Finding ways to unlock the iPhone that is locked with a specific carrier? We will show you the ways to unlock your device and use it with a different wireless carrier. By unlocking your iPhone, you can travel internationally and swap in any local SIM cards to get the service. Now, the next question will be is it legal to unlock iPhone? Yes. You can unlock your device when you finished paying for your contract. If you’re in mid-way of paying your contract, you need to contact the carrier before unlocking it.
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How to Unlock your iPhone
To unlock your iPhone, you will need the IMEI number of your device, which you can find easily by navigating to Settings > General > About. You can also dial *#06# on your device to find the IMEI number. You need to provide your IMEI number to the carrier to unlock your device. Here, we have explained the procedure to unlock the device from popular networks in the US and UK.
Visit this Apple support page to find out whether your carrier supports unlocking or not.
AT&T
If you have purchased iPhone from AT&T, you can unlock it by visiting this online unlocking forum. After visiting the page, provide your IMEI number and account information to request the cancellation. After submitting the request, you will receive an email with unlock code and instructions to unlock your device.
Sprint
To unlock iPhone on Sprint, your device must be capable of SIM unlock and need to be active on the Sprint network for at least 50 days (1 year for prepaid customers). When your device becomes eligible, they will be unlocked automatically. You can also contact the customer support number 888-211-4727 (855-639-4644 for prepaid customers) to unlock the device.
T-Mobile
The criteria for T-Mobile varies in accordance with the method which you used to buy the iPhone. Your device needs to be active on T-Mobile’s network for 40 days (one year for prepaid users). If you have purchased the device on installment, you need to pay all the installments. If your device meets eligibility, you can unlock it simply by contacting the customer support.
Verizon
If you have bought the iPhone on Verizon, the device will be unlocked automatically after 60 days. It applies to both prepaid and postpaid customers.
EE
Your device must obey some criteria like your EE account need to be active for six months and you need to clear all your bills to date. If your device meets eligibility, you can unlock it by paying £8.99 (both prepaid and postpaid users).
Vodafone
It is straightforward to unlock iPhone on Vodafone. Launch a browser and fill this online unlocking form to request the unlock. The company will respond to your request within 48 hours, and the device will be unlocked within ten days. Unlike EE, they will not charge any fee for unlocking.
Three
If you purchased the iPhone on January 1, 2014, and later, the device will be unlocked automatically when it was connected to Wi-Fi or iTunes. If you purchased before, reset your iPhone to factory settings to unlock it. For unlock, the company also offers an online unlock form.
O2
The devices locked with O2 can be unlocked easily with the help of the O2 app (Android | iOS). The unlocking process are explained on their website. Prepaid customers can unlock their devices whenever they want, but they need to pay the rest of their contracts. If you’re a business customer, fill this online form to unlock your device. After submitting the request, the company will send you an email to unlock the device.
Use your iPhone with a new carrier
With sim card:
- Remove your sim card and insert the new one that you got from the new provider.
Without sim card:
- Back up your iPhone.
- Erase and restore your iPhone and start using it from scratch.
How to unlock your iPhone after forgetting your passcode?
Note: This method is applicable when you don’t want to switch carriers and your device is locked because of incorrect passcode.
If you enter the wrong password too many times, you will get an error message stating that your iPhone is disabled.
Unlock iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 8 & later
- Press and hold the side button and volume down button until you see the power off slider.
- Drag the slider to turn off the iPhone.
- Connect the device to your computer while holding the side button.
- Release the side button when you see the recovery-mode screen.
- Remove the passcode and restore your device.
Unlock iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold the side button.
- Drag the power off slider.
- Hold the power down button and connect your iPhone to the computer.
- Release the power down button when you see the recovery-mode screen.
- Restore your iPhone.
Unlock iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 6s & earlier
- Press and hold the side button or top button.
- Drag the slider to turn off the device.
- Hold the home button and connect your device to the computer.
- Release the home button when you see the recovery-mode screen.
- Restore your iPhone.
To Conclude
Instead of locked phones, it is advisable to purchase the unlocked phones Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are selling many unlocked phones, but with high upfront costs. To unlock your device, you can also use third-party services like DoctorSIM, Cellphone Unlock, MobileUnlocked, and few more. But, they’re not advisable to use because of privacy concerns.
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