Knowing whether or not a used iPhone is unlocked is vital information to have on hand whether you’re shopping for or selling a used model. iPhones that are locked to a specific carrier have a more difficult time finding buyers. How do you check if your phone is unlocked?
Checking the Carrier Lock status in ‘Settings’->’General’->’About’ can reveal whether or not your iPhone is unlocked. If there’s a line that reads “No SIM Restrictions,” then the phone is free to use with any network. Another option is to use an IMEI checker either online or by calling your service provider.
Here, we’ll discuss the meaning of “unlocked,” how to tell if your iPhone is unlocked, and whether or not it’s possible to unlock an iPhone that’s tied to a specific carrier.
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What Does It Mean When a Phone Is Unlocked?
However, a locked iPhone can only be used with that particular carrier’s network and SIM card. An unlocked iPhone gives you the freedom to use any SIM card and data plan from any network provider of your choosing.
Buying a new or refurbished iPhone from Apple is a good bet because you know it will be unlocked. However, if you’re still paying off a contract with a certain carrier, your iPhone won’t be unlocked until you’ve finished making payments on that contract.
For this reason, the resale value of unlocked iPhone models like the iPhone 11 (available on Amazon) is higher. They provide you more freedom to choose between multiple carriers and provide you with more options for making and receiving calls, sending and receiving texts, and transferring and accessing data.
It’s possible to save money by purchasing an iPhone with a contract from a certain carrier, but doing so can create complications if and when you decide to sell the device.
It’s not easy to resell an iPhone if it’s locked to a specific carrier, even though it might be cheaper.
Whenever you’re shopping for a used iPhone, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s unlocked. If you can obtain a better price on a locked iPhone, go for it; but, you may end up paying more for data plans that you don’t require.
Apple Activation Lock
The Apple activation lock may be protecting your iPhone. When this setting is activated, the iPhone will be inaccessible unless the owner signs in with the iCloud account associated with the device. If you use “Find My iPhone,” your activation lock will be enabled.
Simply tapping your name in the Settings menu will disable Apple’s activation lock. To disable “Find My,” click the corresponding slider. The activation lock will be removed, but your iPhone will still be linked to your account.
To sell your phone, you need to do more than just turn off the activation lock. If you want to get rid of any passwords or locks on your device, you’ll have to sign out of iCloud and erase your account.
Delete your iCloud account from your iPhone by following these steps:
You may access your profile by launching the Settings app and selecting your name from the list.
The ‘iCloud’ option should be chosen.
To log out, please go to the very bottom of the page and select the appropriate link.
Put in your Apple ID password and click the “Off” button.
To sign out of your iCloud account on the device, choose a backup method and then click “Sign Out.”
How to Tell If the Apple Activation Lock Is On
When purchasing an iPhone, whether new or refurbished, it is important to ensure that the activation lock has been removed and that the previous owner has wiped the device clean. Putting the iPhone through its paces with the power on is the quickest way to verify its sterility.
If you see the “Hello” screen, your iPhone is unlocked and ready to be set up with your Apple ID. However, if you’re prompted to enter a passcode, that signifies the phone is still linked to the account of its prior owner.
If the previous owner hasn’t logged out of the iPhone, you won’t be able to delete their account even if you buy it.
How to Find Out if Your iPhone Is Unlocked
The settings menu on an iPhone is where you’ll want to look first to see if it’s unlocked. To find out if your iPhone is unlocked, do the following:
Access the iPhone’s configuration menu.
In the ‘General’ section, click on the ‘About’ option.
Look for the option labeled “Carrier Lock”
You can tell that the phone is not tied to a certain carrier because it says “No SIM Restrictions” on the box.
In most cases, you can tell if an iPhone is locked by checking its Settings, but in rare cases, it may falsely indicate that there are “No SIM Restrictions” in place. If you want to be sure, you can check by contacting the network provider or conducting an IMEI lookup.
Checking With Your Carrier or IMEI Search
Call your service provider to find out if your iPhone is locked or not. Some service providers can tell within seconds if your SIM card is active, while others may ask for the device’s IMEI number.
Use an online IMEI checker to see your iPhone’s status without having to call your carrier’s customer support. Your iPhone’s IMEI number is printed on either the back of the device or its original box.
The best thing to do if your phone is locked to a certain service provider is to get in touch with that provider and ask about unlocking your device.
In some cases, unlocking your iPhone will require you to pay the balance of your contract or a one-time fee. iPhones on permanent plans may not be unlockable with all carriers. TheActiveNews.Com is the place to go if you want to stay up-to-date.