Before buying a used iPhone, you may want to confirm that the iPhone that you are planning to buy is an Unlocked iPhone. You will find below the steps to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked to a Carrier.
- How To Check If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
- How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
- How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim
The iPhone model number is not a reliable way to check if the iPhone is unlocked. It is only good for telling which location the iPhone was sold in. Even factory unlocked iPhones need to be unlocked via iTunes. By default all iPhones are locked and when they are restored, iTunes checks with Apple to see if that particular iPhone can be unlocked. Check if iPhone is unlocked using IMEI Number. You can find the IMEL number series at the back of your device. Unlock the device and go to ‘Settings’ and proceed with ‘about’ option to view the IMEI number. Open the iTunes platform by connecting your device with the computer and click on the device. I'm trying to sell an old iPhone 6 that I've had laying around, but I have no idea if it is locked or unlocked, and this will be important info to know when selling. Being an out of use phone, there's no sim card in it currently.
Find If iPhone Is Unlocked or Locked
How To Check Unlocked iPhone Without SIM. You can check the status of your iPhone to know if it’s unlocked by just putting a call to your carrier. This method does not require any SIM. One of the staff will assist you to know if your device is unlocked. If your iPhone is locked, use that opportunity and ask them to unlock it. Power off the iPhone. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and use the Slide to Power Off option to switch off the iPhone. Insert your second SIM-card via the ejector tool (or a paper clip) to eject the SIM card from the iPhone. Insert your second SIM card.
An iPhone that is sold directly by Apple is always sold as an Unlocked iPhone and it can be used with any carrier or network.
An unlocked iPhone requires more upfront or initial cost to buy and has a good market value (in case you want to sell it).
iPhones sold by Carriers or Telephone companies are often made available to customers at attractive down payments and may even be offered at zero down payment.
However, the downside of buying a Locked iPhone is that you won’t be able to use this iPhone with any other Service provider.
In general, Carriers Lock iPhones for a period of 18 to 24 months, after which you can request the Carrier to unlock your iPhone.
How to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked
If you are buying a used iPhone, make sure that you ask the seller whether or not the iPhone is locked to a Carrier.
To confirm, you can use any of the following methods to check whether the iPhone that you are trying to buy is Locked or Unlocked iPhone.
1. Use Settings to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked
If the seller has provided you with access to iPhone, you can follow the steps below to check if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked to a Carrier.
1. Open Settings > scroll down and tap on Cellular.
2. On the Cellular screen, tap on Cellular Data Options.
3. On the next screen, see if you can find Cellular Data Network option.
If you can find Cellular Data Network option, you are most likely dealing with an Unlocked iPhone. This option does not appear, if the iPhone is locked to a Carrier.
2. Use SIM Card From Another Carrier
While the first method does indicate whether the iPhone is Locked or Unlocked, it is better to confirm this by using a SIM Card from another Carrier.
You will need to arrange a meeting with the Seller and seek his/her permission to check if the iPhone can make a call using SIM Card from another Carrier.
1. Press and Hold the Power Button, until you see ‘Slide to Power OFF’ screen. Use the Slider to Power OFF iPhone.
2. Remove the existing SIM Card from iPhone and Insert SIM Card from another Carrier into the iPhone.
3. After replacing the SIM Card, press the Power button to start iPhone.
4. After the iPhone restarts, try to make a Call from the iPhone
If the Call goes through, it confirms that the iPhone is Unlocked. If the Call does not Connect, the iPhone is definitely Locked to a Carrier.
3. Use IMEI Number to Find if iPhone is Locked or Unlocked
The first two methods require access to iPhone and are convenient only when your deal to buy a used iPhone is almost in its final stages.
If the deal is still in initial stages, you can request the Seller to provide you with the IMEI Number of the iPhone and use this info to check whether the iPhone is Locked to a Carriers Network.
1. Get the IMEI Number of iPhone from the Seller.
If the Seller does not know where to look for the IMEI Number, you can refer the seller to this guide – How to Find IMEI Number On iPhone.
2. Using your Mac or Windows computer, go to iphoneimei.info website. This is considered to be one of the better known websites to check the Locked or Unlocked status of iPhone.
3. On the website, enter the 15 digit IMEI Number of iPhone and press and click on the Right-Arrow.
4. If the displayed result reads ‘Locked’ it means that the iPhone is locked. If the displayed message reads ‘Unlocked‘ it confirms that the iPhone is Unlocked.
