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.
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
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.
