What does an unlocked iphone do

If you forgot your iPhone passcode

Forgot your iPhone passcode? Learn how to get your iPhone into recovery mode so you can erase it and set it up again.

If you enter the wrong passcode on your iPhone Lock Screen too many times, an alert lets you know that your iPhone is disabled. If you can’t remember your passcode when you try again, you need to use a computer to put your iPhone in recovery mode. This process deletes your data and settings, including your passcode, giving you access to set up your iPhone again.

After you erase your iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from backup. If you didn’t back up your iPhone, you can set it up as a new device and then download any data that you have in iCloud.

Step 1: Make sure that you have a computer (Mac or PC)

This process requires a Mac or PC. If you’re using a PC, make sure that it has Windows 8 or later, and that iTunes is installed. You also need the cable that came with your iPhone, or another compatible cable, to connect your iPhone to the computer.

If you don’t have a computer and you can’t borrow one, you need to go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.

Step 2: Turn off your iPhone

1. Unplug your iPhone from the computer if it’s connected.
2. Turn off your iPhone using the method for your iPhone model:
   • iPhone X or later, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus: Press and hold both the Side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears.
     
   • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side button until the power off slider appears.
     
   • iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Side (or Top) button until the power off slider appears.
     
3. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone, then wait a minute to make sure that it turns off completely.

Step 3: Put your iPhone in recovery mode

1. Get ready by finding the button on your iPhone that you’ll need to hold in the next step:
   • iPhone X or later, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus use the Side button.
   • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus use the Volume down button.
   • iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and earlier use the Home button.
2. Press and hold the correct button for your iPhone while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer. Don’t let go of the button.
3. Keep holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone, then let go.
   
   If you see the passcode screen, you need to turn off your iPhone and start again.

If you can’t get your iPhone to show the recovery mode screen and you need help, contact Apple Support.

Step 4: Restore your iPhone

1. Locate your iPhone in the Finder or in iTunes on the computer that it’s connected to. (Learn how to find your connected iPhone.)
2. Choose Restore when you see the option to Restore or Update. Your computer downloads software for your iPhone and begins the restore process. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then turn off your iPhone and start again.
   
3. Wait for the process to finish.
4. Disconnect your iPhone from the computer, then set up and use your iPhone.

Need more help?

If you can’t complete any of these steps, if you’re still prompted for a passcode, or if you need any other assistance, contact Apple Support.

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How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier

Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers.

Your iPhone might be locked to your carrier. Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers. To contact your carrier and unlock your iPhone, use these steps.

If you don’t want to switch carriers and your device is locked because you forgot the passcode, then you don’t need to use the steps in this article. Learn how to reset your passcode.

Apple can’t unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier. Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone.

Contact your carrier

1. Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact your carrier and request an unlock. Your account might need to meet requirements for unlocking. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your unlock request.
2. After your carrier confirms that they unlocked your iPhone, follow the steps below.

If you have a SIM card from a carrier other than your current carrier

Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

1. Remove your SIM card.
2. Insert the new SIM card. Your device will activate.

If you don’t have another SIM card to use

Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

Get help

You might see this message on your computer or on your iPhone: «The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported carrier may be used to activate iPhone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier store.»

If you see this message on your device with iOS 14, use these steps:

1. Go to Settings > General, and tap About.
2. Under Carrier Lock, you should see a message that says «No SIM restrictions.» If you don’t see that message, contact your carrier.

If your device is on iOS 13 or earlier, use these steps:

1. Contact your carrier to make sure that they applied the unlock in their system.
2. Restore your iPhone to factory settings.
3. Restore your iPhone from a backup.

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How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Unlocked & What Does That Mean? (iOS 15 Update)

Is my iPhone unlocked? 3 easy ways to check iPhone unlock status.

iPhones can be bought unlocked from legitimate vendors (including Apple), but you should know how to tell if an iPhone is unlocked before you make your purchase. Whether you want to make sure your phone is unlocked so it’ll be worth more or you’re just thinking of switching carriers, we’ll show you how to check if an iPhone is unlocked or not.

How Do I Know If My Phone Is Unlocked? 3 Ways to Check If iPhone Is Unlocked

What does it mean if an iPhone is unlocked? We’ll guide you through how to tell if your iPhone is unlocked in three different ways, and help you understand what iPhone unlocked means. At the end, we’ll also cover some top FAQs for how to tell if an iPhone is unlocked!

What Does It Mean When an iPhone is Unlocked?

An iPhone that’s unlocked can connect to any carrier, and can bring in a higher price when sold. If your iPhone is unlocked, you could switch from Sprint to Verizon tomorrow and your same phone will work just fine, which is highly desirable! iPhones that have been purchased directly from Apple are likely to be unlocked. But if you bought the iPhone through a carrier on a contract, the phone will be locked until the contract is over and paid in full. It’s also possible to buy a used, locked iPhone that becomes unlocked later when the previous owner has finished their contract. That’s why it’s important to know whether the iPhone you’re buying is unlocked or not. So to recap:

1. Locked iPhones are stuck with a carrier; unlocked iPhones are free to use with any carrier.
2. Paid-for iPhones direct from Apple are usually unlocked.
3. iPhones leased from a carrier will be locked for the duration of the lease.
4. Unlocked iPhones will fetch more money when sold.

