How to Check If iPhone is Carrier Locked - 4 Easy Ways

Part 1. 4 Easy Methods to Check Carrier Lock on iPhone

One simple way to guess if your iPhone is locked is by tracking how you bought it. Your iPhone will not have any SIM restrictions if you’ve purchased it at full price. However, if you’ve bought it with a discount from a carrier, your iPhone will be locked to that network provider.

But let’s take the guesswork out of the way. If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I see if my iPhone is unlocked” our 4 easy methods can help you out! Let’s start with the first one.

Method 1. Check Carrier Lock on iPhone Using the Settings App

Using the settings app on your iPhone is the most reliable and quick answer to “how to check carrier lock on iPhone.” This method does not require any technical skills. You only need to access your smartphone’s settings. Here’s how to use this method.

Step 1. Open your iPhone and go to its “Settings.”

Step 2. Skip down to “General” and tap on it to open the general settings of your iPhone.

Step 3. Tap on the “About” option and move down until you see the “Carrier Lock” option. On some iPhones, you’ll find it named as “Network Provider Lock.”

Step 4. Look at what’s written next to the carrier lock. There is no lock on your SIM if it says “No SIM Restrictions.” But if it displays “Carrier Locked,” your iPhone is tied to a specific carrier.

Now that is one way to find out how to check if an iPhone is carrier-locked. However, this method may not work for older iOS models. But don’t worry. You can try our next method.

Method 2. Tell if My iPhone is Locked by Checking Cellular Data

You can use your iPhone’s cellular data options to understand how to check the carrier lock on the iPhone. This method exclusively works for iPhones running iOS 13 or older. Keep reading to find out how to use this method.

Step 1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on Cellular and then select “Cellular Data” or “Mobile Data.”

Step 3. Choose “Cellular Data Options” or “Mobile Data Options” from the new screen.

Step 4. Find the “Mobile Data Network” or “Cellular Data Network” to verify that your iPhone is unlocked.

Your iPhone is most probably locked If you cannot find these options. This method, however, is not very reliable. Use our next method to verify and discover how to check if your iPhone is carrier-locked or not.

Method 3. Check iPhone Carrier Lock by Changing SIM Cards

Exchanging SIM cards is another practical way to find out if your iPhone is locked. You can interchange SIM with your friend, siblings, or anyone else you can afford to. But make certain that it matches the size of your SIM card and uses a different network provider.

Use the steps below to find out how to know the iPhone carrier lock once you have all the things needed.

Step 1. Power off your iPhone and search for a pinhole-sized opening to locate your SIM card tray.

Step 2. Use a SIM card ejector pin, safety pin, or a paper clip to pop out the SIM tray.

Step 3. Pull out the tray and replace your SIM with the new one. Afterward, slide the try in and turn on your iPhone.

Step 4. Your iPhone is locked to a different network If you see a message displaying “SIM Not Supported” or a prompt requesting a “SIM Unlock Code.”

However, your iPhone will be free of SIM lock if you don’t see any such message. You can further verify it by making a call to a valid number. If the call goes through and receives a response, there is no SIM network lock on your phone.

Now, let’s move forward to the next method to further realize how to check if an iPhone is carrier-locked.

Method 4. Know iPhone Carrier Lock Using an IMEI Checker

Numerous online websites claim to check the SIM lock status of your iPhone. These platforms require your phone’s IMEI code to validate the lock status of the assigned device.

You will need your iPhone’s IMEI if you want to learn how to check the iPhone carrier lock using this method. Let’s find out how it works.

Step 1. Open “Settings” on your iPhone and select “General.”

Step 2. Now, skip down to “About” and find the “IMEI”. It will be located under the Physical SIM section.

Step 3. Write down the IMEI code or you can take a screenshot to re-access it when required.

Step 4. Find the IMEI Checker you want to use. You can try Swappa’s IMEI Check, IMEICheck.net, or IMEI.info.

Step 5. Enter your phone’s IMEI code in the required field and submit it.

So, that’s how to check if an iPhone is carrier-locked using an IMEI checker. Make sure to research and confirm the validity of the website before trusting it.

Otherwise, you can contact your network provider if you do not feel inclined to use this method. They will also use the IMEI code to validate your iPhone’s lock status. Although the process may take hours, it is a trustworthy way to check for carrier lock.