If the iPhone is still Locked to a Carrier, you will find the website offering you its Unlocking service for a Fee.
Going by information on the website, the Unlocking is done remotely and you won’t be required to send your device for unlocking.
Also, the website offers a Full Refund, in case it is unable to Unlock your iPhone for some reason.
- 1. Unlock iPhone Locked Screen
- 2. SIM/iCloud Unlock iPhone
- 3. Fix Disabld iPhone
- 4. Reset Locked iPhone
- 5. Unlock iPad/iPod Tips
- 6. Unlock MDM Tips
by Jenefey AaronUpdated on 2020-07-30 / Update for Unlock iPhone
I wanna buy a second hand iPhone recently, and my friends suggest me getting an iPhone that is unlocked. But the question is, how to see if iPhone is unlocked without SIM?
It is a cost-effective choice to purchase a second hand iPhone. It can let you have a good device at a low price. But before you buy it, you need to make sure that the old iPhone is unlocked. So how do you know if the device is unlocked or not? In this guide, we will share with you how to check if an iPhone is unlocked without a SIM card and tell you how to solve it if iPhone is locked?
Part 1: Why My iPhone is Locked by Carrier?
By default, if you buy an iPhone from Apple Store at full cost, it is unlocked usually. However, if you purchase it from a network, the carrier may lock your iPhone so that you can only use the carrier's SIM card for the duration of the contract(24 months is common). Of course, when the owner finished the contract, the iPhone will be unlocked.
It's very important to unlock the iPhone. If your iPhone is locked, you can only use a specific carrier. If not locked, you can choose to use any signal carrier you want. Therefore, it’s necessary to know how to check if iPhone is unlocked without SIM card.
Part 2: How to Tell If an iPhone is Unlocked without a SIM Card?
When you buy a second-hand iPhone, how to tell if iPhone is unlocked without SIM? Take a look at the three solutions below.
Way 1: How to See If iPhone is Unlocked without SIM in Settings
You can check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked through “Settings”, it is generally considered as the simplest method. You can follow the steps below:
- Unlock your iPhone and tap on 'Settings'.
- Click on “Cellular” after opening the “Settings”.
In this menu you can find the “Cellular Data Network”. If you see an option for it, your iPhone is most likely unlocked. Besides, if this option is unavailable in your device then your phone is locked.
Way 2: How to Test If iPhone is Unlocked without a SIM with IMEI
If you know your IMEI, you can use many IMEI checking tools online. For example, WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker, IMEI.info, DirectUnlocks and so on, I will only introduce the using steps of one of them. You can make sure whether your iPhone is unlocked or not via IMEI. And WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker is one of the most popular online checker, but it isn’t free, you have to pay a small fee for it. Here is how to use it.
How To Check If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
- Open the internet browser and enter the page of WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker.
- Tap on “Submit IMEI”, then enter IMEI number of your iPhone.(You can find the IMEI number at the back of your device.)
Please pay for it. After that, you will receive an email telling you whether your iPhone is unlocked. The results are similar as follows:
Way 3: How to Verify If iPhone is Unlocked without SIM Card by Contacting Support
If your problem is still unsolved, perhaps you can try to contact carrier’s support. You can find their contact information on the carrier's website or in the signed contract. Then call them and they will answer your questions. There are several main carriers’ contacts, if your carrier is one of them, you can call them.
- Verizon: 1-888-878-9188
- T-Mobile: 1-800-937-8997
- Sprint: 1-888-226-8-212
- AT＆T: 1-888-873-8808
But please note that they will ask you a lot about the contract.They may require you to provide some security information since the contract is a legally binding document. This process will take some time, and the carrier may give you feedback in a few days.
Part 3: How to do If iPhone is Locked?
But if your iPhone is locked and you want to access necessary data or apps, how to do? Here we provide you two solutions to help you.
Solution 1: Using Professional Tool to Unlock iPhone(for iCloud Locked iPhone)
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
There is a great tool to help you to unlock your iPhone called Tenorshare 4MeKey. When your iPhone is locked by iCloud, it can help you unlock it. It also helps you activate your iPhone when you forget your apple ID. Anyway, it’s absolutely a good tool. If you want to unlock your iPhone, please follow the guide below:
You should download and install Tenorshare 4MeKey first.
Please connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable.
