Is your phone locked? Find out if your phone is locked to a carrier and how to unlock your phone if it is
Another way to check if an iPhone is unlocked or not is to go to the Settings menu and find a specific option. First off, tap on Settings on your iPhone's homescreen and then tap on Cellular on the following screen. Then, see if you see the Cellular Data option. If you do, your phone is unlocked.
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked
Not sure if your phone is carrier locked? It’s important to know if you want to switch carriers or sell your phone, especially since unlocked phones are often worth more than carrier-locked phones. Here’s how to tell if your phone is locked or unlocked.
- 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.
- Follow these steps to check the locked/unlocked condition: Step 1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the 'Slide to power off' of the screen, then right swipe it. Using your SIM eject tool or a small tool like a paperclip, toothpick etc. To eject the current working SIM.
Method 1: Call your carrier
The simplest way to definitively tell whether your phone is locked is to call your current carrier and ask. Though inconvenient, it’s the most reliable way to determine the lock status of your phone.
Here are the customer service phone numbers for all four major carriers:
- Verizon: 1-800-837-4966
- AT&T: 1-800-331-0500
- Sprint: 1-888-211-4727
- T-Mobile: 1-877-746-0909
Keep in mind your phone could be unlocked yet still under contract.
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| Did You Know? You can sell locked phones online Learn more |
Method 2: Replace your SIM card
If you have access to a SIM card from another carrier, either from a friend or via buying a cheap prepaid SIM card, you can place it in your phone to see if it’s unlocked.
For this to work, your “new” SIM card must be from a different carrier network. Major carriers often share networks with smaller carriers, so be sure to use a SIM card from a non-shared network.
Once you have the SIM card, simply turn your phone off, swap the SIMs, and turn it back on. After a few minutes, one of two things will happen:
- You will have service, in which case your phone is unlocked
- You will be prompted for an unlock code or receive an error, in which case your phone is locked
Did you know? Many phones are worth $100+. Find the value of your phone.
| iPhone | Samsung | |
| OnePlus | LG | Motorola |
Method 3: Check your settings (iPhones only)
This method only works on iPhones and isn’t 100% fool-proof, but it should give you an idea of whether your iPhone is locked or unlocked.
- Browse to SETTINGS > CELLULAR (or CARRIER)
- If you see a setting labeled CELLULAR (or CARRIER) DATA NETWORK, your iPhone is probably unlocked (the option should not be available on locked iPhones)
How to unlock your phone
If you phone is locked, the simplest way to unlock it is to contact your carrier and request an unlock. All major carriers will honor this request if your device is eligible (and most flagships are) and you’ve satisfied the terms of your contract and/or payment plan. Note that some smaller carriers will not honor unlock requests.
Major carrier unlock policy and request pages
Ready to sell your locked or unlocked phone? Compare the highest-paying online cash offers on Flipsy.com. If your phone was unlocked by the carrier, choose the carrier it was originally locked to so you’ll get the most accurate offer.
Related Help
>How to sell locked phones online
>Can you sell a carrier unlocked phone?
>Can you sell an iPhone that’s activation locked?
>How to unlock a blacklisted phone
>Bad ESN? Blacklisted IMEI? Here’s what you can do
Next:Where to get the most for your phone?: Swappa, eBay or Flipsy
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