Sep 01, 2020 The network offers limited unlock support via its support line, 888-211-4727, but doesn’t officially unlock handsets over the phone. Unlocking a T-Mobile phone.
- The phone “lock” is actually just a piece of code. It is written into the iPhone’s software that operates the device. To unlock your locked iPhone, a different piece of code must be written into the software. Without that alteration, your phone will not be able to work if you try to switch to another carrier.
- After you receive your unlock code in your inbox, store it somewhere safe. Insert a SIM card for a different carrier into your phone. You’ll be prompted to enter the unlock code. Once unlocked, your phone will be able to use a SIM card from any carrier in any country.
Today’s the day—you finally made the last payment on your iPhone and that baby is officially all yours. That means you’re able to use it while traveling abroad with a local SIM card and are free to switch networks as you please, right? Don’t start booking your flight to New Zealand or running to T-Mobile just yet because, unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
In order to prevent people from switching to a competitor’s network before they’ve paid off their phone or fulfilled their contract, many carriers place a lock (also known as a carrier lock) on their smartphones. This ultimately ensures that you, or whoever you sell your used iPhone to, are stuck with them for the long haul. If you’re thinking this sounds like a pretty dysfunctional relationship, we’d tend to agree with you. Luckily, with a bit of legwork and an account in good standing, you can be well on your way to a carrier-unlocked iPhone in no time. And best of all? It’s completely free.
Although there are apps out there that offer to do it for you (for a price, of course), the easiest way to unlock your iPhone is by speaking directly with your cellular provider—and it won’t cost you a dime. The journey to a carrier-unlocked phone depends largely on your network, with the process being either relatively quick and painless or painfully tedious. To get you one step closer to a life free from carrier-locked tyranny, we rounded up all the steps on how to unlock iPhones (for free) in this comprehensive guide. Please note that while this was written with iPhone owners in mind, much of the advice can easily be carried over to other smartphones.
Contents
What Is Carrier Unlocking?
Why Should I Unlock My iPhone?
Is Unlocking My iPhone Legal?
How to Unlock iPhones From a Carrier
How to Check if Your iPhone Is Unlocked
Find Your iPhone’s IMEI Number
SprintT-MobileVerizon
I Unlocked My Phone—Now What?
What Carriers Can I Use After Unlocking?
Is the Unlock Permanent?
Why Should I Unlock My iPhone?
Is Unlocking My iPhone Legal?
How to Unlock iPhones From a Carrier
How to Check if Your iPhone Is Unlocked
Find Your iPhone’s IMEI Number
SprintT-MobileVerizon
I Unlocked My Phone—Now What?
What Carriers Can I Use After Unlocking?
Is the Unlock Permanent?
What Is Carrier Unlocking?
As noted previously, when you buy an iPhone or other smartphone from your cellular provider, that device will only work on that specific network until you either request to have your carrier unlock it or your carrier automatically unlocks it for you (more on that later). Also known as a SIM unlock, factory unlock, or network unlock, carrier unlocking means removing a network’s restrictions on a device, thus allowing you to use it with a different cellular provider.
Fortunately, not all iPhones need to be unlocked. For example, if you buy your iPhone directly from Apple and pay for it in full, it should already be unlocked and ready to use on a variety of carriers.
Please note, however, that not all phones purchased outright from third-party retailers are automatically unlocked. For instance, although sold as “unlocked”, smartphones bought at Best Buy are actually considered “universal.” So, when you insert a SIM card for the first time, the phone will essentially lock itself to the carrier associated with the SIM card. Then, since certain carriers like T-Mobile will only unlock your iPhone if you bought it directly from them, you could end up with an eternally network-locked device. In other words, you wind up paying factory-unlocked prices for a carrier-locked phone.
Why Should I Unlock My iPhone?
Having a carrier-unlocked iPhone comes with its fair share of benefits including the freedom to use (almost) any network both in the US and abroad and increased resale values.
#1. A network-unlocked iPhone can be used with almost any carrier in the US. |
Carrier-unlocking gives you the freedom to use your phone with the cellular provider of your choice, almost whenever and wherever you want (with a few exceptions, as you’ll see later). For example, if you are currently using T-Mobile but are moving to a new part of the country with poor T-Mobile coverage, you can switch to AT&T on a dime. |
#2. A SIM-unlocked iPhone makes international travel a breeze. |
Unlocking also gives you the ability to use your phone abroad. International roaming fees, expensive international plans, and mad dashes for WiFi are a thing of the past with an unlocked iPhone. Just pop in a SIM card from a local carrier and you’re in business. |
#3. Factory-unlocked iPhones have higher resale values. |
Even if you don’t plan on switching carriers or heading overseas anytime soon, unlocking your iPhone is still a smart idea. If you ever plan on trading in your old iPhone when you upgrade, you’ll almost always get more money for it if the iPhone is already carrier unlocked due to greater demand for them in the resale marketplace. |
Is Unlocking My iPhone Legal?
