It can be frustrating if your iPhone is locked to a particular network carrier since you’re only allowed to use that network while the phone is locked.
You may run into some issues if you decide to switch carriers. For instance, say you’re trying to sell your iPhone. A locked phone won’t get as much money as an unlocked one. If you recently purchased a used iPhone and it’s locked, you may not be able to use it on your carrier.
There are, however, several different methods you can use to unlock an iPhone. If you want to learn how to unlock an iPhone for free with an IMEI number, we have put together a helpful guide to ensure that you get your iPhone unlocked and ready to use.
How To Unlock an iPhone Free with IMEI Number (Up to 15 Business Days)
Doing an iPhone IMEI unlock is a much easier process than it used to be. Before unlocking, here is one important thing you should note:
Step 0. Please understand that it’s very difficult to unlock a blacklisted (reported as stolen or lost) iPhone. You’ll have to check your iPhone blacklist status with its IMEI number. The only way to check is to use an IMEI checker.
However, most iPhone IMEI checkers just generates an IMEI report from an outdated database which is not accurate. You need to choose a 100% accurate IMEI checker to avoid wasting time and money.
The one we recommended is WipeLock IMEI Checker. They check the IMEI number manually to ensure accurate results.
We’ve already verified & tested this way, you can follow the steps below to get your iPhone unlocked.
Steps to Unlock iPhone Free with IMEI Number
Step 1. First, find your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number by dialing *#06# or looking in the settings.
Step 2. Next, contact your carrier. Your account might need to meet all their requirements for unlocking.
Each carrier has a slightly different process for unlocking your phone. Some use an app or website, while others require you to call. Some carriers, like Verizon, automatically unlock your phone after 60 days, so you won’t have to do anything.
Step 3. Then ask your carrier to ensure that the phone is paid off. If you’re under contract, you may also have to pay a termination fee.
Step 4. Check with your carrier to see what you have to do. They’ll walk you through the process (up to 15 business days), and then your phone is unlocked and ready to go.
Step 5. After unlocking, you need to activate your iPhone. This can be simply completed by removing your original SIM card from your iPhone and insert a new one.
If you don’t have another SIM card, you’ll need to erase your iPhone with iTunes. Please back up your iPhone first before erasing, and once your iPhone is erased, restore it from the backup.
Unlock iPhone with IMEI Unlock Service (Within 24-hr)
Just as discussed above, you may need to meet all your carrier’s requirements before sending an unlock request. And once they accept your unlock request, they will spend up to 15 business days unlocking your iPhone.
If you’re not eligible to unlock or just want to get your iPhone unlocked more quickly, then an iPhone IMEI Unlock service would be your best choice. Here are some common features of these services:
- Permanently unlock. Once unlocked, your iPhone won’t be locked again.
- Remotely unlock. You just offer your IMEI number, they will unlock your iPhone remotely.
- Fast unlock. Most iPhone IMEI unlocking services can unlock your device within 24 hours.
- Support all iPhone models & iOS versions.
- No jailbreak required.
- Won’t affect your warranty.
- Won’t erase your data.
I’m going to show you the top 2 iPhone IMEI Unlock services that actually worked for us.
DirectUnlocks Review
DirectUnlocks is a popular IMEI unlock service that can not only unlock iPhone but also most Android devices. We’ve used this service a lot and it never let us down – all of our tested iPhone were unlocked successfully.
It can unlock your iPhone when your carrier refuses to accept your unlock request. What’s better, the delivery process is usually within 24 hours which is really fast.
It’s very simple to use, you just offer the IMEI number and leave your email address, they will inform you once your iPhone is unlocked.
IMEIdoctor Review
IMEIdoctor is the other trustworthy iPhone IMEI unlocking service. Just as DirectUnlocks, it can unlock all models of iPhone.
So what’s the difference between DirectUnlocks and IMEIdoctor?
According to our research, DirectUnlocks performs better (faster) for carriers from America while IMEIdoctor is good at unlocking carriers from Europe & UK. Just choose them according to the location of your carrier.
FAQs About Unlocking iPhone with IMEI Number
There’s often a lot of confusion surrounding locked and unlocked iPhones. Here are a few of the most common questions and answers to help you make sense of it all.
What Is a Locked iPhone?
The term “locked iPhone” can mean one of several things. In the most common usage, a locked iPhone is a phone that is locked with a passcode. It can be opened using a numerical passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID.
A locked iPhone can also refer to a phone that’s locked into the iOS ecosystem, although the more correct term is “jailed iPhone.” This phone can only run applications either designed by or approved by Apple. It can’t run apps that were designed to be run on another operating system.
For the purposes of this article, a locked iPhone is one that is locked into a carrier. In its current state, it can only be used with one carrier and won’t work on another carrier’s network.
Why Would a Carrier Lock Your Phone?
There are several different ways to purchase an iPhone. One of the most common methods is to purchase through a carrier. Many carriers give customers the option to purchase their iPhones over a set period of months. They’ll pay on their phone each month along with their service bill.
If you chose this option to pay for your phone, then your phone is locked to that carrier for the duration of your contract. If you want to unlock your phone from your current carrier so that you can move to another network, you’ll need to pay the phone off in full.
If you want to avoid making that payment, you do have some options. Many major carriers will offer to pay off your phone and termination fees if you switch to their service. However, it’s important to note that they’ll often add the remaining balance to your bill and require you to pay it off over the next several months.
How To Check If an iPhone Is Locked?
It’s always a good idea to check if an iPhone is unlocked before you get ready to sell or buy a used one. It’s simple to figure out if your iPhone is locked. Just follow one of these methods.
If you have a SIM card from a different carrier, try removing your SIM card and inserting the new card. If the new carrier’s network appears and shows a signal, then your phone is unlocked. If it’s locked, you’ll get a message saying the SIM Not Supported.
If you don’t have a SIM card, you can go to the Settings app on your phone. Choose General, then About. Scroll down until you see the Carrier Lock option. If it says “No SIM restrictions,” then your phone is unlocked.
How To Find an IMEI Number?
Since you usually need the IMEI number to unlock your phone, you need to know how to find it. One of the easiest ways to find iPhone IMEI number is to use your phone’s calling app. Dial *#06#. Device Info will automatically pop up. You’ll be able to get your IMEI number on that page, along with other phone identification information.
You can also find the IMEI number in your phone’s Settings app. You’ll need to open Settings, then go to General, and then About. Scroll down to the section titled Primary, and under there, you’ll see the phone’s IMEI number listed.
Is It Legal To Unlock an iPhone?
It is legal to unlock an iPhone in the U.S. as long as you no longer owe a carrier a remaining balance on the phone. Once you’ve paid off your phone, you are free to unlock it. This law went into effect in 2014.
While it’s legal to unlock an iPhone with an unpaid or overdue balance, it’s more of a gray area that will depend on your particular carrier. Most carriers will allow you to unlock the phone, but you’ll still be required to pay the balance.
What Carrier Can I Use After Unlocking?
You should be able to use any carrier after your iPhone is unlocked as long as you’re getting a carrier based in the same country. If you want a provider from another country and use an older model iPhone, you may need to take some extra steps to use those carriers.
Conclusion
Unlocking an iPhone for free with an IMEI number is much easier than it used to be. As long as you’ve paid in full, it’s usually as simple as contacting your carrier. If you’re buying a used iPhone, be sure to do your research to make sure the owner has completely paid off the phone. Then, you’re free to sign up with your chosen carrier.
