Your iPhone might be locked to your carrier. Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers. This article explains how you can unlock an iPhone for use with any carrier.
Cellular carriers install software on the iPhone to lock it to their network. Unlocking involves disabling this software. This way, by locking, carriers are able to offer subsidized devices. This is why unlocked iPhones are worth more money. This may be especially important if you plan to buy a used iPhone because if you are not careful your new iPhone may not work on your cell carrier.
What Is an Unlocked iPhone?
An unlocked iPhone is a phone that isn’t tied to any one phone company. This means that you can use it on any compatible cellphone network as long as you have a service plan with that phone company. It also means that you’re not tied to a multi-year contract with the phone company and that you’re free to switch to another company whenever you want.
Tip: The one important thing to be aware of is how you bought the phone. If you bought the phone in monthly installments from your phone company, you won’t be able to switch to a new company until you’ve paid all of the monthly installments.
It is always a good idea to check a new (or used) iPhone to see if it’s locked. If it is unlocked, you can switch carriers freely. You can operate your iPhone on another compatible wireless network if it is unlocked.
How to tell if your phone is unlocked
There are a few ways to check if your iPhone is unlocked.
Check your settings
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > About.
- Scroll down and find “Carrier Lock” or “Network Provider Lock”.
- If you see No SIM restrictions, this means that the iPhone is completely unlocked. If you see SIM locked, however, then you probably still have some payments to make before your iPhone is fully paid.
Check with your carrier
Contact your carrier and ask if your iPhone is locked or unlocked.
Benefits of unlocking your iPhone
The biggest advantage of unlocking your iPhone is flexibility. As I’ve already mentioned, you can switch an unlocked iPhone to another phone company whenever there are better rates or promotions. Unlocked phones are also useful when traveling overseas since you can get a short-term phone plan from a local phone company instead of using your primary phone company’s (potentially expensive) international plans. Finally, unlocked iPhone usually has a higher resale value.
How to unlock your iPhone
So you checked and learned that your newly purchased iPhone is locked? Contact the carrier it’s locked to and request an unlock. Before you call, though, you may be able to initiate the unlocking process from your carrier’s site. Check out the device unlock pages from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.
After your carrier confirms that they unlocked your iPhone, follow the steps below.
If you need to activate an eSIM from a carrier other than your current carrier
Learn how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone
If you have a SIM card from a carrier other than your current carrier
Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:
- Remove your SIM card.
- Insert the new SIM card. Your device will activate.
If you don’t have another SIM card to use
Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:
- Back up your iPhone.
- After you make a backup, erase your iPhone.
- Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.
Please note, carriers often have a few requirements before it can be unlocked. For example:
- Verizon iPhones remain locked for 60 days after they are purchased. Verizon will automatically unlock your device after the 60 day lock period.
- AT&T lets you submit an online unlock request. You can do so by going to https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/](https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/)
- If this is a T Mobile device, you can call them at 1-877-746-0909.
Note: Apple can’t unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier. Only your current carrier can unlock your iPhone.
