So, you’ve got yourself an iPhone. Maybe you have a brand-new one, or perhaps you picked one up used. Now you can use it whenever and however you want, right? Well, not exactly. There are some carriers that place a so-called “lock” on your phone. While it’s on there, the device will only work when it is connected to their specific network. Even if you shift your service to a different company, that lock will keep your iPhone from working. Don’t despair, though. There are ways of getting a lock taken off your phone, so let’s talk about how you do that and what it’s going to cost you.

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• Unlock Leased Iphones
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Before You Try to Unlock an iPhone, Read This

You might be a bit fuzzy on this whole locked phone concept, so we’ll endeavor to explain it for you. Cell phone companies always want to keep their customers. They will do almost anything to maintain that connection and keep you from jumping ship and going to one of their rivals. Part of the way they do that is through phone locks, which for years were expensive and difficult to override.

The phone “lock” is actually just a piece of code. It is written into the iPhone’s software that operates the device. To unlock your locked iPhone, a different piece of code must be written into the software. Without that alteration, your phone will not be able to work if you try to switch to another carrier. A lock is a carrier’s way of tethering you to them.

The Dangers of Long-Term Phone Contracts

For example, to unlock one device on an account with 4 lines requires $400 of refills since the requested device first-use date (4 lines X $100 = $400). Android On-Device unlock Make sure you are connected to the T-Mobile network or Wi-Fi. You will not own the leased merchandise or acquire ownership rights unless you make payments for the full term of the lease or exercise an early purchase option. There is no obligation to continue with the lease past the current payment. Amounts shown do not include sales tax. Terms and pricing vary by State. Not available in MN, NJ, VT, WI, or WY. How to unlock your iPhone at AT&T: Visit AT&T’s device unlocking page to request an unlock. (In addition to your IMEI, you’ll need your phone number and AT&T account info. Unlock your device Be sure your AT&T phone, tablet, or mobile hotspot is nearby. FYI: We can only unlock devices that work on the AT&T network.Some unlocked phones may not be.

The reason that carriers place locks on phones is that in order to get you to sign a contract with them, they might offer you a “free” iPhone or some kind of significant rebate on one. You might be thinking, though, that you can then just take that iPhone, back out of the contract, and go to a different carrier. That’s why the lock is there. It’s a way to prevent you from backing out of the deal.

Another method the carrier might use is legal action. If you signed a long-term contract and then you tried to get out of it, they could take you to small claims court. If the judge finds in their favor, you’ll likely have to pay the remainder of the money on your phone contract. If you don’t, you’ll get referred to a collection agency, and it could hurt your credit.

All of this is why you should think twice about getting locked into a long-term contract with a carrier. Getting a discounted iPhone might seem appealing, but you should understand the real cost before you commit. Read all the fine print on those lengthy contract offers.

How Will Another Carrier Know Not to Unlock Your iPhone?

The question you might rightly ask at this point is “how would another carrier know not to unlock an iPhone that I bring to them?” The answer is that they look at the International Mobile Equipment Number for that iPhone, also called an IMEI. Based on the information they get from that number, they can determine whether the phone has a lock placed on it.

How Can a Carrier Locate Your Phone’s IMEI?

To locate the IMEI for your phone, a carrier has several options. They can look at the box in which the phone came if you still have it. Apple products have the IMEI number featured prominently on the packaging.

They can type #06# into the keyboard on your phone. This will cause the IMEI number to come up on your screen. The carrier could also go to Settings, General, then About on your phone and look up the IMEI number there. They could also look at the device itself. For some iPhones, the IMEI number is printed on the back. For some, it is engraved in the drawer that holds your SIM card. It might also be on a sticker that you’ll find when you open up the phone.

What Information Does the IMEI Reveal About Your iPhone?

The IMEI tells a carrier a lot about the device. It tells who the original carrier for it was. It reveals whether it is owned or leased. It also shows whether the phone has ever been reported lost or stolen. If it has, then the phone is usually on the so-called “blacklist.” Until you get the phone off the blacklist, you won’t be able to get service from a carrier.

How Difficult is it to Get an iPhone Unlocked?

Let’s get back to unlocking the iPhone now. If you bought a brand-new iPhone and you then took it to a carrier, then you won’t have to worry about there being a lock on it. You should be able to get carrier service with no problems. Locks go on phones if you are purchasing one in conjunction with a carrier as part of a deal they’re offering. The other way you might buy a locked iPhone is if you got it from a private seller. Maybe they concealed from you that the phone has a lock on it.

If you unknowingly bought a locked iPhone, though, it’s not the worst thing in the world. In 2013, wireless companies made an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission to unlock eligible phones on request.

