In this post, we are talking about how you can check if the phone is unlocked without using the sim card swap method.

An unlocked smartphone can be used on any available network, without restrictions. Here’s how to check if your phone is locked to a specific provider or not. You have just gotten yourself an iPhone and, for whatever reason, you do not know if it is locked or is unlocked. The easiest way to check this is to put in a SIM card from a different network and see if it works. Part 3: Check if your iPhone is unlocked using online services You can use the Dr.Fone - sim unlocks feature to check your iPhone status. This website uses a software to that takes your IMEI details and confirms if your iPhone is unlocked. You can always check to see if an iPhone is unlocked by trying to use a different provider SIM card, if it works immediately, you’ll know the device is unlocked. Aside from casual use and figuring out what network an iPhone can use, this can also be helpful for using ipcc files correctly.

But before we jump deeper into the article you must know what difference does it make if your phone is locked or unlocked.

And no we are not discussing here your lock screen instead, the lock which enables you to use different network carriers on your smartphones.

Almost all the Android and iPhones you purchase from the market are unlocked meaning you can use any sim card of your choice to avail the network services and also change the sim card if you don’t like the service or whatever the reason may be.

But if you didn’t know that your newly bought smartphone is not unlocked then when you will try to change the sim cards or try to use a different network carrier, it won’t show any signal. This is what is called a locked phone.

Especially nowadays, when almost each of us has 3-4 sim cards and keep changing them as new plan rolls out. So, it is really important to check before buying a new smartphone if the phone is unlocked or not.

And also nowadays people are travelling to foreign countries regularly so you need to informed on whether your mobile phone will make calls after you reach your destination or not or whether a new sim card from a different country will work in your smartphone or not.

So, There are two methods to check whether your phone is unlocked or not.

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In this tutorial, I am going to tell you the step-by-step process of How You Can Check if Your Phone is Unlocked Without Sim Card.

This method uses the IMEI number of the phone you are checking.

Let’s get started then.

  • So, the first thing you want is the IMEI number of the phone you want to check. You don’t know the IMEI number? You just have to type this code *#06# and you will be displayed the IMEI number of the phone on your screen.
  • Now with that IMEI number, you can go to online services like IMEI.info
  • It will ask for your IMEI number and when you press enter it will show you the information related to your device.
  • On the left-hand side, it shows you the option of unlocking your phone. This is generally a paid service.
  • Once you fill out all your details and check out they will provide you with the information about your phone is locked or unlocked and will also unlock your phone if it’s locked.
  • In some cases like for my Nokia phone, they showed different free checks so you can try for your mobile and see if your mobile phone is locked or unlocked.

I know you must be thinking but this is a paid method. Well, sometimes when you have to travel to a different country and you don’t know if the foreign network carrier would work or not in your mobile it is a wise decision to check beforehand by paying a few bucks. At least you would not be in an ugly situation in a foreign land. That’s why it is better to check if the phone is Unlocked for foreign carriers or not.

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.

Find If iPhone Is Unlocked or Locked

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.

How To Check If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card Free

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.

Know

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.

Apple Check If Phone Is Unlocked

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.

How To Check If Iphone Is Unlocked

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.

How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked With Imei

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.