How to Check if Your iPhone Is Unlocked: 8 Steps (with Pictures)

When buying or selling an old iPhone, you might want to make sure it's unlocked first. This article will show you a couple different ways you can check for yourself. Read on!
STEPS
METHOD 1 OF 2: CHECKING WITH IMEI.INFO (OR OTHER REGISTRY SERVICE)

1

GET YOUR IMEI NUMBER. Tap Settings in your home screen, tap General, then About. Scroll down, and note your

1

5-digit IMEI number:
Alternately, you can dial #06# and your number will be displayed on the screen.

2

NAVIGATE TO A REGISTRY SERVICE. For this article we will use http://www.imei.info, though other registry services will offer much the same functionality.
Log in or create an account, if necessary. This is a free service, so no credit card is necessary.

3

ENTER YOUR IMEI NUMBER. In the entry field, type in your 15-digit IMEI number. Don't include any spaces. When it's entered, click "Check."

4

CHECK STATUS. Click "Free simlock & warranty status check" at the bottom of the page. After a few moments, the system will report whether or not your iPhone is unlocked, and the state of your warranty.[1]
METHOD 2 OF 2: TRYING ANOTHER SIM CARD

1

SHUT DOWN YOUR IPHONE. Hole the Sleep/Wake button until it says "slide to power off." Slide the red arrow to shut down the phone.

2

LOCATE THE SIM CARD. It will be found along the edge of your iPhone—generally with a small hole to insert a paper clip. Use that to eject the card holder, and remove the SIM card.

3

INSERT ANOTHER PROVIDER\'S SIM CARD. You can use an inexpensive go phone, or borrow a SIM card from a friend. Re-assemble the iPhone, then turn it back on.

4

MAKE A CALL. If you can, your iPhone is unlocked! If you get a message that indicates there is a problem, and you cannot make calls, your iPhone is locked.[2]
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TIPS
Call your carrier. They're usually flexible when it comes to unlocking older phones.
WARNINGS
CDMA phones used by carriers such as Sprint or Verizon cannot be unlocked —they operate without a SIM card. However, recently, many phones from these carriers come with SIM cards installed. In the case of Sprint, these phones must be on the account for 6 months before qualifying to be unlocked, and in the case of Verizon, the phones are unlocked straight out of the box. This means that if you buy an iPhone, Galaxy S 4, or Galaxy Note II, these phones will be able to be used internationally as soon as they're activated. Phones from AT&T are generally GSM phones, use a SIM card, and _can_ be unlocked
SOURCES AND CITATIONS
? http://www.imei.info/free-iphone-data/
? http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Out-if-Your-Phone-Is-Unlocked
ARTICLE INFO
Categories: IPhone
Recent edits by: Debrafir, Ron Drabkin, Lutherus
In other languages:
Español: Cómo revisar si un iPhone está desbloqueado Italiano: Come Verificare se il Tuo iPhone è Sbloccato Deutsch: Wie man herausfindet ob ein iPhone entsperrt ist Português: Como Verificar se Seu iPhone é Desbloqueado Français: Comment vérifier si votre iphone est débloqué Nederlands: Zo controleer je of een iPhone simlockvrij is ???????: ?????????, ????????????? ?? ??? ??????? ??: ????iPhone????
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