The Essential Guide On How To Unlock iPhone's

Today’s the day you at long last made the last payment on your iPhone and it's eventually all yours. So you’re able to use it while traveling in another country with a local SIM card and have the freedom to swap networks as you please, right? Don’t start booking your flight to Asia or running to T-Mobile just yet since, unfortunately, it’s not quite that clear-cut.

In order to prevent users from swapping to a rival’s network before they’ve paid off their iPhone or completed their contract, lots of carriers place a sim lock (also known as a network lock) on their smartphones. This inevitably makes sure that you, or the individual you sell your second-hand iPhone to, are tied to them in the future. If you’re thinking this sounds like a pretty dysfunctional working relationship, we’d have a tendency to agree with you. Thankfully, with a bit of effort and an account in good standing, you are well on your way to a SIM-unlocked iPhone before you know it!

Before we continue, a quick note about the type of unlocks that are available, and the one's you should avoid! There are apps out there that offer the capability to unlock your handset yourself, however you need to jailbreak your iPhone, and this is not a smart move, for many reasons. You can do your own investigating into jail-breaking, but it's not a sensible choice, and to be avoided. The simplest way to unlock your iPhone is actually by discussing directly with your network provider. The journey to a carrier-unlocked iPhone relies largely on your network, with the procedure being either comparatively quick and easy or painfully difficult. To get you a step closer to a life free of carrier-locked tyranny, we accumulated all the steps to be able to obtain an iPhone unlock in this comprehensive guide. Please note that although this was written with iPhone owners in mind, most of the recommendations can easily be used for other smartphones.

What Is Network Unlocking?

As noted previously, when you purchase an iPhone or other smartphone from a network provider, that smartphone will only function on that individual network unless you either request to have your carrier unlock it or your carrier automatically unlocks it for you (more about that later). Often called a SIM unlock, factory unlock, or network unlock, carrier unlocking means removing a network’s restrictions on a device, allowing you to use it with a different cellular provider.

Luckily for us, not every iPhone have to be unlocked. For example, if you buy your iPhone straight from Apple and pay for it in full, it will already be unlocked and able to use with a variety of carriers.

You should be aware, however, not all phones purchased outright from third-party retailers are automatically unlocked. In particular, although sold as “unlocked”, smart phones bought at Best Buy are in fact considered universal. So, when you insert a Sim for the first time, the device will essentially lock itself to the carrier linked to the SIM card. Subsequently, since certain service providers like T-Mobile may only unlock your iPhone if you bought it directly from them, you may end up having an eternally carrier-locked device. Simply put, you find yourself paying factory-unlocked prices to get a network-locked cell phone.

Why Should I Unlock My iPhone?

Having a network-unlocked iPhone comes with a good number of perks including the freedom to use (virtually) any network within the Unites States and overseas and higher resale values.

1. Factory-unlocking offers you the flexibility to use your mobile phone with the network provider of your choice, almost wherever and whenever you like (with a couple of exceptions, as you’ll find out in a while). For example, if you are currently using T-Mobile but are moving to a new part of the country with bad T-Mobile coverage, you'll be able to shift to AT&T in a heartbeat




2. A Carrier-unlocked iPhone makes international travel a cinch. Unlocking also provides you with the flexibility to use your mobile phone in foreign countries. Worldwide roaming fees, costly international plans, and crazy dashes for WiFi are a thing of the past with an unlocked iPhone. Merely pop in a SIM card from a local network and you're good to go.




3. Network-unlocked iPhones have significantly higher resale values.

In the event you don’t plan on switching carriers or traveling internationally any time soon, unlocking your iPhone is still a good idea. If you ever intend on trading in your old iPhone if you upgrade, you’ll almost always get more cash for it if the iPhone is already network unlocked because of a greater demand for them in the resale market place.

Is it illegal to Network Unlock your cell phone?