What you ought to remember, though, is that different companies have varying criteria for whether your iPhone is eligible or not. For instance, with AT&T, you need to prove you’ve purchased the device and paid any additional bills associated with it. Even then, they might refuse to unlock it. With T-Mobile, you have to prove that you used the phone on their network for the past 40 days. You’ll need to show that you purchased your phone and paid any bills associated with it.

For every network that you approach, the requirements will be different. For some, it’s easier. With others, not so much.

So, How Much Does It Cost to Get an iPhone Unlocked?

Let’s say you did buy a locked iPhone and you don’t want to go through the song and dance of supplying proof of purchase or whatever else a carrier needs. You can still get it unlocked through a third-party entity. These are individuals or companies who will take the lock off an electronic device, allowing you to approach any carrier that you’d like to use.

These third-party companies usually charge approximately $30 to unlock an iPhone. That might fluctuate a little bit, but expect to pay somewhere right around there. If they’re asking for much more than that, shop around and see if you can find someone cheaper. There are lots of entities that provide this service these days, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find some other candidates.

You may be asking at this point whether it is worth it to buy a locked iPhone if you have to go through the additional trouble of getting it unlocked before a carrier will put you on their network. It’s worth it for some people because you can still save quite a bit of money if you buy an iPhone used. A brand-new, top-of-the-line iPhone can cost you well over $1,000. A used one might be several hundred dollars less than that. Even if you add on the $30 or so to get the device unlocked, you’re still saving quite a bit of money versus purchasing new.

If you do decide that you want to buy a used iPhone, ask the seller whether the phone has a lock on it. If they act evasive, then understand that might be something with which you’ll have to deal. Getting an iPhone unlocked is not as difficult or costly as it once was, though. Knowing that the device might be locked shouldn’t be nearly as big of an impediment to you buying it as it may once have been.

If you bought a locked iPhone online or in a shop, you may not have to send it back to the seller. There are certain solutions you can use to unlock any locked iPhone if you know what the iPhone is locked to. Hence, this article will discuss different types of iPhone locks and ways to unlock them. So, if you bought an iPhone that is locked, stay with us to discover what your iPhone is locked to and how to unlock it.

• Part 1: Find out What Your iPhone Is Locked to!
• Part 2: Bought An iPhone That Is Screen Locked? Instantly Unlock It
• Part 3: Bought An iPhone That Is Locked with iCloud Account? What to Do
• Part 4: Bought An iPhone That Is Locked to A Network Carrier? How to Fix

Find out What Your iPhone Is Locked to!

A second-hand iPhone can only come with three types of locks: Screen lock, iCloud activation lock, and network carrier lock. Let’s briefly discuss these three locks to find out what each is protecting and ways to unlock them if possible.

#1. Screen Lock

If iPhone lock screen is protected with a password or passcode when setting up the device or from the Settings app, it simply means that you can’t access the contents of the device without providing the passcode that the device is locked to. Screen locks come in four ways on iPhone, and they include 4-digit passcode, 6-digit passcode, Touch ID or Face ID locks.

Find out Solution >>

#2. iCloud Activation Lock

It impossible to set up a new iPhone without inputting an old iCloud account or creating a new one, thereby making it customary to have an iCloud account on an iPhone. There is a feature of iCloud called “Find My iPhone” that when activated, ensure that when an iPhone gets missing, the founder cannot erase the device, cannot reactivate the device with his/her own details, and can’t turn off this feature.

However, if Find My iPhone is activated on a locked iPhone, this simply means that no one can unlock such iPhone without providing the correct passcode set by the owner; not even Apple Inc.

Find out Solution >>

#3. Network Carrier Lock

If your second-hand iPhone is tied to a network carrier, this means that only the SIM card from the network will work on the iPhone. There are numerous network carriers Phone can be locked to, and some of the prominent ones include AT&T and Verizon. However, there are online services and sites that specialize in unlocking carrier-locked iPhones, and we shall be introducing some of them soon.

Bought An iPhone That Is Screen Locked? Instantly Unlock It

iMyFone LockWiper iPhone unlock is the best option for unlocking a locked iPhone you bought from a store or online platform. Once you notice that the iPhone is just screen locked with no iCloud activation lock, all you need do is to connect the device to your computer and unlock it using LockWiper – it’s that simple!

LockWiper may be relatively new to you but a million and one media sites, users, and tech authorities recommend it. It’s the best tool for unlocking any form of screen lock on an iPhone, and it also helps to remove every other lock set in the device so that it becomes like it’s fresh from the box.

Unlock Your Bought iPhone without Hassle

• Remove the screen lock and restriction lock from second-hand iPhone without any passcode.
• Efficient to remove iPhone passcode in just 3 steps and in about 5 minutes.
• Support every lock types, including 4 or 6 digit passcode, Face ID, Touch ID, and Apple ID without password.
• Is very useful that can help you remove the disabled screen and unlock iPhone when the screen is broken
• Support all iOS versions and iOS devices, including iOS 12 and iPhone XS (Max)

Steps to Unlock A Locked iPhone without Passcode

Step 1. Launch LockWiper on macOS or Windows computer, click the “Start”.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a lightning cable.