Then, download the jailbreak tool. After downloading, click 'start jailbreak'. If you're a Mac user, you can refer to this detailed guide.
In order to add the correct function to your iPhone, you should confirm your device details. Then tap on “Start Remove” to unlock your device.
After a few minutes, you can use your iPhone freely.
Cons:
Although it is a useful tool, you need to know that it’s not free. It support iOS devices from iPhone 5S to iPhone X.
Solution 2: Unlock iPhone with DirectUnlocks(for Carrier Locked iPhone)
If through the several ways above, you find your iPhone is locked by carrier. There is a tool called DirectUnlocks you can use to remove the iPhone lock. Follow these steps to unlock the iPhone.
- Launch an internet browser and enter into DirectUnlocks iPhone Unlock.
Please select your iPhone model, country and carrier network.
- Type in the IMEI of your iPhone. If you don’t know the IMEI number of the device, please call *#06#.
- Click on “Continue” button and then pay for it. In a few days, your order will be processed by processed. And you’ll receive an email alerting you that the unlock was successful!
Cons:
- It will cost a few days to deal with your order, so you need to wait.
- You need to pay a lot for it, but it doesn’t have 100％ success rate.
Conclusion
Way 3: How to Verify If iPhone is Unlocked without SIM Card by Contacting Support
If your problem is still unsolved, perhaps you can try to contact carrier’s support. You can find their contact information on the carrier's website or in the signed contract. Then call them and they will answer your questions. There are several main carriers’ contacts, if your carrier is one of them, you can call them.
- Verizon: 1-888-878-9188
- T-Mobile: 1-800-937-8997
- Sprint: 1-888-226-8-212
- AT＆T: 1-888-873-8808
But please note that they will ask you a lot about the contract.They may require you to provide some security information since the contract is a legally binding document. This process will take some time, and the carrier may give you feedback in a few days.
Part 3: How to do If iPhone is Locked?
But if your iPhone is locked and you want to access necessary data or apps, how to do? Here we provide you two solutions to help you.
Solution 1: Using Professional Tool to Unlock iPhone(for iCloud Locked iPhone)
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
There is a great tool to help you to unlock your iPhone called Tenorshare 4MeKey. When your iPhone is locked by iCloud, it can help you unlock it. It also helps you activate your iPhone when you forget your apple ID. Anyway, it’s absolutely a good tool. If you want to unlock your iPhone, please follow the guide below:
You should download and install Tenorshare 4MeKey first.
Please connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable.
Then, download the jailbreak tool. After downloading, click 'start jailbreak'. If you're a Mac user, you can refer to this detailed guide.
In order to add the correct function to your iPhone, you should confirm your device details. Then tap on “Start Remove” to unlock your device.
After a few minutes, you can use your iPhone freely.
Cons:
Although it is a useful tool, you need to know that it’s not free. It support iOS devices from iPhone 5S to iPhone X.
Solution 2: Unlock iPhone with DirectUnlocks(for Carrier Locked iPhone)
If through the several ways above, you find your iPhone is locked by carrier. There is a tool called DirectUnlocks you can use to remove the iPhone lock. Follow these steps to unlock the iPhone.
- Launch an internet browser and enter into DirectUnlocks iPhone Unlock.
Please select your iPhone model, country and carrier network.
- Type in the IMEI of your iPhone. If you don’t know the IMEI number of the device, please call *#06#.
- Click on “Continue” button and then pay for it. In a few days, your order will be processed by processed. And you’ll receive an email alerting you that the unlock was successful!
Cons:
- It will cost a few days to deal with your order, so you need to wait.
- You need to pay a lot for it, but it doesn’t have 100％ success rate.
Conclusion
Through reading, I trust you are clear about how to know if iPhone is unlocked without SIM card and what to do when your iPhone is locked. But if your iPhone is locked, I sincerely recommend Tenorshare 4MeKey( for iCloud Locked iPhone) to you. It is the quickest way to help you. Choosing it, and you won’t regret it.
FAQ about Carrier Locked iPhone
Q1: How do I tell which carrier my iPhone is on if there is no SIM card?
Tap on the “Settings” on the iPhone and choose ‘General’ and then go to “About”. Scroll down to find the Carrier, then you can find what you want.
Q2: Will both the SIM card slot and the eSIM be carrier locked for a locked iPhone?
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim
Regardless if it is eSIM or SIM card type of phone, both of them will be locked. The carrier network will not allow the phone to be used on any different network except its own.
