But, as always, there are risks with this as well. Your next option is to use a third-party website to run the IMEI for you. But, if you’re buying the phone on eBay or having it shipped to you, this isn’t an option. Your best bet is to meet the seller at your Carrier’s store and activate the service on the phone before paying for it (most honest sellers will do this). Of course, you could check with your carrier to see if the IMEI is compatible, but this won’t always tell you if the phone is unlocked. If you purchase a locked phone from the original buyer, you’ll be at their mercy to unlock it. One common issue with phones that aren’t unlocked is when they’re sold to another person. If you’re in this bracket, it’s just a simple case of flicking Airplane mode on and off and restarting the phone – or reseating the SIM card.įind Out if a Phone is Unlocked Before Buying If your iPhone is locked, you’ll get error messages such as “Invalid SIM” or “No SIM card installed.” This message might not mean that your phone is locked – it could just be a glitch in the iOS system.
Just pop out your existing SIM and try a new one from another carrier. Not sure if your phone is locked? Well, this bit’s pretty easy. There are a couple of different ways to find out if your iPhone is unlocked. The latter keeps you from accessing a phone while the carrier lock keeps you from using another network provider (if you have Verizon, you can’t use AT&T until the device is carrier unlocked). Just keep in mind a carrier lock is different from a screen lock.
We’ve reviewed all of the information you need to understand carrier unlocks below.