Mobile Number Tracker
Trace Mobile Number Earn Money Online
© TechWelkin.com

How To Use Your Phone without a Service

apps that can work without sim card
Samyak Lalit | March 27, 2017 (Last update: March 27, 2017)

Samyak Lalit is an Indian author and disability rights activist. He is the principal author and founder of projects like TechWelkin, WeCapable, Viklangta, Kavita Kosh among many others.

These days everybody you know owns an expensive smartphone with an equally expensive mobile service plan. Have you ever thought of forgoing the SIM service plan but still use the smartphone in smarter ways? Maybe not the new phone but the old phone that you are about to discard?  It is all about making your tools serve your goals and explore their potential. However, the service plans are country specific so many of our readers may not have thought of using a smartphone minus the SIM card services. The potential benefit of using a smartphone sans the SIM are powerful and worth exploring.

Let us take a look at how to use a smartphone without a SIM card or an active service plan.

Can a phone work without a SIM card?

Yes, a smartphone can work without a SIM card if it is connected to a Wi-Fi network as it can route its calls through that network. I have used my old Samsung Duos GT-S7562 to test the working of each detail mentioned.  Most of the Android based apps need an active phone number to create and authenticate the Google account. After verification, the SIM can be removed as the apps do not require a SIM card or a service plan to functions seamlessly.

A SIM card holds the International Mobile Subscriber Identity or IMSI. It identifies the user in the operator’s network and authenticates the user with the cellular service provider. It then establishes the location of the user, and stores it in the operator’s Home Location Register – HLR. It is the main database of permanent subscriber information for a mobile network. If the call is not being routed through the operator’s network then a SIM card is not required. For example, a Wi-Fi call is not routed through the operator’s network.

Please note that SIM card is part of GSM based networks. Those of you who are still using CDMA network, you may not have a SIM card in your handset.

apps that can work without sim card

Now let us take a look at how to use a smartphone without a SIM, or an active cell phone plan. These tips are also handy if your phone is not getting enough signal strength. As long as you are near a local Wi-Fi connection, you can use your smartphone to:

  • Communicate via Skype, Hangouts
  • Use Facebook Messenger
  • Make Skype, Whatsapp or Viber calls
  • Have Group/Video Chats
  • Download or listen to music
  • Download or watch movies and videos
  • Download and play games
  • Send receive emails

Use WhatsApp for Texting and Voice Calls

Most apps can be downloaded and installed without a SIM card. However, WhatsApp is slightly different. When you install WhatsApp on your phone, it asks for a phone number to send the verification code required to activate your account. After the verification code is sent to the phone number and the account successfully verified you do not need the SIM card to send WhatsApp messages and calls. All you need is an internet connection to continue using WhatsApp to send and receive messages and calls. The SIM card that you used to activate WhatsApp on your smartphone can be used on another regular phone without internet to send and receive GSM calls. After all you do need to keep in touch with friends who do not use WhatsApp!

use whatsapp without sim card

Please note there are quite a few tweaks available on the internet to install and activate WhatsApp without a SIM, activating the airplane mode and bypassing the phone verification and using the landline number for verification. In spite of multiple attempts, unfortunately, none of the tweaks worked for me. Therefore, as a user my experience is that you do need a SIM card and phone number to activate the WhatsApp service.

In some countries, you can download and use a free messaging app called TextNow. The app gives you a unique phone number that you can use to verify WhatsApp. TextNow is not supported in all countries, including India.

Use Viber for Voice Calls Without a SIM

If you are traveling abroad, you can use free Viber to Viber calls and messages over Wi-Fi even if you are using a different SIM than the one used to verify Viber activation. However, do remember that if you are making a Viber call over Wi-Fi to a non Viber number, it will be chargeable.

Use Skype Without a SIM Card

If you are a Skype user and want to use a smartphone minus the SIM — then just hook up to the local Wi-Fi at home, office, coffee shop or mall. As long as the people you wish to connect have a Skype client installed on their phone or computer; you can communicate with them smoothly.

Skype is very convenient as it works on almost any mobile or stationary device. This really makes it easier for people on Skype irrespective of whether they own a smartphone or not.

Calling within India from Skype to mobiles and landlines is no longer available. You can still make free Skype to Skype calls within India, and you can still call mobiles and landlines in India from outside the country and make calls from India to other countries.

Use Facebook without a SIM card

On my phone without a SIM card, I could download & install Facebook and create a dummy account to test without any issues. Facebook has a calling feature with its standalone messenger app. So what are you waiting for? Just start using your old Android device to its full potential minus the SIM. Go the Facebook way!

Use Twitter without a SIM card

You can continue Tweeting without a phone number. You can create a Twitter account and verify it via email as long as you are using Wi-Fi.

Use Google Services without a SIM card

Google’s Allo can send texts and picture messages, and for voice calls there is Google Voice. It allows users to make calls over the Internet. You can port your old phone number into Google Voice, and still receive calls through Google Voice using an active Wi-Fi connection. Apps like Hangouts let you make VoIP calls without any carrier involvement provided you have access to good Wi-Fi connections.