Step 3. Download the firmware package for your iPhone by clicking the “Download” tab. Click “Start to Extract” tab when the download is complete to verify the device.

Step 4. Click the “Start Unlock” tab. Enter “000000” into the box to confirm your request, and click “Unlock” to remove iPhone lock.

iMyFone LockWiper is not totally free. But if you can go through to the last step, that means the software is available for you. If you want to complete the whole unlocking process, please purchase a license to register it first.

Bought An iPhone That Is Locked with iCloud Account? What to Do

If the second-hand or used iPhone you bought online is iCloud account locked, there isn't the end. If the device is already activated, then you can use iMyFone LockWiper iPhone unlock to help you too. It can help you unlock the iCloud account on activated devices without knowing the password. It's easy and convenient to perform such task. All you need to do is to download and try it for your device.

Here's how to use LockWiper to remove the iCloud account:

Step 1. Download and run iMyFone LockWiper on your PC.

Step 2. Connect your locked iPhone and click on Unlock Apple ID.

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Step 3. Next, tap on the Start to Unlock tab to start.

Step 4. The program will start unlock it right away.

Tips

Bought An iPhone That Is Locked to A Network Carrier? How to Fix

Many people who bought a second-hand iPhone that’s carrier locked have asked us in the past if there is a way they can unlock a carrier locked iPhone at home. The answer is yes, you can unlock a carrier locked iPhone from your home.

You can use your laptop browser and log on to the carrier website, or try calling them to remove the lock. Once they unlock your iPhone, you can go ahead to put a new SIM card and complete the setup process. If it seems that your iPhone is not yet unlocked, you can take the device to the local carrier store for them to look at it.

How to Tell A Bought iPhone Is Locked or Unlocked

There are two ways to check if the second-hand iPhone you bought is carrier locked or unlocked: The first is through the iPhone Settings app, while the second is by inserting the SIM card.

#1. How to Check If An iPhone Is Unlocked in Settings

This is the simplest method to check if the iPhone you bought is locked or unlocked. You need to power up the device and access the cellular settings, and follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Click on “Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options”. (Or old iOS versions, go to “Cellular > Cellular Data Options”.)
3. Look for “Mobile Data Network” or “Cellular Data Network”, and if you can find it, then your iPhone is carrier unlocked.

This way is not 100% effective. The way which is more effective is inserting a SIM card to check.

#2. How to Check If Your iPhone Is Unlocked Using A SIM Card

This approach is good in checking if an iPhone is carrier locked when the iPhone still has the SIM card it came with.

1. Dial a number using the current SIM card, and ensure it connects.
2. Power off the iPhone.
3. Eject the old SIM card and insert the new one.
4. Press the Sleep/Wake button to power on your iPhone.
5. Dial a number with the iPhone and see if it connects. If it connects, then the iPhone is carrier unlocked.

Unlock Leased Iphones

Part 2: Where to Get the Best Unlocked iPhone Deals?

You should always purchase a smartphone based on your set budget. Once you have decided that, go online and compare phone prices between different merchants, shortlist the mobiles that come in your range and then compare the specifications. This little exercise will help you pick the best from the lot in the price that you can afford.

1. Best Buy:

Best buy is an excellent choice in case you need to either purchase unlocked cellphone online or in stores. Better yet, you could even request a cellphone from the web, have it set aside for your nearby excellent buy brick-and-mortar and pick out it up the same day.

Unlock Leased Iphone Forgot

2. eBay:

eBay is great, and nowadays is still one of the best places to buy an unlocked cellphone. eBay has a strong filtering system, permitting you to search for precisely what you need, with filters for rate, carrier - even color. Of course, eBay nevertheless has its roots as a public sale residence.

3. Amazon:

Apparently, Amazon doesn’t have an exhaustive collection of cellphones under the sun. Purchase on Amazon factory unlocked. This gives you the phone at a lower price than being locked to an original carrier and also gives you versatility to resell it. But in case you’re in search of a brand-new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy tool, Amazon is sometimes a bit late to the game.

4. Walmart:

Walmart bridges the gap among best buy and Amazon. Just like Amazon, Walmart is a cross-to spot to find the best unlocked iPhone deals. However it also sells smartphones that are brand new and at the higher end of the spectrum, like Apple’s iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones.

You’ve learned all there is to know about iPhone lock, and how to unlock any type of iPhone lock. Please, don’t forget to unlock your iPhone with iMyFone LockWiper iPhone unlock.