Buying new iPhones is fine, but are you 100% sure that this iPhone is fully unlocked from all the networks? For example, if your device is locked, you will be able to connect to a single network only. Moreover, when you are travelling or trying to switch carriers, you’ll face problems. That’s why it is necessary to check if iPhone is unlocked or not. But thankfully, this guide will cover four different methods to know how it can be done.
Basic Overview
- Open Settings. Go to General and find About. Search for Carrier Lock.
- If you get a notification with no SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked.
- With an unlocked iPhone, any SIM card can be inserted.
- Find the IMEI number and confirm if it is unlocked or not.
What Do You Mean by “iPhone Unlocked”?
Phone unlocked simply means that you are free to insert any company’s SIM into your iPhone. There are two circumstances when your iPhone will become unlocked. They are as follows:
- Buying a new iPhone from the Apple Store will get you, by default, an unlocked device.
- When you buy a second-hand iPhone from your friend, you need to cross-check whether the device is unlocked or not. However, there are 90% chances that your friend will provide you with an unlocked iPhone.
Why It’s Important to Check If Your iPhone is Unlocked
Four main points highlight why it is important to know whether your iPhone is checked or not.
- You will not be stuck with the older carrier.
- Whenever you travel abroad, there will be no tension in your head that you may need to pay higher fees for the same domestic SIM.
- Users have multiple options to choose the best data plans according to their needs.
- If you have an unlocked iPhone, there are high chances that the buyer will purchase the device from you.
Difference Between Factory Unlocked, Carrier Unlocked, and Carrier Locked
Here, we have prepared a comparison table for you so that you can have a better understanding.
| Status | Meaning | Pros | Cons | How to Tell |
| Factory Unlocked | Sold by Apple with no carrier limits | – Works with any SIM
– Best resale value – Fast updates |
– Highest price
– No carrier deals |
In Settings > General > About, Carrier Lock reads “No SIM restrictions.” Or insert any SIM—it works. |
| Carrier Unlocked | Locked to one network, then unlocked officially | – Cheaper up front
– Can switch carriers |
– Must meet carrier terms first
– Unlock can take time |
Open Settings > General > About for “No SIM restrictions.” No “SIM locked” pop-up appears. |
| Carrier Locked | Linked with a carrier until the contract or payment ends | – Lower upfront cost
– Carrier promos |
– Can’t use other SIMs
– Lower resale value – Slower updates |
Insert another carrier’s SIM. “SIM Not Supported” means it’s locked. Or see the carrier name under Carrier Lock in About. |
Can I Check if My iPhone is Unlocked?
YES! It is possible for you to check if your iPhone is unlocked or not. You have various options to choose from. These are
- By checking in Settings
- Insert a different SIM into your iPhone.
- Connecting with your Carrier.
- Via IMEI Checker.
Note: If the pop-up appears that there is no SIM card restriction, it symbolizes that you are free and there is no barrier while connecting with different carriers.
4 Ways to Check if Your iPhone Is Unlocked
In the following section, you will learn how to determine if an iPhone is unlocked or not.
1. Check in Settings
- Head to Settings.
- Move towards General.
- Then, tap About.
- See whether there is No SIM Restriction notification appears. If yes, you have easily unlocked your iPhone.
Note: The above approach is only applicable when you have iOS 14 or a later version.
2. Try a Different SIM Card
- Purchase a new SIM card for your iPhone model.
- Turn off your iPhone.
- Then, insert the SIM.
- Take out the older SIM and replace it with a new one.
- Now, power on your iPhone.
- Open the Phone app and make a call to someone.
- If you are able to communicate on a call, your iPhone is unlocked. If not, the message will appear: Call cannot be completed as dialed.
3. Contact Your Carrier
We want to mention the important point that this method only works if you are using iOS 13 or an older version.
- Contact them and request them to unlock your iPhone.
- After connecting them, they will offer you two options. Nevertheless, it totally depends on the scenarios.
- Reset your iPhone, or
- Insert a new SIM Card.
- If the above two solutions don’t work for you, Carrier will ask for some details, such as the IMEI number and iPhone serial number.
- With this information, the carrier will start figuring out the problem that you’re currently facing.
4. Use an IMEI Checker
- Find your IMEI number.
- Settings > General > About > IMEI number.
- Visit IMEICheck.net.
- Follow all the on-screen instructions to check whether your iPhone is unlocked or not.
How to Check If an iPhone Is “Activation Locked” by Apple?
When purchasing a used iPhone, it is important to ensure that the phone is not Activation locked by Apple, a security feature that prevents non-owners from reactivating or resetting the phone.
That can be checked by:
1. Search for the Screen “iPhone Locked to Owner”
iOS 15 or later and iPadOS 15 or later iPhones and iPad models protected by Activation Lock will have an iPhone Locked to Owner screen that appears after waking or turning the device on.
