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Is My Phone Sim Unlocked

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  • If you can successfully make a call with another carrier's SIM card in your phone, your phone is unlocked; however, if you can't, the phone is carrier locked and you'll need to talk to your carrier about unlocking it. Before getting a new SIM card, figure out which size of SIM card your phone will use.
  • Older devices: Use the Device Unlock app pre-installed on your device. If you do not have this app, your device is unlocked or it is on a 2019 or newer OS. OnePlus (6T and newer): Settings Wi-Fi & internet SIM & network, then choose Advanced or Network Unlock; T-Mobile REVVLRY: Settings Network & Internet Mobile network Advanced.
Home > Resources > Check If Phone Locked or Unlocked

The easiest way to confirm whether an Android Phone is Locked or Unlocked is to take out the existing SIM Card from the phone and insert a SIM Card from another Carrier into the Phone. Next, you should open your computer or smartphone browser and search for the iPhone Imei site. This is one of the most well-known sites that will help you tell if your iPhone is unlocked or not by a phone company. However, there are many other sites that have the same function.

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When you buy an Android smartphone from a carrier or a third-party reseller, it is possible that the device is network-locked. This means that you can not use a SIM from another carrier on that device. Usually, carriers implement these SIM locks on the devices in order to keep the customer within their own ecosystem. For example, a T-Mobile or Sprint phone may be locked to the respective mobile network until you unlocked it. This type of SIM lock is also called a network lock, carrier lock or subsidy lock. Since most locked devices are sold on contract, it is easy to understand why the network would not want you to switch to another carrier shortly after buying the device.

Every carrier in the US and around the world has its own policies regarding unlocking Android devices that are locked to their own network. In some cases, you will have to wait for a specific period of time before you can request the company to unlock the device. In other cases, you may need to pay all pending bills before your request will be accepted.

Types of Locks on Android or iPhone

SIM or Network Lock: This particular type of lock binds a device to a single network, which means a SIM from a different network or carrier will work on that device. If you try inserting a different SIM from another carrier into the device, you will see an error message on your screen during the setup process. Also, you will not be able to make calls, send messages or access cellular data when an incompatible SIM is inserted.

Security Lock: This is very different because it is set by the user rather than by the network. One example of such a lock is the PIN or Pattern lock, also called a Screen Lock. This is not a restrictive feature for exclusive network use, but rather a personal data protection feature intended to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the data on the device.

You might be interested: Forgot Android Passcode, how to unlock?

iCloud Activation Lock: In the case of iOS devices, there is also another type of lock called iCloud Activation Lock. This is linked to the Find My iPhone feature, which is a security implementation on Apple's smartphones. This type of lock is applied when a particular Apple ID or iCloud ID is associated with that device. Unless this account is delinked from the device, it will be unusable by any other user. Although this type of lock does not apply to Android devices, the carrier lock is applicable to both Android and iOS smartphones.

In summary, a SIM-locked phone is a device that is tethered to a particular network, preventing it from being used with a SIM card from a different network. In such devices, you can only use a SIM card that has been issued by the carrier or network to which the device is locked.

Method 1: Check if Your Phone is Locked or Unlocked via SIM Card

When a device is locked to a network, it means that it can not be used with a SIM card from another network or carrier. This offers a way to test whether a particular device is locked to a network or not. Here is what you need to do:

Step 1: To make sure that the device is working properly, try making a call, sending a text message or accessing data using the current SIM card. If it's working fine that means the device is OK. This step is merely to eliminate the possibility that there is a problem with the device rather than a lock being applied to.

Step 2: Now remove the SIM card from the device and insert an active SIM from a different carrier into the device. Once again, try making a call or sending a text message, or browsing the internet using cellular data. If you get an error message on your screen after inserting the new SIM, it is possible that the device is locked to the network of the previous SIM card.

Step 3: To make sure that this is not a compatibility issue, check and see whether your device supports the network's signal type. You should be able to find this information in your Android's Settings under About Phone.

Method 2: Check IMEI to Tell If Your Phone is Unlocked or Locked

Another method is to check it using mobile tphone IMEI number, which is the International Mobile Equipment Identity number. This unique number is issued to all GSM devices. You will see the number on the box that the device came in, but you can also check your IMEI number by dialing *#06# and hitting the call button on your Android phone.