Certainly not! Due to the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, finalized into law by President Barack Obama in 2014, all US-based cellular providers must allow customers to unlock their phones. However, the conditions under which a service provider will unlock a mobile phone differ widely from service provider to service provider. Typically, many service providers require you to finish your contract, cover your financial obligations in full, or otherwise have an account in good standing before they’ll assist you to unlock your iPhone.

How you can check if your iPhone is Unlocked

Before you begin the smartphone-unlocking process, you’ll first want to check if your iPhone has already been unlocked (no need in undergoing the hassle when you don’t actually need to). All you need to do is ensure that you’re connected to WiFi and insert a brand-new SIM card from an alternative cellular provider and your handset will do the rest automatically. This confirmation check normally takes no more than a minute to finish once a SIM has been inserted.

Throughout the verification procedure, you’ll observe that your iPhone will boot to a white screen and attempt to establish that it has been unlocked with your carrier. Should Apple determine that your iPhone is network-unlocked, it will return to the home screen and signal bars should appear from the new service provider. However, if a white screen appears that says SIM Not Supported, your smartphone will not be unlocked.

How to Unlock iPhones from a Service provider

Having verified your cellphone is definitely locked to your current cellular provider, next you'll need to take a look at your service provider’s unlocking eligibility requirements. Should your iPhone meet their criteria, you can ask that the device can be unlocked from their network. As recommended previously, both the eligibility requirements and the unlocking process vary from company to company. Each one has been outlined below for the major carriers including Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T.

Please note that, provided you’ve met the unlock conditions and are completing the network-unlocking directly with your carrier, asking for your iPhone be unlocked is often completely free. If you wish to work through a 3rd party unlocking service provider, you'll be charged, but working with a 3rd party provider is going to be your only option if you are not the original owner of the phone. Before you spend money unnecessarily, try using the directions outlined below beforehand.

How To Locate An iPhone’s IMEI Number

When network-unlocking your iPhone, you'll have to supply your provider your cellphones IMEI number. This unique, 15-digit identifier is fundamentally your cell phone’s VIN or social security number. To find your IMEI, on your phone, select Settings > General > About and scroll down to the bottom of the list where it will be listed displayed next to IMEI.

You could also look for the IMEI number on the smartphone shell itself. For older iPhone's (6, 6 Plus, 1st-generation SE, 5s, 5c, 5), the number will also be imprinted on the back or the SIM tray.

After you’ve located the IMEI, it highly advisable that you store it somewhere for safekeeping.

Unlock an iPhone on AT&T

Unlocking an iPhone from the AT&T network is about as uncomplicated as 1-2-3. Just run on over to the AT&T site, answer a few questions, and you’re well on your way to SIM-unlocked freedom.

After you submit your request, use your IMEI and request reference numbers to check on your AT&T unlock status. When you obtain your verification text or email, simply open it up and click on the verification link. That’s it! AT&T will unlock your iPhone in just two working days.

For any iPhone to be unlocked from AT&T, it must meet the following requirements:

• Must not have a past-due balance
• Must not be active on a different AT&T account
• If it is a work phone, you must have your employer’s permission to unlock it
• If it is an AT&T PREPAID phone, it must be active for at least six months
• Must not be reported as lost, stolen, or blocked

If your iPhone is included in term agreement or installment plan, it must also adhere to these requirements:

• The installment plan must be paid off
• The term agreement must be complete
• The device must be active on the AT&T network for at least 60 days

For detailed eligibility prerequisites, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on Sprint

Dependent on when you purchased your phone and if it has got SIM-unlock capabilities, there are a few different unlock options. In the event you bought a new iPhone from Sprint after February 2015 (it should be SIM-unlock capable) and it is currently being used on their network, Sprint should unlock it automatically after it meets their eligibility requirements. So, you actually don’t need to do anything besides keep your account in good order. However, if your iPhone is inactive or was purchased before February 2015, you’ll have to get in touch with Sprint Customer Care directly to request an unlock (either dial *2 on your Sprint phone or ring 888-211-4727).

