How To Check If My Iphone Unlocked

Sometimes, you might want to change your phone carrier, whether it's to improve network connectivity or for some other reason. In such cases, the first thing you should do is check if your iPhone is unlocked. An unlocked iPhone can connect to any carrier, so you could switch from T-Mobile to Sprint or vice versa, and your device would work just fine. However, if your phone is locked, you will not be able to use it with another carrier until you manage to get it unlocked.

If you bought your phone directly from Apple, it's likely to be unlocked. But if you bought it second-hand or through a carrier on a contract, it may be locked. Let's see how you can check this for yourself in 3 different ways.

How to Check If Your iPhone is Unlocked in Settings
Know If Your iPhone is Unlocked with a SIM Card
Use an Online IMEI checker to Verify iPhone Unlocked

How to Check If Your iPhone is Unlocked in Settings

Step #1. Open Settings on your iPhone

Step #2. Go to Cellular.

Step #3. Check if you can see the option for Cellular Data Network. If you see it, your iPhone is most probably unlocked. But if you do not see this option then your iPhone is locked. You need to contact your carrier to unlock it.

This is the easiest way to check through the Settings app. However, it's not always accurate so you can try another method too, as explained below.

How to Know If Your iPhone is Unlocked with a SIM Card

For this method, you'll need to have two SIM cards, from different carriers.

Step #1. Make a phone call using your current SIM card. Ensure that it connects.

Step #2. Now, switch off your iPhone by holding down the Sleep/Wake button and pushing the slider on the screen to the Power Off option.

Step #3. Eject your SIM card from the phone using a SIM-card ejector tool.

Step #4. Insert the second SIM card.

Step #5. Turn on your iPhone by pressing the Sleep/Wake button.

Step #6. Make a phone call. If your call connects using the new SIM card, your phone is unlocked and good to go. If the phone does not connect, your iPhone is locked to the carrier on the first SIM.

Use an Online IMEI Checker to Verify iPhone Unlocked

There are several online tools that can help you find out if your iPhone is unlocked. Most of them require a small fee, but we've found one free tool to help you. Here's how you can use it.

Step #1. First, you must find your IMEI number on your iPhone. For this, open theSettings app and select General.

Open Settings and Tap on General in iOS 13 on iPhone

Step #2. TapAbout, and then scroll down until you see theIMEI number.

Tap on About to View IMEI Number on iPhone

Step #3. Go to the website IMEI24, preferably on a computer.

Step #4. Enter the IMEI number you found on your iPhone and click Check.

Enter iPhone's IMEI Number and Click on Check

Step #5. You will have to do the captcha to prove you're not a robot.

Enter Captcha and Click on I'm not Robot

Step #6. Then the website will show you an information card. Here, look for Lock Status.

Check Your iPhone is Unlocked with Online Tool

Summing Up

So now you know how to check if an iPhone is unlocked. Tell us in the comments below which method you used. Further, you can also try some paid tools such as IMEI.info.

If your iPhone is locked, you can contact your carrier for help with unlocking it. Or you can read about how to get iPhone unlocked from T-Mobile and Sprint.

Mehak has a master's degree in communication and over ten years of writing experience. Her passion for technology and Apple products led her to iGeeksBlog, where she specializes in writing product roundups and app recommendations for fellow Apple users. When not typing away on her MacBook Pro, she loves being lost in a book or out exploring the world.