This will display your IMEI number as well as other information about your device. Once you have the number in hand, go to www.imei.info and input your IMEI number into the box provided on the site. When you hit enter, the site will check your IMEI number and provide various types of information. One of these bits of information will show you whether or not your Android phone is locked to a particular carrier, and it will also display the carrier's name in case you need to contact them to request an unlock.

Once you have confirmed that your phone is locked to a particular network, you can have it unlocked if you choose to do so. This will free your phone from the network and make it available to use with a different SIM from another carrier.

Method 3: Check Phone Status via Carrier Website

There is one thing to be clarified that not all phones purchased from carrier were locked. Big carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint still sell unlocked devices to customers. And you can check the IMEI status to see if the phone will work on the network. Here are a few examples of US wireless carriers.

For T-Mobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx

For AT&T: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/byop/checkIMEI.html

For Spint: https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/bring-your-own-phone.html

For Verizon: https://www.verizonwireless.com/onedp/byod

Why Unlock your Android Phone?

On the other hand, an unlocked Android device is not exclusively tied to one network. That means you can insert any SIM from any carrier and start using the phone right away - as long as the device is compatible with the network's technology. As an example, a 3G device may not work on a network which offers an exclusive 4G signal. This type of incompatibility has nothing to do with the phone being carrier locked, but rather with the two technologies being incompatible with each other.

Unlockiing your Android phone from its carrier is extremely useful in many cases, such as when you travel overseas. You may want to avoid exorbitant roaming charges when you are aboard, and the only way to do that is to use a local SIM in that country. Unless your device is first unlocked from its network, you will not be able to do so. In other cases, you may want to unlock your device because the signal strength for voice or data may not be strong enough at your place of work or in your residence. If you want to use an alternate SIM from a network that has stronger coverage in your location, you can only do this after unlocking your device.;

Nowadays, users like to take advantage of the many SIM-only deals available from major carriers. This allows them to enjoy low rates on voice and data, while not being tied to an inconvenient contract.

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'How to check if my iPhone is unlocked or still locked to a carrier like AT&T? I would like to know whether my device is successfully unlocked and ready to be used without network restriction or not? How to tell if iPhone is unlocked?'



Why bother checking your iPhone is unlocked or locked? Thus, if iPhone is factory or carrier unlocked, you can use any SIM and enjoy all GSM service.


What if your iPhone is locked to a mobile carrier? You can only use the specific networks with your SIM cards but can't use all GSM service on your iOS phone.


(You may also need: unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes)


Therefore, it's important and necessary to check the unlock status of iPhone, especially before buying a new or pre-owned iPhone.


In addition, you should also check and make sure that your iPhone is not on the GSM Blacklist. Otherwise, it could result in troublesome after-sales problems.


(Besides, you should also check how to unlock iPhone backup if it is encrypted.)

Method 1: How Can I Check if iPhone is Unlocked with a Different SIM CardRecommend!!!

What's a Carrier Unlocked iPhone?

General speaking, a factory or carrier unlocked iPhone will a little bit expensive than a GSM locked iPhone. Most discount iPhone models basically have contract locks, so they'll ask you to sign a specific contract to protect the money in their pocket. Carrier Locked iPhone has manufacturer built-in technical restriction on GSM and CDMA handsets, which limit the use of these handsets in the network or in specific countries.


Therefore, be sure to check if your iPhone whether unlocked before you get a discount on the iPhone at a store or online.

Is My Phone Sim Unlocked Tracfone


For your convenience, here are some effective ways to tell if your iPhone is unlocked or still locked. Before you decide to buy a new iPhone X / 8/8 Plus or a second-hand iPhone 7 Plus / 6 Plus / 6s Plus, please read the following guidelines and check.


(Please know that Carrier unlock is different from unlocking iPhone without password.)




Compare 3 Check iPhone Unlock Status methods: (SIM card, iOS Settings, and IMEI Number)

1. Tell if iPhone is unlocked with two different SIM Cards

Accuracy: 100% Accurate

Weakness: This method does not tell you which network your iPhone is locked to.


