If you’re considering switching to a new mobile network to save money, looking to improve the signal, or selling your phone and need to know the status of its locked carrier beforehand, here we show you how to check to see if your phone is unlocked and how to unlock it if it isn’t already.
There are a number of reasons why you might want an unlocked phone or tablet if it has cellular connectivity. Maybe you want to use another SIM card abroad for cheaper calls, texts or web browsing, or just want to switch mobile networks. Maybe you bought a phone online and want to know if it’s locked to a particular network or want to make sure it’s unlocked in order to sell it.
If your phone or tablet is locked, you will only be able to use a SIM card from the mobile network to which it is locked. It can be very frustrating if you have to use a SIM card from another network, only to find that your phone (or tablet) won’t let you.
If you bought your phone without a SIM card (and you bought it new rather than used), it will almost certainly be unlocked so you can decide which SIM card you want to put in it. However, buying one under contract from a phone retailer or network can mean it’s locked in from the start.
Locked phones are much less common now than they used to be, and unlocking them is much easier than before, so there’s no need to worry if you find your phone is missing. will not accept SIM cards from other networks. . It can cost you a small fee, and sometimes you’ll have to wait until your contract ends to unlock your phone, but these factors really depend on the network your phone is locked to.
How to check if your phone is unlocked
If you have the phone with you, whether it’s an iPhone, Android phone, or something else, the easiest thing to do to check if your phone is unlocked is to try different SIM cards. other networks/operators.
Borrow a SIM card from a friend or family member who is on a different network than the one you used and insert it into your phone to check if you have a signal. If not, chances are your phone is indeed locked. You may also be greeted with a message asking for a SIM unlock code, which is also proof of a carrier-locked phone.
We also recommend restarting the phone before checking because sometimes it takes a restart for the SIM card to be picked up by the device itself.
If you cannot easily determine whether the newly inserted SIM card is working or not, try making a phone call. If the call does not connect, your phone is likely locked.
If you don’t have the phone yet because you’re the one buying it, you’ll have to ask and trust the seller to find out. Even if it turns out to be locked, there’s a simple fix in most cases, so it’s unlikely to render your new phone useless.
Note: You may find apps that claim to be able to tell you if your phone is unlocked, but we would avoid using this method as they are not necessarily reliable. Simply trying out different SIM cards is your best bet.
If you find that your phone is indeed locked, follow the links below to access your network’s unlock page.
You can also use a third-party unlock app like DoctorSIM. We recommend that you make sure to only use an unlocking service that you trust. We tested DoctorSIM and found it to be effective and reasonably priced, but other similar services will charge significantly more and not all services are legit, so it is recommended that you do your research before parting with cash. if you decide to go this route.
We have more information on how to do this in our article how to unlock a phone to use any SIM card.
