> ## 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.

# Activate multiple SIMs in bulk using the REST API

> Activating SIMs via the [Dashboard](/dashboard/activation/activation-overview) is a great option if you are only doing so for a handful of devices, but what if you want to activate dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of devices? For this we recommend using our [REST API](/api/1/). This option lets you programmatically activate devices and also enter SIM ranges instead of individual SIM numbers.

## How to activate multiple SIMs in bulk using the REST API

Use the Hologram REST API to activate dozens or thousands of SIMs in a single request. You can submit explicit ICCID lists or ICCID ranges, and specify the data plan and zone to apply.

<Note>
  **Note:** You can also perform bulk actions in the Dashboard for smaller jobs.
</Note>

If you aren't familiar with APIs, we highly recommend checking out our [introduction to Hologram's REST API guide](/guides/rest-api/beginners-guide-to-the-hologram-rest-api/) as well as using [Postman](https://www.getpostman.com/) to make the API calls mentioned in this guide.

### Prerequisites

* **API key** with permission to manage SIMs
* **Organization ID** where the SIMs belong
* **Plan ID** and **zone** for the target plan (see below)

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Find your plan ID and zone

    Use the plans endpoint to list available plans. Find the `id` and the `zones` value (for example: `global`, `USA`, `usaall`, `1`, or `2`). Plans should generally have only one zone.

    ```bash cURL theme={null}
    curl --request GET \
      --url 'https://dashboard.hologram.io/api/1/plans' \
      -u apikey:YOUR_HOLOGRAM_API_KEY
    ```

    ```json Response example highlight={14,27-28} theme={null}
    {
      "success": true,
      "limit": 1,
      "size": 1,
      "continues": true,
      "links": {
        "path": "/api/1/plans",
        "base": "dashboard.hologram.io",
        "next": "/api/1/plans?startafter=2345"
      },
      "lastid": 2345,
      "data": [
        {
          "id": 2345,
          "partnerid": 1,
          "name": "Global G3 Standard Network-Level Billing",
          "description": "Global G3 Standard Network-Level Billing",
          "data": 0,
          "recurring": 1,
          "enabled": 1,
          "billingperiod": 1,
          "groupid": 1234,
          "developerplan": 0,
          "tiers": {
            "BASE": {
              "devicecount": 0,
              "zones": {
                "global": {
                  "amount": "1.000000",
                  "sms": "0.190000",
                  "overage": "0.030000",
                  "carriers": {
                    "13": {
                      "apn": "hologram"
                    }
                  }
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "display_category": "standard",
          "cellular_coverage_region": {
            "id": 1,
            "display_name": "Global",
            "description": "Connect your SIM anywhere in the world"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Activate SIMs

    #### Activate SIMs with an explicit ICCID list

    Send a POST request to the bulk claim endpoint with a list of ICCIDs.

    ```bash cURL theme={null}
    curl --request POST \
      --url 'https://dashboard.hologram.io/api/1/links/cellular/bulkclaim' \
      -u apikey:YOUR_HOLOGRAM_API_KEY \
      --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
      --data-raw '{
        "sims": ["8901000000000000001", "8901000000000000002"],
        "plan": 1234,
        "zone": "global",
        "orgid": 5678
      }'
    ```

    #### Activate SIMs with an ICCID range

    Alternatively, submit a range for contiguous ICCIDs.

    ```bash cURL theme={null}
    curl --request POST \
      --url 'https://dashboard.hologram.io/api/1/links/cellular/bulkclaim' \
      -u apikey:YOUR_HOLOGRAM_API_KEY \
      --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
      --data-raw '{
        "simrange": "8901000000000000001-8901000000000000099",
        "plan": 1234,
        "zone": "global",
        "orgid": 5678
      }'
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **Warning:** Use the correct plan and zone to avoid unexpected charges. Verify a subset before running very large batches.
</Warning>

## Related guides

<Card title="End testing and activate SIMs in your dashboard" href="/dashboard/sim-actions/force-activate-from-test-mode" horizontal>
  How to activate SIMs in your dashboard
</Card>

<Card title="Change SIM data plans in bulk using the REST API" href="/guides/rest-api/change-sim-data-plans-in-bulk-using-the-rest-api" horizontal>
  How to change SIM data plans in bulk using the REST API
</Card>