 2 not just setting my device? how? please reply me.

    Reply

  23. Jack Tako says

    Hi, Can I use my iPhone 6S’ SIM card in a Galaxy Note 5? I am on the Verizon network.

    Also, can I swap the SIM card back and forth between these 2 phones at any time? Thanks!

    Reply

  24. Nalwaya says

    Hi, I have a dual sim Note 5. I want to know how to activate both Sims. i want to be able to receive calls on Sim 1 or Sim 2 whilst any of the sim is busy. Please reply.

    Reply

  26. Niko says

    I dropped my note 5 and now it says the SIM card is locked and is invalid. I tried reseating it but that hasnt fixed it

    Reply

  28. Joel tom says

    When you put the SIM card in, does all the functions of a normal phone like the Samsung gs6 work? For example, mobile data, calling?

    Reply

  32. alex says

    hi! is there a difference with the network coverage for sim 1 and sim 2? i think i read somewhere that sim 1 is lte and sim 2 is 3g only? please confirm.

    Reply

  33. LaTonya Cox Richards says

    Will a Iphone 5s sim card work with the Note 5? I have tried to put my 5s sim card into the Note 5 (the sim fits) but I’m not getting a 4g lte signal. The phone cannot dial out or receive calls when I try to use it. Both phones are with AT&T. What could be the problem?

    Reply

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