How to unlock iPhone from carrier (and check if it is locked)
Only the carrier that locked your iPhone can unlock it, and once the phone is paid off it is usually free.
The fix
Check whether your iPhone is locked
- 1
Open Settings › General › About.
- 2
Find Carrier Lock.
No SIM restrictions means unlocked. Anything else means locked.
The fix
Ask your carrier to unlock it
- 1
Pay off the phone if it is on a payment plan.
- 2
Find your IMEI in Settings › General › About.
- 3
Send an unlock request on the carrier’s website or app, or call them.
- 4
Wait for the confirmation.
It can take a few minutes to a few days.
- 5
Insert the new carrier’s SIM or set up its eSIM.
Common carrier rules in the US
- Verizon: usually unlocks automatically after the phone has been active for 60 days.
- AT&T: needs the phone paid off and, for most accounts, 60 days of active service.
- T-Mobile: needs the phone paid off and 40 days of active use on the network.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my iPhone is unlocked?
Go to Settings › General › About and look at Carrier Lock. If it says No SIM restrictions, the iPhone is unlocked.
Can Apple unlock my iPhone?
No. Apple cannot remove a carrier lock. Only the carrier that sold or financed the phone can.
Is carrier lock the same as Activation Lock?
No. Carrier lock limits which SIM works. Activation Lock ties the phone to an Apple Account and needs that account’s password to remove.
Related guides
Back up your Android phone
Back up your Android phone to Google with Google One, back up photos with Google Photos, or use Samsung Cloud, Smart Switch or a computer. Step by step.
Block a number on Android
Block a number on your Android phone from Recents or Phone settings on Samsung and Pixel. Also how to block texts, add a number by hand and unblock later.