How To Unlock Iphone With No Service

How to unlock your iPhone

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

Sure things in life should be simple, like figuring out how to unlock your iPhone. In an platonic earth, once you've bought a phone, information technology should exist yours to practise with as you like — even if it means taking it to another wireless carrier.

However, yous normally need to contact your current wireless provider to unlock your iPhone (or to unlock any smartphone, for that affair). That said, assuming your account is in good standing and your phone is paid off, wireless carriers should be willing to unlock your phone at your request.

Having an unlocked telephone means greater flexibility. You lot can accept an unlocked phone to any carrier, and then it's easy to switch your wireless service. It's also easier to travel internationally with an unlocked phone, as you can simply swap in whatsoever local SIM card to get service, usually at rates that are more attractive than some of the international plans offered past your wireless carrier.

And then, here's everything you need to know near how to unlock your iPhone. (And again, much of this advice can exist applied to whatsoever other type of smartphone.)

What you need to unlock your iPhone

To unlock your phone, y'all'll need to have your device'south IMEI number. That's the set of digits that's unique to each telephone worldwide.

To find your IMEI on your iPhone, just launch the Settings app, and select Full general > About.

The iPhone 6s and later models also have the IMEI number engraved on the SIM tray, though y'all'll need superhero vision to detect those digits without a magnifying glass.

Some carriers, like AT&T and T-Mobile, also let you dial *#06# in the Telephone app to have the IMEI digits prove up on the screen. Alternatively, the IMEI of your iPhone should be printed on its box — if you lot still have information technology to hand.

Finding the IMEI number in the Settings app on an iPhone 11 Pro. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Still yous rails information technology down, the IMEI is vital for unlocking your iPhone. That'southward the number your carrier volition ask for to carry out the chore.

How to unlock your iPhone

Each wireless provider has dissimilar criteria for who can and tin can't unlock their phone (though, the atmospheric condition are adequately similar from carrier to carrier). Once you've determined that your iPhone is eligible to be unlocked, information technology'southward just a affair of following your carrier's specific procedure for requesting an unlock and providing your IMEI number.

Here's a carrier-by-carrier guide on what devices are eligible and how to unlock your iPhone.

AT&T

You can check to encounter if your phone is unlocked at AT&T's website (opens in new tab). (You'll need your IMEI number to check.) AT&T lets yous unlock your iPhone if you meet these criteria.

Your iPhone'southward been active for at least 60 days. (If it's a device on AT&T's prepaid service, it needs to be active for at least 6 months.)
Your account can't accept a past-due balance.
You've paid off your phone.
Your device isn't reported equally lost or stolen.

How to unlock your iPhone at AT&T: Visit AT&T's device unlocking page (opens in new tab) to request an unlock. (In addition to your IMEI, you'll need your phone number and AT&T account info. Once yous've submitted your request and it'south approved, you'll get an email with customized instructions. That would unremarkably include an unlock code, but AT&T says such a lawmaking isn't necessary for unlocking iPhones.

Sprint

Sprint says you tin request an unlock on a postpaid telephone if it meets these criteria.

Your iPhone is SIM Unlock capable
Your iPhone has been active on Sprint's network for at to the lowest degree fifty days.
You've paid off your phone. If yous've been leasing your iPhone under a Sprint Flex lease, that means exercising the finish-of-lease purchase option.
Your account is in proficient continuing.
Your iPhone hasn't been reported every bit lost or stolen.

The criteria are different if you're a prepaid customer. Your iPhone needs to be active for at least 12 months, and it can't be reported as lost or stolen. If your device is inactive, you lot need to contact Sprint Client Care, which may walk you through some steps to update your phone so that it can exist unlocked.

How to unlock your iPhone at Sprint: If y'all've got a SIM unlock-capable phone (which Sprint says should include any mobile device launched after February 2015) Sprint automatically unlocks those phones for postpaid devices when they become eligible. So you lot may non need to do anything.

Otherwise, you'll need to contact Dart Customer Intendance at 888-211-4727; prepaid customers need to call 855-639-4644.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile's unlocking criteria depends on how you bought your iPhone.

Your iPhone must be a T-Mobile device.
Your iPhone tin't be reported as lost, stolen or blocked to T-Mobile.
Your T-Mobile account associated with the iPhone must be in good continuing.
You can only request two mobile device unlock codes per line of service each year.

Phones demand to be active on T-Mobile'south network for 40 days. If yous've bought the iPhone on an installment plan, you need to have paid off the device. And if your iPhone is on an account with a contract, you'll need to have made 18 consecutive payments. On a prepaid business relationship? So your iPhone has to have been agile for a year on T-Mobile's network or y'all need to have paid more than than $100 in service refills.

How to unlock your iPhone at T-Mobile: All you need to do is contact T-Mobile Client service to request an unlock lawmaking — you lot'll also receive the steps for unlocking your iPhone.

Verizon

Verizon may have the easiest path to getting your iPhone unlocked. Every bit of July 2019, whatever device bought from Verizon is locked for lx days; after that period ends, Verizon unlocks your phone automatically. That's true for both postpaid and prepaid customers.

Now you know how to unlock your iPhone, accept a expect at some essential tips and tricks for your iPhone. And you lot might also want to check out how to get full-screen Caller ID on iOS fifteen and how to activate a hidden trackpad that makes editing a breeze.

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom'southward Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that showtime iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been post-obit phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions well-nigh Apple, the Oakland Athletics, quondam movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.