2. Check the lock status of your iPhone with iOS Settings

Accuracy: 60% Accurate

Weakness: This method can give you a hint, but it is not an accurate way for you to check if your iPhone is unlocked.


3. Check if iPhone is Unlocked with IMEI Number

Accuracy: 100% Accurate

Weakness: This is the quickest and easiest way to check if your iPhone does not have a locked SIM card even if your iPhone is stolen or lost. And you can check it by using the IMEI number.



Method 1: How Can I Check if iPhone is Unlocked with a Different SIM Card

This is a reliable way to check if the iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card. To check your iPhone's lock / unlock status, you must have two SIM cards from different carriers for this test. If you can use your iPhone with another SIM card from another provider, your iPhone is unlocked. In addition, you can purchase a new SIM card or buy it from your friends or family.


Follow these steps to check the locked/unlocked condition:

Unlocked dual sim phones reviews

How To Tell If My Phone Is Sim Unlocked


Step 1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the 'Slide to power off' of the screen, then right swipe it to turn off your iPhone.



Step 2. Using your SIM eject tool or a small tool like a paperclip, toothpick etc. to eject the current working SIM card.



Step 3. Remove the current SIM card and insert the other SIM carrier's card, then slide it back into the iPhone.


Step 4. Turn on your iPhone just like the step 1.


Step 5. Now you can see the name of the carrier on the top left corner to check if the new carrier SIM works on your iPhone.


Step 6. To test the condition, you can make a call to check if is unlocked. And if you see an 'Activation Code', 'SIM Unlock Code', or a similar error before calling/opening the app, then your iPhone is carrier-locked. If successfully, then it means that your iPhone is unlocked.



Is My Phone Sim Unlocked Sim Card

Phone

Why Buy An Unlocked Phone


Method 2: Without Sim Card? How do I Know if iPhone is Unlocked with iOS Settings

This is a very practical and easy way to know if your iPhone is unlocked and you can go to the settings menu and find specific options. However, this is not suitable for all iPhone, but if you want to check, you can try this way first.


Tap Setting option on your iPhone, look for the Cellular Data option, and if you can see it, then it means that your iPhone is unlocked. If not, your iPhone is locked.




Is My Phone Sim Unlocked Cell Phones

Method 3: Check if iPhone is Unlocked with IMEI Number

To real-time unlock progress monitoring, the use of IMEI numbers should be the quickest way. The IMEI number is your iDevice's unique serial number, which provides all the information about your iDevices. Through the IMEI Checker website, you can easily check the iPhone's lock status. But most reliable IMEI checker service is not free. It will charge a proper fee.


But you are also recommended to use your Carrier IMEI check sites, like AT&T IMEI Unlock Check and T-Mobile IMEI Unlock Check. It will be appreciated if you know any free IMEI Check site and leave a comment. Here is a 3-party IMEI number Checker website.


Step 1. Open IMEI Info's registration page and create an account. (You may need to fill out the following forms including The Login name, First name, Email address, Country, Verification code, Password etc.)



Step 2. After activating your account, it will take you to IMEI info's main page, then you can enter your IMEI number.


And to know your iPhone's IMEI number, you can open your iPhone's Settings, and tap General > About to scroll down to the 'IMEI' section, then you will see your iPhone's IMEI number.


Step 3. After entering and verifying your IMEI number, you can click Check Apple Phone Details. Then you will see one of the text as below:

Unlocked: false - Your iPhone is locked.

Unlocked: true - Your iPhone is unlocked.


By the way, if you are considering transferring previous files from old phone to a new iPhone, you can use this Mobile Transfer to migrate data directly from phone to phone. In addition, transferring WhatsApp from Android to iPhone is also recommended. Moreover, you may also interested in the method to fix iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes.



The Bottom Line

To sum up, knowing if your iPhone is unlocked or locked is crucial because this can help you avoid unnecessary hassles after buying an iPhone, no matter a used iPhone/iPad or a new iPhone/iPad. This post has discussed 3 practical solutions to tell if your iPhone is unlocked or locked with simple steps. The easiest way is to use another SIM Card to test. In case you don't own another SIM card on a different network, we've also listed two useful way to check if iPhone is unlocked without SIM Card. Why not follow the step-by-step guide and check iPhone unlock status right now?