Some iPhones only work on certain networks due to being 'locked'. Here's how to find out if that's the case Some iPhones are locked to a specific phone network, while others are unlocked, which means you can use them with any SIM card on the carrier.
Knowing which model you have is important because it can mean the difference between a fun or frustrating experience when you get a new iPhone (for you) or want to change networks. iPhones you pay full price for (usually from an Apple Store) are unlocked by default. But iPhones bought on the network, usually, as part of a contract, will usually be locked. If you're buying a refurbished iPhone, it should be specified whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked, but that's not always the case if you're using private sellers on eBay or Craigslist, so being able to check is a big help.
It's impossible to tell just by looking at an iPhone if it's locked or unlocked: Apple doesn't allow third-party phone companies to brand iPhones. (You don't get a T: Mobile or Verizon-branded iPhone, for example.) To make matters more complicated, some phones are locked when sold and unlocked at a later time when the owner owns them. stopped paying the contract.
But don't worry. It is relatively easy to tell if your iPhone is locked or unlocked, and in this article, we will show you how.
How to check if an iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card
The quickest way to check if an iPhone is unlocked is to simply
try inserting SIMs from different networks. Obviously, you’ll probably only
have your own one, but if a friend uses another network then ask
them if you can borrow the SIM for a couple of minutes.
Follow these steps to check that the iPhone is unlocked:
try inserting SIMs from different networks. Obviously, you’ll probably only
have your own one, but if a friend uses another network then ask
them if you can borrow the SIM for a couple of minutes.
Follow these steps to check that the iPhone is unlocked:
1-Power off the iPhone.
2-Use the SIM card ejector tool (or a paper clip) to eject the SIM card from the iPhone.
3-Insert your new SIM card.
4-Press the Sleep/Wake button to wake up the iPhone.
5-If you see a message along the lines of, ‘The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported network provider may be used to activate iPhones. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported network provider’s shop’, then the device is locked.
You can sometimes get a carrier to unlock an iPhone by calling them or using a third-party unlocking service such as ATT-SIM-UNLOCK. For more on that, see How to unlock an iPhone.
How to check if an iPhone is unlocked in Settings
Another easy way to check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked is to use the Settings app. Here’s how to access the feature.
1- Open Settings > General > About
Since iOS 14, Apple has included a new section called Network Provider Lock which will instantly tell you the status of the device. To access it go to Settings > General > About.
2-Scroll down to find Network Provider Lock
Scroll down to locate the Network Provider Lock section. If the iPhone is unlocked, it should say that there are no SIM restrictions. Should you see a different status, this means that the iPhone is locked.
Contact your carrier
It’s not such a quick solution – as it may take a while for the carrier to get back to you – but if you need to know for sure then it may be worth getting in touch with the network provider you’ve signed up to and see if they can help. Many carriers can check for you if you provide a handset’s IMEI.
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