We have seen reports from some Sprint users that the auto-unlock program doesn't always operate as it should, so it’s undoubtedly a good idea to verify that your iPhone is unlocked before attempting to swap to a different provider or advertising your iPhone as unlocked, if you intend to sell it to a buyback company or on eBay.

In order for an iPhone to be unlocked from the Sprint network, it must satisfy the following requirements:

• Must be active on the Sprint network for at least 40 days
• Must be on an account in good standing
• Must not be reported as lost, stolen, or associated with fraud
• Must have SIM-unlock capabilities (if it doesn’t, it is MSL (Master Subsidy Lock) locked and you will need to call Sprint for the MSL code)

If your iPhone is part of a service agreement, lease agreement, or installment plan, it's got to also meet these requirements:

• Any early-termination fees must be fully paid
• Any lease or installment payments must be fully paid
• If leased, the end-of-lease purchase option must be fully paid

For in depth eligibility requirements, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on T-Mobile

If you’re an Android phone owner reading this and your device matches the eligibility conditions, consider yourself lucky: You are able to unlock it easily from the phone itself. For all you iPhone owners out there, you’ll have to get in touch with T-Mobile’s Team of Specialists directly (either dial 611 from a T-Mobile iPhone, call 877-746-0909.

To have an iPhone unlocked from the T-Mobile network, it has got to adhere to the following requirements:

• For prepaid accounts, it must have been active on the account for at least 12 months
• Must have been purchased directly from T-Mobile
• Must be paid for in full
• Must not have been reported as lost, stolen, or blocked

If your iPhone is part of a pre-paid account, it must also adhere to these prerequisites:

• Must have been active on the account for at least 40 days
• The account must be in good standing

For detailed eligibility prerequisites, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on Verizon

Verizon is, hands down, the top service provider to work with for unlocking an iPhone. Why? Because Verizon will automatically unlock your phone 60 days after the purchase of the device. If you purchased your iPhone from a retail partner, it'll be unlocked automatically 60 days after device activation.

There are no catches. You don’t have to pay off your phone, satisfy any special demands, or even get in touch with them to request to unlock your phone from their network. As long as your iPhone hasn’t been reported stolen or lost, simply wait sixty days following purchase or activation and your phone will be ready to go.

Hard to believe? Just click here.

Now I've Unlocked my iPhone — what do I do now?

In the old days, you’d have to hook your iPhone up to iTunes and complete a software restore to perform the unlock procedure. Fortunately, it’s much easier nowadays. All you have to do is follow the same steps you followed earlier to determine if your phone was already unlocked to start with.

If you don’t have access to a Sim from another carrier, you may still confirm that your iPhone has been unlocked using an iTunes software restore. Simply connect your iPhone with a computer running iTunes and click the “restore” option. Once the restoration process has completed, you will see a message that says “Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked.”

Well done! You successfully factory-unlocked your iPhone! Meaning you can use whatever service provider you wish to now, yes? We hate be the bearer of bad news, but no. Due to the two different types of systems employed in the US, CDMA and GSM, your choice of mobile providers depends on the model of your iPhone and the original network it's locked to. Primarily, Verizon and Sprint are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks, while AT&T, T-Mobile, and most providers abroad are GSM (Global System for Mobiles) networks.

As you may have guessed, both these different network types don't talk to each other (because that's too logical). Fortunately, as we move closer to world wide 5G access and as older networks are phased out, it will hopefully no longer be a problem.

To discover which carriers you have access to based on these two factors, keep on reading.

AT&T

GSM networks only (AT&T, T-Mobile, international GSM carriers): Original iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Sprint

International networks only: iPhone 4s and iPhone 5

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

T-Mobile

GSM networks only (AT&T, T-Mobile, international GSM carriers): Original iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Verizon

Compatible with any carrier in the world, but with limitations when using GSM networks: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Will the Unlock last forever?

Yup! Once your phone has been Sim-unlocked, it will stay like that for the life span of the handset. You'll be able to restore your iPhone or update software without worrying about your unlock vanishing afterwards.