A Definative Guide On How To Unlock An iPhone 6

The Perfect Tutorial On How To Unlock iPhone's

So, you've at long last made the last payment on your iPhone and that bad boy is eventually all yours. Meaning you’re able to use it while traveling overseas with a domestic SIM card and are free to switch networks when you please, right? Don’t start booking your flight to Fiji or running to T-Mobile just yet because, unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy.

So as to prevent individuals from shifting to a rival’s network before they’ve payed off their iPhone or completed their contract, loads of carriers place a lock (also known as a network lock) on their smart phones. This ultimately guarantees that you, or the person you sell your second-hand iPhone to, are stuck with them for the long haul. If you’re thinking this sounds like a rather dysfunctional arrangement, we're inclined to agree with you. Thankfully, with a bit of legwork plus an account in good standing, you can be on your way to a network-unlocked iPhone in no time!

Before we go on, a quick note on the sort of unlock's that are avialable, and the one's you should steer clear of! There is software available offering the ability to unlock your cellphone yourself, however they require you to jailbreak your cellphone, and this is a dumb move, for many reasons. You can do your own investigating into jailbreaking, but it's fraught with danger, and not recommended. The easiest way to unlock your iPhone is simply by talking directly with your wireless provider. Your journey to a carrier-unlocked iPhone hinges largely on your network, with the procedure being either comparatively quick and simple or painfully difficult. To get you one step closer to a life free from carrier-locked tyranny, we resarched all the steps in order to get an iPhone unlock in this comprehensive guide. Please note that even though this was written with iPhone owners in mind, a lot of the recommendations can easily be carried over to other smartphones.

What Is SIM Unlocking?

As mentioned previously, when you buy an iPhone or any other smartphone from a network carrier, that smart phone is only going to operate on that specific network unless you either request to have your network unlock it or maybe your carrier automatically unlocks it for you (read more about that later). Commonly known as a SIM unlock, factory unlock, or network unlock, carrier unlocking means removing a network’s restrictions on a device, permitting you to use it with a different cellular provider.

Thankfully, not every iPhone need to be unlocked. For example, if you buy your iPhone from Apple and pay for it in cash, it should be unlocked and ready to use with a variety of carriers.

You should be aware, however, not all phones purchased outright from third-party retailers are automatically unlocked. For example, although sold as “unlocked”, cell phones purchased at Best Buy are in fact considered universal. So, if you insert a SIM card for the first time, the device will essentially lock itself to the service provider linked to the SIM card. Subsequently, since certain networks like T-Mobile may only unlock your iPhone if you bought it directly from them, you could potentially end up having an eternally carrier-locked device. Quite simply, you wind up paying factory-unlocked prices for a network-locked cellphone.

Possessing a carrier-unlocked iPhone comes with quite a few rewards such as the freedom to work with (almost) any service provider in the US and overseas as well as substantically increased resale prices.

Why would I Unlock My iPhone?

Having a carrier-unlocked iPhone comes with a good number of advantages including the freedom to use (practically) any network in the Unites States and in another country in addition to higher resale values.

SIM-unlocking allows you the freedom to use your cell phone with the cellular provider of your choice, almost wherever and whenever you like (with several exceptions, as you’ll see in a while). Such as, if you're currently using T-Mobile but are relocating to a new part of the country with lousy T-Mobile coverage, you can swap to AT&T on a dime

A Network-unlocked iPhone makes international travel a cinch. Unlocking also provides the ability to use your cell phone in foreign countries. Worldwide roaming fees, costly international plans, and mad dashes for WiFi are a thing of the past with an unlocked iPhone. Simply pop in a SIM card from a local service provider and you’re in business.

Carrier-unlocked iPhones have higher resale values.

Even if you don’t intend on changing carriers or heading overseas soon, unlocking your iPhone is still a good idea. If you anticipate trading in your old iPhone when you upgrade, you’ll more often than not get more cash for it if the iPhone is network unlocked due to greater interest in them in the resale marketplace.

Is it against the law to SIM Unlock your cellphone?

