> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hologram.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Deactivate SIMs

> Deactivation is a **permanent, irreversible process** that ends all network connectivity and billing for a SIM that you no longer need.

You can deactivate up to 10 SIMs at a time in your dashboard. You must be in an Organization **Owner**, **Admin**, or **Manager** role to have the necessary permissions to deactivate SIMs.

<Danger>
  **Danger:** Deactivation is a **permanent and irreversible process**. Once deactivation is confirmed with our carrier partners and the SIM completes the deactivation process, it cannot be undone and the SIM will need to be physically replaced.
</Danger>

If you aren't using a device for some time—like for seasonal deployments—and want to avoid any charges for data usage, you likely want to **pause** the SIMs instead of deactivating them. Read about how to [pause SIMs](/dashboard/sim-actions/pause-resume-sims).

After a SIM is deactivated, it appears in the **[Deactivated SIMs](/dashboard/sims/sims-deactivated)** page.

## Deactivate SIMs in bulk

Bulk deactivation in your dashboard is limited to 10 SIMs at a time. We limit this action to limit accidental deactivations by customers that really want to pause their SIMs. To bulk deactivate more than 10 SIMs at a time, [you will need to use the API](/guides/rest-api/deactivate-sims-using-the-rest-api).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Active SIMs page">
    Open the SIMs section from the in the main menu of your dashboard. The Active SIMs page will open by default.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select SIMs to deactivate">
    Find the SIMs you would like to deactivate, then use the checkboxes on the left-hand side of the SIMs list to select the SIMs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the deactivation process">
    After selecting the SIMs to deactivate, open the **Manage SIMs** menu above the SIMs table and select **Deactivate SIMs**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm deactivation">
    The Deactivate SIMs modal will then display and show important information about the deactivation process. **All fields are required**, including filling in the bottom two fields exactly as labeled.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    *Click and hold* the **Hold to deactivate** button at the bottom of the screen to begin the deactivation process. This button does not work on mobile devices.
  </Step>
</Steps>

When the confirmation notification appears, we send on the deactivation request to our carrier partners, beginning the deactivation process. Once this process completes with our carrier partners, a process which can take **up to 30 days**, the SIM is permanently and irreversibly deactivated.

## Deactivate a single SIM

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the SIM">
    Find your SIM using the **SIMs** pages or **global search** and open the SIM's details page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the deactivation process">
    In the header of the SIM's details page, open the **Manage SIM** menu and select **Deactivate SIM**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm deactivation">
    Follow the same process as the [bulk deactivation process](/dashboard/sim-actions/deactivate-sims#deactivate-sims-in-bulk) outlined above.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Deactivate SIMs using the REST API

<Card title="Learn how to deactivate SIMs in bulk using the REST API" href="/guides/rest-api/deactivate-sims-using-the-rest-api" horizontal />

<Card title="REST API endpoint" href="/api/1/devices/batch/state/post" horizontal>
  Pause, resume, or deactivate devices (bulk) <code>POST /devices/batch/state</code>
</Card>

## Related actions

<Card title="Pause or resume SIMs" href="/dashboard/sim-actions/pause-resume-sims" horizontal>
  Pause or resume SIMs for temporary service suspension
</Card>

<Card title="Change data plans" href="/dashboard/sim-actions/change-data-plans" horizontal>
  Change data plans for your SIMs
</Card>

<Card title="Set data usage limits" href="/dashboard/sim-actions/set-usage-limits" horizontal>
  Set data usage limits for your SIMs
</Card>