As technology advances, we’re relying more and more on our mobiles to not only communicate with people but to store data and vital information as well. In such a scenario, if you happen to lose your mobile, there’s a high risk of fraudulent activities being involved. For example, if you lose your phone that has been synced with your bank account, anyone can access your details. Moreover, if you decide to change your SIM and casually dispose of your old SIM, there’s a risk of someone else accessing the SIM.

Hence, no matter the reason, if you are changing your SIM or getting rid of your old SIM, it’s crucial always to deactivate or block it to ensure there’s no risk of your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

Every telecommunication provider has a different process to deactivate or block the SIM. We’ve mentioned the steps to follow for the top providers; Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Reliance and BSNL.

Blocking or Deactivation of your sim card will stop your sim from calling or receiving calls; your sim won’t catch the network for messaging or internet.

How To Block Your Vodafone SIM

There are multiple ways to block your Vodafone SIM, which you can find below:

1. Block Vodafone Idea SIM Via Customer Care

To block a Vodafone sim card, you need to simply call the Vodafone customer care number on 198, answer a few verification questions, and your sim will be blocked. In case you’ve lost your SIM, you can call customer care on 198 from another Vodafone number or dial 199 if you are calling from another network company.

The customer care executive will ask a few questions like any last five outgoing calls from your log, last recharge amount or any such details, after which they will proceed to block or deactivate your SIM. There is no extra charge to block or deactivate your SIM card; however, if you’re on the postpaid plan, you’ll still be billed for the rest of the month even after blocking your card.

If you are calling from another number, you will need to answer a few questions for your account verification. The numbers 198 and 199 will work for both prepaid and postpaid customers.

Another customer care number you can call on is *77 (800770077) to block the SIM, but you need to know the user password for this. After confirming your password, Vodafone will block the sim card within an hour of your request.

Vodafone Idea Customer Care number 199 is chargeable at 50p for 3 mins.

2. Block Vodafone SIM From The Vodafone Store

Another option is to walk into a nearby Vodafone showroom or store and request the executive to block your sim card. The executive will ask you to fill out the necessary paperwork and verify your number, and then your number will be blocked.

3. Block Vodafone SIM Online

In case there is no nearby store or you cant reach out to the customer care number you can also block your sim online now.

To block your Vodafone SIM online, you can reach out to them on WhatsApp on 9654297000. You can get in touch with an executive on WhatsApp and ask them to block your sim after giving the necessary details.

You can even block your Vodafone SIM through their official website, where you need to type your number. They will send you an OTP on an alternate number or your registered email ID. You will then be asked to request the customer care executive to deactivate your Vodafone sim.

You can also easily block your sim SIM in the My Vodafone self-care services application by clicking on My Account and then click on ‘Deactivate’.

How To Block Your Reliance Jio SIM

As part of its exemplary customer service, Reliance Jio provides multiple options to choose from if you’re looking to block your SIM. Follow the methods given below.

1. Block Reliance Jio SIM Via Customer Care

To block your Jio SIM card, you need to call their toll free JioCare helpline at 199 from the JIO SIM you want to block. If you have lost or misplaced your SIM card, you can call any other number on 18008899999, provide relevant information, and they will block your SIM.

2. Block Reliance Jio SIM From Reliance Digital

Reliance Digital, Reliance’s official store, is located in multiple areas across the country. So, if you’re facing any challenges in contacting customer care, you can even visit your nearest Reliance Digital store to block your Reliance Jio SIM. However, you’ll have to provide some ID proof that is registered with your number.

3. Block Reliance Jio SIM Online

You can block your Jio SIM card from the company’s website by following the steps given below:

• Login with your credentials on the Jio website.
• You will see your name on the top right corner, proceed to click on your name and then on ‘My account’
• Next, click on the Settings button.
• Next, click on ‘Suspend and resume’.
• Next, click on the ‘Arrow’ button and select the reason why you want to block your SIM card.
• Next, click on ‘Suspend’.
• Now, your Jio SIM will be blocked within 15 minutes.

You can even email Reliance Jio executives to block your SIM card on [email protected]

The steps given above will help you block your SIM temporarily, and if you ever wish to unblock or reactivate your SIM, you can do so by calling the customer care service on the numbers mentioned.

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How To Block Your Airtel SIM

Airtel is one of the top telecommunications providers in the country; hence, it comes as no surprise that the operator provides seamless services to meet all their customer needs. So, if you’re looking to block your Airtel SIM, check out the various methods.

1. Block Airtel SIM Via Customer Care

To block your Airtel SIM using customer care, follow the steps given below:

• Call the Airtel Customer care number 198 or 121 from your Airtel number.
• Request the executive to block your number. The customer care executive will ask for your Airtel number for the verification of the owner of the SIM you want to block.
• After verifying these details, your airtel number will be blocked successfully.

If you wish to call from any other Airtel number you can call on 9849098490, or if you are calling from another network, call 1800-103-4444 or 18001034444.

Airtel Customer services give 24×7 hours a complimentary customer care helpline number. If you have any problem with your Airtel SIM you can reach out to them at any time on the above numbers.

Calling at 121 will be charged at 50 paise per 3 min.

2. Block Airtel SIM From The Airtel Store

You can also visit the nearest Airtel store to block your SIM. You need to first verify the SIM card number you wish to block, for which the executive will ask you verification details like last recharge amount, the name of your mother, FNF number, Date of birth, or ID proof for address verification, etc.

Once you provide the right information, you will receive an OTP, which you need to give the executive in the store. After the OTP has been verified, your SIM will be blocked.

3. Block Airtel SIM Online

You can use Airtel Live Chat Support on their official Airtel website or their app – My Airtel, and ask the live support to help you with any query such as sim deactivation or blocking your SIM.

You can also reach out to them on Airtel HelpLine if you have any problem regarding the deactivation or blocking of your SIM or email the Airtel executives at [email protected]

Block Corporate Airtel SIMTo block your corporate Airtel number, you will have to get your corporate manager or key account manager to request the sim card network administrator. You will have to fill out a form and application of blocking an airtel corporate sim along with a GD duplicate. All of this is mandatory and needs to be filled effectively.

How To Block Your BSNL SIM

As the only Government-operated telecom provider, there’s no doubt that BSNL offers great customer service, and part of which is providing multiple options for blocking your SIM seamlessly. We’ve mentioned the processes to follow below.

1. Block BSNL SIM Via Customer Care

You can block your BSNL SIM by calling their customer care at 1503 from a BSNL number or 18001801503 from any other network provider’s number. The customer care executive will verify your address or Aadhar card number and phone number to authenticate your identity.

The executive will also ask for the following details like your name, date of birth, address etc., after verifying, they will immediately proceed to block your sim.

The above customer care numbers are valid for any prepaid or post-paid BSNL customer.

2. Block BSNL SIM From The Airtel Store

You can also go visit the nearest BSNL Customer Service Centre and submit your identification to the customer service centre where you have taken the connection with identity proof and ask the customer care representative to block or deactivate your number.

If you are the owner or the authorized person who knows all the details registered with the SIM then you can block the SIM card through BSNL customer care.