Definitely not! Because of the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, finalized into law by President Barack Obama in 2014, all US-based cellular providers must allow people to unlock their phones. However, the conditions under which a provider will unlock a mobile phone differ widely from network to network. As a general rule, the vast majority of service providers require you to finish your contract, pay for your financial obligations in full, or at best have an account in good standing before they’ll let you unlock your iPhone.

How you can see if your iPhone is Unlocked

Before starting the carrier-unlocking process, you’ll first want to determine whether your iPhone has already been unlocked (no need in suffering the hassle if you don’t absolutely need to). All you have to do is ensure that you’re connected with WiFi and insert a brand new SIM card from a different service provider and your smart phone will do the rest automatically. This validation check generally takes under a minute to finish once a SIM has been inserted.

Through the verification process, you’ll notice that your iPhone will boot onto a white screen and attempt to confirm that it has been unlocked with your service provider. If Apple verify that your iPhone is network-unlocked, it will return to the home screen and service bars ought to appear from the new provider. However, if you see a white screen that says SIM Not Supported, your phone is not unlocked.

How to Unlock iPhones from a Provider

Once you confirm that your cell phone is definitely locked to your current network provider, next you'll need to start looking at your carrier’s unlocking eligibility requirements. Should your iPhone meet those guidelines, you can ask that the handset can be unlocked from their network. As suggested previously, both the eligibility requirements and the unlocking process vary from network to network. Each has been outlined below for the major carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Please be aware that, provided you’ve met the unlock requirements and so are completing the network-unlocking directly with your service provider, requesting that your iPhone be unlocked is often absolutely free. If you opt to go through a third party unlocking provider, you'll be charged, but working with a 3rd party provider is going to be your only option if you bought the phone pre-owned. So, before you spend any money, try using the directions below first.

Find Your iPhone’s IMEI Number

When SIM-unlocking your iPhone, you'll have to give your provider your cellphones IMEI number. This unique, 15-digit identifier is fundamentally your smartphone’s VIN or social security number. To locate your IMEI, on your phone, go to Settings > General > About and scroll down to the bottom section where it will be listed displayed next to IMEI.

Additionally you can look for the number on the cell phone casing itself. For earlier iPhone's (6, 6 Plus, 1st-generation SE, 5s, 5c, 5), the number may also be imprinted on the back or the SIM tray.

When you’ve found the IMEI, we strongly recommend that you keep it somewhere for safekeeping.

Unlock an iPhone on AT&T

Unlocking an iPhone from the AT&T network is about as easy as 1, 2, 3. Just run on across to the AT&T unlock portal, answer a couple of questions, and you'll be well on your way to network-unlocked freedom.

After you submit your request, use your IMEI and request reference numbers to check on your AT&T unlocking status. Once you acquire your verification text or email, just open it up and click on the confirmation link. That’s it! AT&T will unlock your iPhone within two working days.

For any iPhone to get unlocked from the AT&T network, it has to fulfill the following requirements:

Must not have a past-due balance
Must not be active on a different AT&T account
If it is a work phone, you must have your employer’s permission to unlock it
If it is an AT&T PREPAID phone, it must be active for at least six months
Must not be reported as lost, stolen, or blocked

If the iPhone is part of a term agreement or installment plan, it requires to also adhere to these requirements:

The term agreement must be complete
The device must be active on the AT&T network for at least 60 days
The installment plan must be paid off

For precise eligibility requirements, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on Sprint

Based on when you acquired your phone and if it has got SIM-unlock capabilities, you have a few different unlock choices. In the event you obtained a new iPhone from Sprint after February 2015 (it will be SIM-unlock capable) and it is currently being used on their network, Sprint should unlock it automatically once it meets their qualifications requirements. So, you really don’t have to do anything at all apart from keep your account in good order. However, if your iPhone hasn't been activated or was purchased prior to February 2015, you’ll need to contact Sprint Customer Care directly to ask for an unlock (either dial *2 on your Sprint phone or ring 888-211-4727).

