what to know
- Contact the phone company > request an unlock > wait a few days > remove the SIM card > insert the new phone company SIM card.
- To check if your iPhone is unlocked: Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock > No SIM Restrictions .
- Unlocking your iPhone means you're free to change phone companies without having to buy a new phone.
This article explains what it means if your iPhone is "locked" by your phone company, how to unlock your iPhone, why you might want to consider it, and how to know if your iPhone is unlocked.
In this case, "unlocking" means connecting to your phone company, not using a passcode to access your iPhone.
Your iPhone may be "locked" to your current phone company. This means your iPhone is configured to only work on your company's network, and you can't switch phone companies without switching phones or unlocking them.
When you sign a contract or buy a phone on a monthly plan, the phone is locked to the phone company (you can buy an unlocked phone from companies like Apple).
If you want to start using a phone from another phone company, you may be eligible to unlock your iPhone if:
- You have fulfilled the terms of any discount or promotion that was applicable when you received the phone.
- Your installment payment for the phone has been paid in full.
- Your phone number is valid for at least 40 days (60 days for some carriers).
- Your account is in good standing.
- The phone has not been reported stolen.
- You won't request unlocking too often.
- This phone is available on a prepaid plan and conditions may apply.
If you meet these criteria, follow these steps to unlock your iPhone from your carrier:
Want to check if your iPhone is unlocked? Go to Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock . If you see "No SIM restrictions," it means your iPhone is unlocked.
Please contact your current phone company to request an unlock. Here is the unlocking information for each major carrier in the United States:
- AT&T Unlock Instructions
- T-Mobile Unlock Instructions
- Verizon Unlock Instructions
Phone companies in other countries should have similar pages on their websites.
Third-party apps claim to be able to unlock your iPhone, but in reality only your carrier can unlock the phone through their network.
It may take several days to complete the unlocking process. Please check with your phone company for updated information or wait to hear from them.
Once the unlocking is complete, you can continue to use your iPhone with your current phone company (if so, you're done!), or transfer to a different phone company at any time.
If you want to change phone companies, remove the phone's SIM card by pushing the end of a paper clip (or Apple's SIM removal tool) into the access hole in the SIM card tray (located on the right or left edge of the phone).
If you have an iPhone 14 or later, your phone doesn't have a physical SIM card. It uses a digital eSIM. Apple has extensive instructions on how to switch carriers on phones using eSIM.
When the SIM card tray pops out, pull it out completely and remove the SIM card. Insert a new SIM card from the phone company you want to move to.
The phone should be activated on the new company's network (assuming you've signed up for the new service). You will see a message on the screen. Try making a call to confirm your phone is activated.
In some cases, you may face some issues after inserting a new SIM card. If so, check out our tips on fixing SIM card errors on iPhone.
The only reason to unlock your iPhone is so you can keep your current phone and move to a new phone company.
You might be happy with your phone (or at least not interested in spending hundreds of dollars on a new one) and want to take advantage of better coverage or better rates from another company.
Unlocking your iPhone doesn't bring any other benefits; it's not the same as jailbreaking, for example, but it may be enough to keep the phone while you choose a new phone company.
If you have an iPhone XS or newer and your iPhone is unlocked, you can use two phone numbers from two different phone companies on your iPhone at the same time!
That's because these models add a second all-digital eSIM in addition to the physical SIM (starting with the iPhone 14, there's no physical SIM at all).
Models with dual-SIM capabilities can have one number for personal use and another for business calls. You can also add a temporary local number when traveling to other countries.
Only unlocked iPhones can take advantage of Apple's dual-SIM feature. On a locked phone, both phone numbers must be from the same phone company. Learn everything you need to know about using two phone numbers with Apple eSIM.
FAQTo unlock your iPhone without a passcode, you must erase your iPhone and set it up from scratch. Connect your iPhone to your computer and put it into iPhone recovery mode. Follow the prompts on your computer and select Recovery & Updates . Follow the instructions to restore your backup and set a new password.
To unlock your iPhone using a paired Apple Watch, open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Face ID & Passcode . Scroll down and enable Unlock with Apple Watch . Your Apple Watch must be unlocked, close to your iPhone, and have a passcode enabled to unlock your iPhone.
If your screen rotation is locked and your iPhone screen doesn't rotate the way you want, you need to unlock the feature. Launch Control Center and tap the Portrait Orientation Lock button to close it. Click on it again (it will turn red) to turn it on and prevent the screen from rotating.