Yup! Thanks to the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2014, all US-based cellular providers must allow customers to unlock their phones. However, the circumstances under which a carrier will unlock a smartphone vary widely from network to network. As a general rule, most providers require you to complete your contract, pay for your financial obligations in full, or at least have an account good standing before they’ll allow you to unlock your iPhone.
How to Check if Your iPhone Is Unlocked
Before beginning the SIM-unlocking process, you’ll first want to check if your iPhone is already unlocked (no sense in going through that hassle if you don’t actually need to. All you need to do is make sure that you’re connected to WiFi and insert a new SIM card from a different cellular provider—your iPhone will do the rest automatically. This verification check typically takes less than a minute to complete once the SIM has been inserted.
During the verification process, you’ll notice that your iPhone will boot to a white screen and try to confirm 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 service bars should appear from the new provider. However, if you see a white screen that says SIM Not Supported, your phone has not been unlocked.
![Leased Leased](/uploads/1/2/7/4/127429511/798679105.jpg)
How to Unlock iPhones From a Carrier
Once you determine that your phone is definitely locked to your current cellular provider, you will next need to look at your carrier’s unlock eligibility requirements. If your iPhone meets those guidelines, you can then request that the device be unlocked from their network. As hinted at earlier, both the eligibility requirements and the unlock process vary from company to company. Each has been outlined below for the major carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Please note that, provided you’ve met the unlock requirements and are completing the network-unlocking directly with your carrier, requesting that your iPhone be unlocked is completely free. If you choose to go through a third party or app, you will be unnecessarily charged. So, save yourself some money and stick to using the directions below.
Find Your iPhone’s IMEI Number
When factory-unlocking your iPhone, you will need to provide your provider with the device’s IMEI number. This unique, 15-digit identifier is essentially your phone’s VIN or social security number. To locate your IMEI, go to Settings > General > About. If you don’t have your iPhone with you, you can also look it up with your Apple account by going here and logging in with your Apple ID. Then, scroll down until you reach the Devices section and click on your device for its IMEI.
You can also look for the number on the phone itself. For earlier iPhone models (6, 6 Plus, 1st-generation SE, 5s, 5c, 5), the IMEI will also be printed on the back. Others will show the number on the SIM tray. Or, if you were smart enough to keep the box, you can also look on the sticker with the barcode.
Once you’ve located the IMEI, we also highly recommend that you store it somewhere for safekeeping.
Unlock an iPhone on AT&T
Unlocking your iPhone from the AT&T network is about as easy as it gets. Just pop on over to the AT&T unlock portal, answer a few questions, and you’re well on your way SIM-unlocked freedom. Even better, you don’t even have to be the original owner of the iPhone to submit an AT&T iPhone unlock request. In fact, as long as the previous owner met the unlock requirements, the device can even be unlocked by a non-AT&T customer.
After you submit your request, use your IMEI and request reference numbers to check on your AT&T unlock status, Once you receive your confirmation text or email, simply open it up and click on the confirmation link. That’s it! AT&T will unlock your iPhone within 2 business days.
For an iPhone to be unlocked from the AT&T network, it must meet the following requirements:
• | Must not be reported as lost, stolen, or blocked |
• | 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 |
If the iPhone is part of a term agreement or installment plan, it must also meet these requirements:
• | The device must be active on the AT&T network for at least 60 days |
• | The installment plan must be paid off |
• | The term agreement must be complete |
For detailed eligibility requirements, click here.
Unlock an iPhone on Sprint
Depending on when you purchased your phone and if it has SIM-unlock capabilities, you have a couple of different unlock options. If you purchased a new iPhone from Sprint after February 2015 (i.e. it should be SIM-unlock capable) and it is actively being used on their network, Sprint will unlock it automatically once it meets their eligibility requirements. So, you really don’t have to do anything at all besides keep your account in good standing. However, if your iPhone is inactive or was purchased prior to February 2015, you’ll need to contact Sprint Customer Care directly to request an unlock (either dial *2 on your Sprint phone or call 888-211-4727).