First, I want to clarify that you don’t necessarily need to do any of the following steps to check iPhone unlock status. You could call your current carrier and ask them if your iPhone is unlocked. If you’re considering buying a used phone and the phone’s current carrier won’t give you the info over the phone, your only option (aside from trusting the seller) is to try the steps in the methods below. But otherwise, calling the carrier is the best way to check if an iPhone is unlocked. The con of calling the carrier is the time it will take (no one likes spending an hour on the phone with customer service, I know), but it’s guaranteed to be accurate. Not interested? Let’s get into how to know if your iPhone is unlocked.

Worried about the repercussions of using an unlocked iPhone, or have more questions? Check out the Unlocked iPhone FAQ section for more information.

How to Check If iPhone Is Unlocked in Settings

For this method, you’ll need to have the iPhone in question powered on and unlocked (the other kind of unlocked—enter the four or six-digit code to access the phone, if needed). Here’s how to tell if your iPhone is unlocked in Settings:

Open the Settings app on the iPhone in question.

Scroll down and tap General.

Tap About.

Scroll to the bottom and look for Carrier Lock. If it says No SIM restrictions, then your iPhone is unlocked and you’re free to use any carrier or cell service. If it says anything else, then it is probably locked.

However, this isn’t quite the end of the story, since some users report that this information isn’t displayed in their About page in Settings. If that’s the case for you, check out one of the other methods detailed below.

How to Tell If iPhone Is Unlocked with the SIM Card

How can I tell if my iPhone is unlocked if it doesn’t say it in Settings? There’s another way, but it’ll require some prep work, since this method requires you to have two SIM cards, each from a different carrier. If you don’t have two SIM cards, you could test this out by borrowing one from a friend’s phone.

1. Power off your iPhone.
2. Use a straightened paperclip or a SIM card tool to open the SIM card tray, then remove the current SIM card.
3. Careful not to touch the metal on the card! These things are fragile.
4. Place the SIM card from a different carrier (must be same size) into the SIM card tray of the iPhone. Push the tray back into place.
5. Power the iPhone on.
6. Now, try to make a call to any working number.
7. If you get an error message that the call cannot be completed, then your iPhone is locked. If you’re able to connect and make the call, then your iPhone is definitely unlocked.

If you’re still unsure or can’t use this method to check if an iPhone is unlocked, try using one of the two online tools I recommend below.

How to Check If iPhone Is Unlocked: IMEI Lookup Online

There are quite a few online tools that allow you to check if your phone is unlocked using the IMEI number; however, the vast majority want you to pay about three dollars to get the info. I found a couple of free tools, though. In general, it’s best to be very cautious about using online tools like this, especially if they’re unverified. As such, I recommend this approach only if it’s your last resort and you absolutely don’t want to call your cellular service provider.

Here’s how to know if your iPhone is unlocked using the IMEI number:

1. Open the Settings app.

Scroll down and tap General.

Tap About.

Scroll down until you find the IMEI number.

If you have an iPhone X or later, you may notice a second IMEI listing. If this is the case for you, save that second IMEI number; you’ll need it.

Finally, make note of your iPhone’s Serial Number, located in the top section on this About screen.

Now visit https://iphoneimei.net/check-imei or http://www.imei.info/, preferably on a computer.

Fill in the requested information and submit.

You may need to solve a captcha to prove you’re not a robot.

Then the website will present you with an information card. Look for Lock Status.

Unlocked iPhone FAQs

1. Can a Factory Unlocked iPhone Be Updated with Software Updates?

Yes! If an iPhone was officially unlocked by Apple or by a phone service carrier, Apple will still recognize it and the phone can be updated. If an unlocked iPhone was not officially unlocked, it’s considered «jailbroken» and can’t be updated. at least not without serious risk of bricking the phone.

2. What’s the Difference between Unlocking and Jailbreaking an iPhone?

A phone that is sold by Apple without association with a cellular service provider will generally come factory unlocked, which means it’s not tied to a carrier but is officially supported and can be updated. An officially unlocked iPhone is one that has been unlocked by a carrier, and done so in a way that ensures Apple will still support the device for updates.

An iPhone that’s been manually unlocked by a user to untether the iPhone from a service provider is considered jailbroken, and is not eligible for iOS updates and other support.

3. Are Factory Unlocked iPhones Fake or Unsafe?

If you’re purchasing an iPhone from Apple that is unlocked, it’s safe! Apple sells these iPhones without locking them to a service provider because it allows the company to sell iPhones directly, and users can still use them with cellular carriers.

On the other hand, buying an iPhone from an unauthorized vendor that claims the phone is «factory unlocked» does carry the risk that the device will be unsafe or not legitimately unlocked.

4. Is It Legal to Unlock My iPhone Myself?

It’s legal to unlock your iPhone if you own it outright with no remaining payments due. If you’re still in the process of paying off your phone or you have other reasons to be beholden to the carrier, it’s definitely a good idea to check with your carrier prior to unlocking your iPhone.

5. What Is the Disadvantage of Unlocking an iPhone?

The main disadvantage of buying an unlocked phone in the first place is the price—unlocked iPhones cost more than locked ones. If you already own an iPhone that you want to unlock, the main disadvantages of unlocking your phone yourself are potential loss of support from your service provider and Apple, including software updates. Unlocking a phone yourself may void the warranty, but if you get your iPhone unlocked by your carrier, the risks are low.

6. Will Apple Unlock an iPhone I Already Own?

Unfortunately, no. Apple allows cellular carriers to do this, though, so you can check with your carrier to see if they’ll unlock it for you!

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