There have been reports from some Sprint clients that the auto-unlock program does not always function as it should, so it’s certainly a good idea to check that your iPhone has been unlocked before attempting to switch to another service provider or advertising your iPhone as unlocked, if you propose to sell it to a buyback business or on auction web sites.

In order for an iPhone to be unlocked from the Sprint network, it has to fulfill the following requirements:

Must be active on the Sprint network for at least 40 days
Must be on an account in good standing
Must not be reported as lost, stolen, or associated with fraud
Must have SIM-unlock capabilities (if it doesn’t, it is MSL (Master Subsidy Lock) locked and you will need to call Sprint for the MSL code)

If the iPhone is part of a service agreement, lease agreement, or installment plan, it's got to also adhere to these conditions:

If leased, the end-of-lease purchase option must be fully paid
Any early-termination fees must be fully paid
Any lease or installment payments must be fully paid

For precise eligibility prerequisites, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on T-Mobile

If your reading this and own an Android mobile phone and your handset matches the eligibility prerequisites, consider yourself in luck: You can unlock it straight from the device itself. For those iPhone owners out there, you’ll have to speak to T-Mobile’s Team of Specialists directly (either dial 611 from your T-Mobile iPhone, call 877-746-0909.

To have an iPhone unlocked from T-Mobile, it has got to fulfill the following conditions:

For prepaid accounts, it must have been active on the account for at least 12 months
Must have been purchased directly from T-Mobile
Must be paid for in full
Must not have been reported as lost, stolen, or blocked

If your iPhone is part of a pre-paid account, it needs to also fulfill these requirements:

The account must be in good standing
Must have been active on the account for at least 40 days

For detailed eligibility conditions, click here.

Unlock an iPhone on Verizon

Verizon is, by far and away, the top carrier to use for unlocking an iPhone. Why? Because Verizon will automatically unlock your phone Sixty days following the purchase of the device. If you obtained your iPhone from a retail partner, it'll be unlocked automatically 60 days after device activation.

There are no catches. You don’t have to pay off your phone, satisfy any special requirements, or even contact them to ask to unlock your phone from their network. Provided that your iPhone hasn’t been reported stolen or lost, simply wait 60 days after purchase or activation and your phone will be all set.

Hard to believe? Just click here.

Now I've Unlocked my iPhone — now what?

Several years ago, you’d need to hook your iPhone to iTunes and conduct a software restore to carry out the unlock procedure. Fortunately, it’s much easier now. All you have to do is go through same steps you took earlier to find out whether your phone is unlocked in the first place.

In the event you don’t have access to a Sim from a different carrier, you can still confirm that a iPhone has been unlocked by performing iTunes software restore. Just hook up your iPhone to a computer running iTunes and click the “restore” option. When the restoration process has completed, you will see a message that says “Congratulations, your iPhone has been unlocked.”

Good job! You successfully network-unlocked your iPhone! That means you can use whichever service provider you would like to now, right? We hate to break this to you, but no. As a result of two different types of technologies employed in the Unites States, CDMA and GSM, your choice of mobile providers depends on the model of your iPhone and the original carrier it's locked to. Specifically, Verizon and Sprint are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks, while AT&T, T-Mobile, and the majority of service providers in other countries are GSM (Global System for Mobiles) networks.

As you’ve probably guessed, both of these different network types will not talk to each other (because that's too logical). Fortunately, as we approach world-wide 5G access and as older networks are retired, this will hopefully cease to be a major issue.

To find out which service providers you can access determined by both of these factors, continue reading.

AT&T

GSM networks only (AT&T, T-Mobile, international GSM carriers): Original iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Sprint

International networks only: iPhone 4s and iPhone 5

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

T-Mobile

GSM networks only (AT&T, T-Mobile, international GSM carriers): Original iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X

Verizon

Compatible with any carrier in the world, but with limitations when using GSM networks: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5

Any carrier worldwide: iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Is the Unlock permanent?

Yup! Once your phone has been IMEI-unlocked, it is going to remain that way for the lifetime of the handset. You are able to restore your iPhone or up-date applications without having to worry about your unlock disappearing afterwards.

About This Author

Campos Harbo
Joined: February 3rd, 2021

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