Sometimes, you might want to change your phone carrier, whether it’s to improve network connectivity or for some other reason. In such cases, the first thing you should do is check if your iPhone is unlocked. An unlocked iPhone can connect to any carrier, so you could switch from T-Mobile to Sprint or vice versa, and your device would work just fine. However, if your phone is locked, you will not be able to use it with another carrier until you manage to get it unlocked.
If you bought your phone directly from Apple, it’s likely to be unlocked. But if you bought it second-hand or through a carrier on a contract, it may be locked. Let’s see how you can check this for yourself in 3 different ways.
- How to Check If Your iPhone is Unlocked in Settings
- Know If Your iPhone is Unlocked with a SIM Card
- Use an Online IMEI checker to Verify iPhone Unlocked
How to Check If Your iPhone is Unlocked in Settings
Step #1. Open Settings on your iPhone
Step #2. Go to Cellular.
Step #3. Check if you can see the option for Cellular Data Network. If you see it, your iPhone is most probably unlocked. But if you do not see this option then your iPhone is locked. You need to contact your carrier to unlock it.
This is the easiest way to check through the Settings app. However, it’s not always accurate so you can try another method too, as explained below.
How to Know If Your iPhone is Unlocked with a SIM Card
For this method, you’ll need to have two SIM cards, from different carriers.
Step #1. Make a phone call using your current SIM card. Ensure that it connects.
Step #2. Now, switch off your iPhone by holding down the Sleep/Wake button and pushing the slider on the screen to the Power Off option.
Step #3. Eject your SIM card from the phone using a SIM-card ejector tool.
Step #4. Insert the second SIM card.
Step #5. Turn on your iPhone by pressing the Sleep/Wake button.
Step #6. Make a phone call. If your call connects using the new SIM card, your phone is unlocked and good to go. If the phone does not connect, your iPhone is locked to the carrier on the first SIM.
Use an Online IMEI Checker to Verify iPhone Unlocked
There are several online tools that can help you find out if your iPhone is unlocked. Most of them require a small fee, but we’ve found one free tool to help you. Here’s how you can use it.
Step #1. First, you must find your IMEI number on your iPhone. For this, open the Settings app and select General.
Step #2. Tap About, and then scroll down until you see the IMEI number.
Step #3. Go to the website IMEI24, preferably on a computer.
Step #4. Enter the IMEI number you found on your iPhone and click Check.
Step #5. You will have to do the captcha to prove you’re not a robot.
Step #6. Then the website will show you an information card. Here, look for Lock Status.
Summing Up
So now you know how to check if an iPhone is unlocked. Tell us in the comments below which method you used. Further, you can also try some paid tools such as IMEI.info.
If your iPhone is locked, you can contact your carrier for help with unlocking it. Or you can read about how to get iPhone unlocked from T-Mobile and Sprint.
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