Nonetheless, If you come to realize that your iPhone has a carrier lock, don’t panic. There is an easy way to dispense Network lock restrictions on your iPhone. Continue below to find out more about it.

Part 2. What to Do if Your iPhone is Locked?

So what can you do to unlock a SIM-locked iPhone? For starters, You can contact your network provider to unlock it. However, it has a downside. You will have to wait for several days before your iPhone is unlocked.

In comparison, Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) is a quick and efficient way to remove all restrictions on your iOS devices.

Unlock Your iPhone with Dr.Fone

Wondershare Dr.Fone delivers a versatile suite of desktop solutions to manage all aspects of your iPhone. Its Screen Unlock feature allows you to remove any type of lock on your iPhone and other iOS devices. Whether it is SIM lock, Face ID, or Touch ID, Dr.Fone handles it all.

Moreover, Dr.Fone is effortless to work with requiring no technical knowledge. A single click is all it takes to free your iPhone from carrier lock.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS)

Unlock a SIM-locked iPhone without Hassle

• Simple, click-through, process.
• Unlock screen passwords from all iPhone and iPad.
• No tech knowledge required, everybody can handle it.
• Supports the latest iOS version fully!

Available on: Windows Mac

Start Download

Start Download

3981454 people have downloaded it

Here’s how to use Dr.Fone to remove the SIM lock on your iPhone.

Step 1. Download and install Dr.Fone on your Windows or Mac PC. Then connect your iPhone and PC using a USB cable. Launch Dr.Fone and select “Toolbox > Screen Unlock > iOS.”

Step 2. Select the “Remove SIM Locked” option next and click on “Next” in the new window.

Step 3. Dr.Fone automatically identifies all the details of your iPhone and displays them for affirmation. Go through the information and click “Unlock Now” to begin removing the SIM lock.

Step 4. You will see a prompt to jailbreak your device. You can click on “Jailbreak Guide” or “Watch Video” to learn about the jailbreaking process.

Step 5. Follow the guide on your screen to unlock your iPhone. You will need to remove your SIM, forget all Wi-Fi connections, and turn off Wi-Fi. Re-insert the SIM and click on “Continue” once you are done.

Step 6. The SIM unlock process will start and you can see the progress window on your screen. You will be informed with a “SIM lock removed” message once completed.

So that’s how easily you can remove the carrier lock with Dr.Fone. None of your phone’s data is lost during the process. Now, insert your new SIM card or activate an eSIM to use your iPhone. Second-hand iPhone users will still need to remove the data of the previous owner before using it.

iOS devices are notoriously stubborn when it comes to erasing data still Image nameed to the previous owner. But Dr.Fone makes it a walk in the park. Don’t skip the next part if you want to learn how to reset your used iPhone.

Part 3. Bonus Tip-How to Reset a Used iPhone after Removing the Carrier Lock

Dr.Fone-Data Eraser feature lets you bypass all iOS restrictions to reset your used iPhone. You can use it to erase private data, free up storage space, or wipe out all data with a single click.

Here’s how to use Dr.Fone to easily reset your secondhand iPhone.

Step 1. Open Dr.Fone and use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer. Click on the “Toolbox” option from the left side and select the “Data Eraser” feature.

Step 2. Select the “Erase All Data” option from the left side and click on “Start” to begin the data erasure.

Step 3. Select the level of security among the three levels for the data-erasing process. The lower the level the less recoverable your data is.

Step 4. Verify the selected level by entering the code shown on your screen and hit “Erase Now.”

Step 5. Restart your device to finish the process once your iPhone’s data is erased. You can click on “Erasure Report” to preview all the details of the erased content after the reboot.

That’s it! You have successfully reset your used iPhone without consulting the previous owner. Next, we will answer some frequently asked questions before calling it a wrap-up!

safe & secure

Conclusion

Learning how to check if your iPhone is carrier-locked is indispensable. You can find the SIM lock status of your iPhone from the settings, cellular data, swapping SIMs, and using the IMEI.

If your iPhone is SIM-locked, you can easily unlock it using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS). It is a full suite of powerful phone managing solutions.

You can effortlessly unlock any type of lock on your iOS devices and erase all of the iPhone data in a few simple steps. Try it and bypass all the restrictions on your iPhone with its versatile capabilities.

safe & secure