There have been reports from some Sprint customers that the auto-unlock program does not always work as it should, so it’s definitely a good idea to verify that your iPhone has been unlocked before attempting to switch to another carrier or advertising your iPhone as unlocked when selling it to buyback company or on the resale marketplace.
For an iPhone to be unlocked from the Sprint network, it must meet the following requirements:
• | 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) |
• | 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 |
If the iPhone is part of a service agreement, lease agreement, or installment plan, it must 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 detailed eligibility requirements, click here. For FAQs, click here.
Unlock an iPhone on T-Mobile
If you’re an Android owner reading this and your device matches the eligibility requirements, consider yourself in luck: You can actually unlock it directly from the phone itself (click here to find out how). For all you iPhone owners out there, you’ll need to contact T-Mobile’s Team of Experts directly (either dial 611 from your T-Mobile iPhone, call 877-746-0909, or go here for other contact options like instant chat).
For an iPhone to be unlocked from the T-Mobile network, it must meet the following requirements:
• | Must have been purchased directly from T-Mobile |
• | Must be paid for in full |
• | Must not have been reported as lost, stolen, or blocked |
• | For prepaid accounts, it must have been active on the account for at least 12 months |
If the iPhone is part of a postpaid account, it must also meet these requirements:
• | Must have been active on the account for at least 40 days |
• | The account must be in good standing |
For detailed eligibility requirements and FAQs, click here.
Unlock an iPhone on Verizon
Verizon is, by far, the best carrier 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 will be unlocked automatically 60 days after device activation.
There are no catches. You don’t have to pay off your phone, fulfill any special requirements, or even contact them to request to unlock your phone from their network. As long as your iPhone hasn’t been reported lost or stolen, just wait two months after purchase or activation and your phone will be good to go.
Don’t believe us? Just click here.
I Unlocked My iPhone—Now What?
In the old days, you’d have to hook your iPhone up to iTunes and do a software restore to complete the unlock process. Fortunately, it’s much simpler today. All you need to do is follow the same steps you followed earlier to check whether your phone was already unlocked in the first place.
If you don’t have access to a SIM card from another carrier, you can still verify that your iPhone has been unlocked using an iTunes software restore. Just connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes and hit the “restore” option. Once the restoration process has completed, you should see a message that says “Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked.”
What Carriers Can I Use After Unlocking?
Congratulations! You successfully carrier-unlocked your iPhone! That means you can use whatever network you want to now, right? We hate to break this to you, but no. Due to the two different types of networks used in the US, GSM and CDMA, your available cellular providers will depend on the model of your iPhone and the original carrier it was locked to. Specifically, Verizon and Sprint are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks, while AT&T, T-Mobile, and most providers in other countries are GSM (Global System for Mobiles) networks.
As you’ve probably guessed, these two different network types do not talk to each other (because that would be too easy). Fortunately, as we move closer to worldwide 5G access and as older networks are retired, this will hopefully no longer be an issue.
To see which carriers you can access 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
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
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
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
Is The Unlock Permanent?
Yup! Once your phone has been carrier-unlocked, it will remain that way for the life of the device. You can freely restore your iPhone or update to new software without worrying about your unlock disappearing afterward.
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If purchased your phone from a carrier, it’s usually locked to their network. This means it will only function with the carrier you purchased the phone from (e.g. AT&T, Verizon, etc). More often than not, carriers do this for leased phones customers pay off monthly. But even if you paid off your device, some carrier default lock phones anyway.
So if you want to unlock Samsung Galaxy phones, you’ve come to the right price. We’ll break down how to get your phone unlocked in no time at all.
Let’s jump right in!
Why is my Samsung Galaxy Locked?
Your phone company is not trying to rip you off. In fact, locking phones is how they protect themselves from customers who lease expensive phones from them and jump to another carrier without paying off their phone bills.
If your account is in good standing and you’ve paid off your phone entirely, your phone company will help you unlock your phone in no time at all. Regardless of whether you’re going through your telecom provider or another channel, here’s everything you going to need to unlock Samsung Galaxy.
Find Your IMEI Number
All phones have a unique identifier known as an IMEI Number ( International Mobile Equipment Identity). You’ll need to find before you do anything. Following these steps to find an IMEI number on any Samsung Galaxy Device including Tablets and Phablets.
- Select your phone app and switch to the keypad.
- Tap these characters and numbers on the keypad exactly: *#06#
- Your phone will immediately show a screen with the IMEI and MEID numbers. The top one is your IMEI number. Write everything done though should only need the first 15 digits (everything before the slash).
- Tap OK to return to your keypad screen.
For the Galaxy Tab and other Galaxy devices, you can find the IMEI number under settings. Tap About Device then Status. Write down the IMEI number from here.
Request Carrier Unlock for Samsung Galaxy
Now that you have your IMEI number, you’re ready to request an unlock. This is the only way you’ll be able to do it for free.
- Make sure your phone is eligible. If you own the device and it’s been paid off for at least a month, you should be able to initiate an unlock request through customer service online or on the phone.
- Have your IMEI number hander along with other account information. Be prepared for them to ask identity verification information.
- Once you have been confirmed eligible, they’ll ask for your IMEI number.
- From here, your carrier will initiate an over-the-air update or give you an unlock code to enter when inserting a different SIM card.
- Make sure your phone has been unlocked through testing with another SIM card or an eSIM if your phone is compatible.
If your device isn’t fully paid off, there are some cases when telecom companies may still along with your device. This is typically for members of the military who have been deployed overseas. If you can furnish your transfer paperwork, they’ll usually unlock your device for you. Some business and government accounts may also be eligible for early unlock. If you any questions, contact your telecom provider.
Be aware that carrier unlocks must be issued by the original carrier. For example, if you switch from AT&T to Verizon, you’ll need to get AT&T to unlock your phone first. You won’t be able to use Verizon until you do.
My Carrier Won’t Unlock My Phone for Me
In some cases, your carrier will not or cannot unlock your phone. For the average person, this is most inconvenient when they want to travel abroad with their leased device. In many countries, it’s cheaper to use a local SIM card than pay expensive data roaming fees. If you need to unlock your Samsung Galaxy for any reason, and your carrier cannot help you, you do have some options.
Nowadays, you can easily find SIM card unlock services online. There are many options, but do homework to find a reputable service. Check the reviews and make sure they’re not cybercriminals trying to steal your data. Two top companies are Doctor Sim and Unlock River.
These can get a little pricey. They start from a minimum of $20-30 and can be as expensive as $150. But you only have to unlock your Samsung Galaxy once so it’s worth it. However, each device requires an individual code. So if you unlocking both your Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Tab it will get pricey.
Follow these steps to unlock your phone with a service:
- Find a reputable service that offers a money-back guarantee.
- BE sure you have your IMEI number along with manufacturer and model details.
- After you receive your unlock code in your inbox, store it somewhere safe.
- Insert a SIM card for a different carrier into your phone.
- You’ll be prompted to enter the unlock code.
- Once unlocked, your phone will be able to use a SIM card from any carrier in any country.
Unlocking Samsung Galaxy Tab at a Repair Shop
Your last option is using an electronics repair shop to unlock your Samsung Galaxy. As with unlock services, you should do your homework and make sure the shop has a good reputation. You may have to leave your phone there for a couple of days.
Reputation is key as you don’t want them swapping out your expensive internal Samsung components with cheap substitutes.
Many repair shops just use online unlock services so you’ll end up paying about the same costs with a small labor fee. So this is not a great option. You’re better off just doing it yourself so don’t have to deal with the hassle of leaving your phone anywhere.
How to Unlock Samsung Galaxy Smartphones
Unlock Sprint Leased Iphone
Samsung Galaxy smartphones are some of the best on the market. With such an awesome phone, you should have the freedom and flexibility to use it anywhere. By unlocking your phone, you open to a world of possibilities. You can jump between carriers finding the best deals at home or abroad. Follow these steps and your phone will be unlocked in no time at all.
And if you’re ready to upgrade to the latest phone with eSim technology to have the freedom of using any carrier without requesting carrier unlocks, you can sell your old phone to Buyback Boss.
Unlock Leased Iphone Forgot
With Buyback Boss, you get an instant quote for your phone with the highest price guaranteed. Then you just print off your free shipping label and send your old phone to us. You’ll get cash deposited in your Paypal account or a check in the mail in no time at all.
Unlock A Leased Phone
Buyback Boss offers a 14-day price lock and gives you the option to have your phone returned if you change your mind. You have nothing to lose so try it out now!
To learn about unlocking phones, head over to the Buyback Boss Blog. You can learn how to unlock phones on different carriers and a whole lot more. Buyback Boss is your partner in all things tech. Find the best deals on new phones, learn technology tips and tricks, and how to decide whether a Galaxy or iPhone is the right choice for you. Learn everything you want to know on our blog!