Now you know that you can continue to use your Android device to make and receive calls and messages, share videos etc. I am sure you already know that even without the internet too you can continue to play the pre-installed games, listen to music, click pictures with the mobile phone camera, use the clock and alarm, shoot videos, use the notepad etc. In short you can use your old Android device like a Wi-Fi enabled tablet!

Disadvantages of using Mobile Phone without SIM

The possibilities are endless with an old Android device. But, a device without a SIM card has its flip side too. Dropping your cell phone plan is not a good idea for everyone. If you do not have an active SIM card in your phone:

  • You cannot make an emergency call unless you have Wi-Fi access.
  • You cannot receive or send GSM calls.
  • Unless you have access to a robust Wi-Fi, you cannot move around in the house or office while making a voice call.

Besides, the above mentioned apps, if you have tried other apps that continue to function seamlessly without a SIM or a cellular service, please do share with us.

Should you have any question on this topic, please feel free to ask in the comments section. We at TechWelkin and our reader community will try to assist you. Thank you for using TechWelkin!

 

© TechWelkin.com

17 responses to “How To Use Your Phone without a Service”

  1. annie says:

    you can use instagram right?

  2. D says:

    I am about a zillion miles beyond upset. Reinstall of Twitter got replies sent to my phone as text messages. I have never given Twitter (or Any online service) my phone number. Not Ever! I change my number. Luckily, with BoostMobile, it’s simple. Within ten minutes of changing my number, a Google notification: We have verified your phone number. Listed was the one ten minutes old, the one I had about a year, and another one. Again, I Never have given Google Any phone numbers or any permission to verify anything. Obviously, I am canceling service with Boost, getting new phone, new provider. I deleted everything Google…except photos.
    Question: If I continue to use YouTube from a Wi-Fi only phone, will Google still be able to get my new number? I plan to have Nothing Google on the active phone. Thanks in advance.

    • Gene Cavanaugh says:

      Weird. The main ADVANTAGES of Google, seamlessly tying things together to make your life easier, are the things you DON’T like! I am flabbergasted you DON’T want Google in your life! I can’t think of ANY reason to feel that way!
      But if you don’t want Google (or even more so, Facebook) and their subsidiaries (which is pretty near all of them) in your life, don’t use a cell phone. Perhaps you can avoid their data collection using smoke signals?

  3. Jesse Glessner says:

    Will the Photo App on the de-activated phone still work to take photos?

  4. Norrie BURNETT says:

    I have an old Vodafone GT S5320. Vodafone keep sending messages that they will reclaim my number if I do not make at least one call every 90 days.
    Will I still have access to my Photos, Alarm Clock, Contacts?

  5. john Webb says:

    Can I still use my smartphone camera as long as it is charged if I don’t have a contract or any credit on pay as you go ?

    • Laura says:

      As your camera has a separate function from and is not joined to your phone contract or having phone credit, your camera will work Independently, so the answer is yes.

  6. mike walsh says:

    Can I down load photos from my samsung s9+ to my computer without a sim card?

  7. Norm says:

    Can I access my Smart Watch with my Smart Phone without using a SIM card ??

  8. Marc Epstein says:

    I am using my old Galaxy S9+ without the sim card in my office to just listen to my I heart music over my stereo. How can I shut down my other apps that are on the unit without affecting my S20 Ultra? I mainly want to shut down my email app.

  9. Joan A Troyer says:

    is there a generic sim card that i can use with my flip phone and not have to be on monthly plan. I just want to buy minutes for my phone. I only use it for emergencies when I am out of the house.

  10. Gary Moore says:

    Can I use google offline downloaded maps to use my no simcard phone as a gps unit?

  11. Fred says:

    My Moto E worked with wifi
    a screen for making
    emergencgey call! Is there a way to get back to home
    screen?

  12. george robinson says:

    We’ve just changed our UK landline to a VOIP service. Can we put the voiper app onto an iPhone or Android phone and configure it to run off any wifi hotspot around town, without a sim card in the mobile handset.

    If so this looks like a great way to get off the surveillance system of sim cards and 4G/5G networks. I’m not worried about:

    – no sms, because using Signal app & email is an okay alternative

    – no steady gsm phone access (voip phone service via public hotspots is frequent enough contact for me)

    – no 4G data. Constant data is a questionable lifestyle choice, and it’s at the heart of creating mobile phone surveillance anyway. Good riddance !

    Can a mobile phone be set up to not even search for gsm signals?

  13. Jack Stone says:

    Im trying to download an app using Wifi with a phone that was deactivated when I bought a new one.
    The app store shows the apps, but when I try to download it is stuck thinking about it and goes no further.
    Ive shut down all Cellular data and am strictly operating on Wifi.
    Is there a hidden setting somewhere that I have to enable or disable?

  14. ADESANMI ADEDOTUN says:

    Hi,
    Thanks for sharing this awesome tips and trick with us. I did enjoy reading through. However, I want to ask whether it’s possible to Google Map on a phone that has no SIM card inserted?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *