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How to unlock your iPhone for a different network
In This Article
If you got your iPhone through a contract deal, you may find that it’s locked to a particular network operator. Here’s how to unlock your iPhone.
While many network operators have stopped locking their phones (at least in the UK), it’s still the case that many older devices have been chained to a single provider.
Here’s what to do if you find that your iPhone is locked to a particular network operator.
What we used
The Short Version
Step1
Check that your iPhone is locked
To establish whether your iPhone running iOS 14 is locked, head into Settings > General > About. Scroll down to Network Provider Lock. If you don’t see ‘No SIM restrictions’ next to it, that means your phone is locked.If your phone is running iOS 13 or earlier, you’ll need to try a SIM from a different network or contact your network operator (see Step 2) to find out.Either way, while you’re in the About page, note down your IMEI number, as your operator may require it as part of the next step.
Step2
Contact your network operator
You’ll need to contact your current (or former, as may be the case) network operator and request an unlock. There may be particular contract-specific stipulations for this to take place, and the process may take a few days to complete.Here are the appropriate phone unlock websites forEE,Vodafone,Three, andO2.Users in other countries should consult Apple’snetwork operator support page.
Step3
Swap in the new SIM
Once your network operator has confirmed that they’ve unlocked your phone, swap out your old network SIM for your new one and reboot your phone.
FAQs
If you want to unlock your phone to sell it, simply follow the Step 1 guidance, confirm the unlock with your network operator, andfactory reset your iPhone.
Use the metal SIM tool that came with your iPhone, or an unfurled paper clip, and push it into the small hole on the side of your iPhone until the SIM tray pops out.
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Jon is a seasoned freelance writer who started covering games and apps in 2007 before expanding into smartphones and consumer tech, dabbling in lifestyle and media coverage along the way. Besides bein…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
