Why does my phone get locked/bricked after using a local Egyptian SIM card for 90 days?
Based on 3 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 5 days ago
TL;DR
Inserting a local Egyptian SIM into an unregistered phone triggers a network lock after about 90 days, turning the device into a 'brick' — unless the phone was already registered in Egypt with a local SIM before January 2025. To avoid this, use an eSIM (e.g. via Trip.com) instead of a physical Egyptian SIM.
What the community said
The 90-day lock applies if the phone wasn't already registered in Egypt with a local SIM before January 2025 — check your device history before buying an Egyptian SIM.
5 days ago 90-day lock rule
Leaving Egypt and returning later with the same phone doesn't reset the lock timer — the cumulative time using the Egyptian SIM will still eventually brick the device.
5 days ago
If your phone has never had an Egyptian SIM before, it's safer to get an eSIM through a service like Trip.com — this avoids the risk of device lock during an extended stay in Egypt.
5 days ago eSIM via Trip.com