How To Check If Your iPhone Is Locked Or Unlocked

Such thing happens to a lot of people, you buy a new iPhone and you don't know either it is locked or unlocked. An unlocked phone means it can work with any cellular data network like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and etc... So we find unlocked iPhones are more valuable and highly desired for both local and international users, because it allows you to use any GSM carrier whether at home or abroad just by swapping out SIM cards.

But the most important question you should as yourself, is how to know if your iPhone is locked or unlocked ! You usually can’t tell just by looking at it, so right now and in this post I am going to show you a different three easy ways to check if your iPhone is locked or unlocked... 

So in case you are getting ready to travel, you’ll want to check before you leave. Similarly, if you plan on buying or selling an iPhone, you’ll want to check if its unlocked or not before completing the transaction.

Method 1: The Easiest Way to Check if an iPhone is Unlocked: SIM Cards

This method is one of the most easiest ways you could ever imagine to check if your iPhone is unlocked using a different SIM card. For example, in the USA you could check if an AT&T iPhone is unlocked simply by borrowing a T-Mobile SIM card, placing it in the iPhone, and seeing if the device gets service. Either use a friends SIM card or visit a T-Mobile store and they’ll be able to check for you.

Method 2: Checking If iPhone Is Unlocked Via Web.

The second method to check if your iPhone is unlocked or not using a free web service called IMEI to easily check for iPhone's unlock statue. In order to use this service you will have to sign in using your Facebook account and click a "Like" button to actually determine if the device is locked or unlocked. If you’re OK with that, the service is extremely easy to use:

1. You will have to find your iPhone's IMEI number by dialing *#06# on the phone- you do not need cell service to dial that number, the iPhone just has to be turned on. If the *#06# trick doesn’t work, you can also find the IMEI from iTunes, on the back of iPhone 5, on the devices SIM card slot.
2. Now go to IMEI website 
3. You will find an empty space where you will be asked to put your iPhone's IMEI number.. 
4. After inserting your IMEI number, click on "Check" and you will find a lot of results telling you if your iPhone is locked or unlocked.

After you click the “SIMLOCK” button, you’ll have to “Like” the IMEI service on Facebook to actually get the unlock status of the iPhone. It may take a moment or two as a server is accessed where the IMEI numbers are checked against. When finished, you’ll find the iPhone’s status as well as some other information:

Method 3: Checking If your iPhone Is unlocked using iTunes restoring

The third method which I don't prefer to use it, is to check if your iPhone is unlocked or not using iTunes restoring feature. All what you have to do is connecting your iPhone to the PC, if you see the familiar “Congratulations, the iPhone is unlocked” message you know the iPhone has been unlocked:

See life is simple ? Isn't it ? The above three methods are the most popular ways to check if your iPhone is unlocked or not.. Finally don't forget to share this post with your friends... Enjoy all. 

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AT&T issues statement on unlocking policy

 

 

There’s been a lot of commotion lately regarding the recent expiration of a DMCA exemption that makes the unlocking of smartphones illegal. The people are talking about it, the government is talking about it, and the word is, it could lead to new legislation.

Today, AT&T issued a statement on the topic, reassuring customers that the DMCA rule has no effect on its unlocking stance. The whole thing comes off as a bit garish, as no one was really worried about that in the first place. But it does offer clarity on their policy…

Here’s an important excerpt from the blog entry, which was posted by AT&T’s Vice President of Federal Regulatory Joan Marsh:

“I want to be completely clear that AT&T’s policy is to unlock our customers’ devices if they’ve met the terms of their service agreements and we have the unlock code. It’s a straightforward policy, and we aim to make the unlocking process as easy as possible.”

 

 

It’s nice that AT&T has put this down in writing, because, as evidenced in the comments of the blog post, the carrier hasn’t always happily fulfilled unlock requests. It seems recent media attention on the subject though has pushed the policy further company-wide.

Of course, you’ll have to make sure you meet all of AT&T’s service terms and requirements before you can go arguing with your customer service rep that they have to unlock your cell phone. Luckily, they’ve included all of that in today’s statement as well.

“As we make clear on our website, if we have the unlock code or can reasonably get it from the manufacturer, AT&T currently will unlock a device for any customer whose account has been active for at least sixty days; whose account is in good standing and has no unpaid balance; and who has fulfilled his or her service agreement commitment.  If the conditions are met we will unlock up to five devices per account per year. We will not unlock devices that have been reported lost or stolen.”

So to get your phone unlocked, it must be active on AT&T’s network for 60 days, your account must be paid up, and you have to have fulfilled your service agreement—which for most folks is two years. That’s quite a few ducks to get in a row before you can demand an unlock.

It’s worth mentioning, however, that it was reported last fall that AT&T was unlocking iPhones that were still under contract. In fact, we were able to confirm this, getting them to unlock our then-in-contract phones without issue. So we’re not convinced they won’t do it if you ask.

Anyway, we’re hoping that all of this will be moot in a few years anyway. Yesterday, Senator Ron Wyden announced on Twitter that he is proposing a new bill that will make the process of unlocking your smartphone forever legal.

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