Warning: If you are presented with this screen, do not purchase the iPhone unless the seller can right away provide the activation lock by inputting their Apple ID and password.
2. Verify the Activation Lock Status Online With The Aid of IMEI
The online process is also an alternative when you want to know the status of a used iPhone in a remote place or in the absence of the phone displaying the iPhone locked owner screen.
IMEI is a 15-digit number (unique) that is used with every iPhone.
The IMEI can be located in one of the following ways:
- Inquire with the seller for the IMEI number. It could be printed on the back cover of the original iPhone box.
- If the seller cannot find the box, have him follow these steps to locate it in Settings: Go to Settings > General > About. The IMEI number can be found by scrolling down.
To verify the Activation Lock status, check online using the IMEI. Whereas in the past, Apple had a standalone Activation Lock status checker, it has been discontinued. There is still the ability to find some third-party websites through searching the phrase “iCloud lock check” that help you to check activation lock status based on the IMEI.
Important: When some third-party sites are used, it is advised to cross-check the information on different websites to get better accuracy. Upon an Activation Lock status call result of Find My iPhone or Some account is signed in Active, the phone is still Activation Locked.
Common Signs Your iPhone Might Be Locked
Here are some signs that you must look for when your iPhone is not unlocked yet.
- You will see the notification, “The SIM card inserted in this iPhone is not supported,” which usually appears.
- Another sign may be that you are not able to get the proper signal during calls.
- You may have purchased through a carrier contract, and right now, all its terms and conditions are fulfilled.
Troubleshooting Steps
Check out the section below to know what some troubleshooting ways are.
- SIM Not Supported: Try a SIM from the original carrier or contact support.
- No “Carrier Lock” Info in Settings: Update iOS or check via IMEI.
- Can’t connect after SIM switch: Restart device or reset network settings.
- Carrier Lock still shows after unlocking: Update your system or restart your iPhone.
- Unlock request completed, but phone still locked: If you’re facing this error, you can take a backup and do a factory reset so that your iPhone can return to its original settings.
For official help, visit Apple’s carrier unlock support page here: Apple Support – Unlock iPhone
Recent Apple and Carrier Policy Updates (2025)
Let’s take a look at what are the latest Apple and Carrier policy updates.
- If you have paid the full amount for your iPhone, the carriers will unlock your device within 60 days of activation, according to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).
- From wherever you purchased your iPhone, only your original carrier can accept your unlock process.
- Some carriers now let you use your phone worldwide after the lock period ends, which makes travel easier.
- Verizon and AT&T have strict rules about contract compliance, so make sure you’ve met all the payment and term requirements before asking for an unlock.
Unlocked vs Locked iPhone
You must look over the difference between unlocked and locked iPhones before reading FAQs.
| Feature | Unlocked iPhone | Locked iPhone |
| Definition | Works with any carrier’s SIM | Only works with one carrier’s SIM |
| SIM flexibility | Swap any SIM card freely | Can’t use SIM cards from other networks |
| Carrier restriction | No limits set by the carrier | Restricted until the contract or payment plan ends |
| Resale value | Higher value when selling | Lower value because of network tie-in |
| Upfront cost | Usually more expensive at purchase | Often cheaper with carrier deals |
Frequently Asked Questions {FAQs}
Let’s go deeper while understanding if your iPhone is unlocked or not.
Q1. What does it look like when your iPhone is locked?
Ans. When you are not using your iPhone, you will notice that notifications are appearing on the home screen. It is already showing the basic details, such as time, day, etc. Apart from that, it requires the biometric process to unlock it.
Q2. Can I unlock my iPhone myself?
Ans. YES! You can easily unlock your iPhone by yourself, but it depends entirely on the specific locked procedure.
Q3. How much does it cost to unlock an iPhone?
Ans. It does not cost you any kind of fees if you take help from your carrier support to unlock your iPhone.
Q4. Does unlocking an iPhone void warranty?
Ans. Unlocking an iPhone by the original carrier does not void the warranty, as long as no third-party tools or hardware are used.
Q5. Is an unlocked iPhone worth more?
Ans. Yes! When you unlock your iPhone, it is worth more in comparison with the locked iPhone.
Q6. How long does carrier unlocking take?
Ans. Carrier unlocking usually takes between 24 and 48 hours. On the other side, some carriers unlock your iPhone immediately.
Wrap Up!
Sometimes, we purchase the iPhone from our friend because it costs us cheaper as compared with the new ones. But we forget to cross-verify whether the iPhone is unlocked or not. To do so, we have four methods: you can choose from managing your Settings, connecting with the Carrier for better support, inserting a different SIM, or using the IMEI checker.
You can pick any of the above options. It totally depends on which option you are more comfortable with.
