In 2022, when SIM swap attacks were rampant, T-Mobile disabled self-service SIM swap and rolled out a SIM block service to beef up account security. The SIM block feature has now been retired.
T-Mobile is texting customers who had enabled the SIM block feature to let them know that it's no longer available. This feature was announced to combat SIM swap, a hijacking tactic used by criminals to transfer a customer's number to a SIM card they own. This allows criminals to view incoming communication, including two-factor authentication (2FA) verification checks and One-Time Password (OTP) sent to verify a user's identity and grant access to an account or service.
The SIM block feature allowed customers to put blocks at both the line and account levels to prevent their number from being transferred to another SIM card.
While we wait for that to happen, T-Mobile has sunsetted the SIM block feature. Customers will still be protected by the SIM Protection feature, which the company claims offers better security. SIM protection is a free feature designed to prevent unauthorized SIM swaps. Customers can enable and disable it in the T-Life app and on the company's website. The feature must be toggled off before switching to a new SIM card or moving the eSIM to a new device.
A T-Mobile text telling customers that the SIM block feature has been deprecated. | Image Credit - FullTransparency
Since an alternative to SIM block exists in the form of SIM Protection, no one seems sad to see it go. Employees are happy that the SIM block is being phased out, as sometimes it led to a poor customer experience.
As a rep who has dealt with more than a few accounts requiring a sim change that have sim blocks and no other lines for care to receive one time pins to this is good to hear.
—sit_n_survive, Reddit user, June 2025
That's because the blocks were usually enabled and disabled by store staff. When a block was active, accounts were verified using a one-time passcode. Representatives often found themselves in challenging situations when a SIM change was required for accounts with a SIM block and no lines were available to receive the passcode.
Since they released a customer facing Sim blocking customers can control when to block and unblock SIM card changes. Because T-Mobile now has a customer facing some blocking tool the fraud management Sim block is obsolete. It also means that in the instance where a customer just can’t receive a one time pin that blocking can be removed with photo ID verification in store.
—Ecstatic_Brain_4433, Reddit user, June 2025
The SIM Protection feature gives customers more control and ensures that if they are unable to receive the one-time code for any reason, they can still have the block removed.
Grab a free iPhone 13 from Total Wireless!
Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: