If you are looking to sell your iPhone or switch to another carrier, you may be wondering whether your iPhone is locked or not. By unlocking your iPhone, you can use a different SIM card from the SIM card you originally made the appointment with. To determine whether your iPhone is locked or not, you can insert a SIM card from another carrier into your iPhone, or check the settings on your iPhone.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Inserting Another SIM Card
Step 1. Turn off iPhone
Hold down the Sleep/Wake button until it says "slide to power off." Slide the red arrow to turn off the phone.
Step 2. Locate the SIM card in iPhone
The holder for the SIM card is located on the edge of the iPhone – it usually has a small hole for inserting a paper clip. Use a paper clip to remove the card holder, then remove the SIM card.
Step 3. Insert another carrier's SIM card
Buy a cheap cell phone card or borrow a friend's SIM card. Reassemble the iPhone and then turn it on.
You can also visit other carrier retailers and ask customer service to insert their SIM card into your phone. They will be happy to help, because you are their potential customer
Step 4. Make a call with the new card
If you can connect it means your iPhone is unlocked! If you see a message saying that there's a problem and you can't make calls, it means that your iPhone is locked.
Method 2 of 2: Checking Carrier Settings
Step 1. Check the settings on the phone
Tap the "Settings" tab on the main screen then look for the "Carrier" tab and the "Cellular" tab. The tabs that appear can indicate that:
- The card operator allows you to change the APN.
- Your iPhone is unlocked.
Step 2. Tap on "Cellular"
If the "Cellular Data Network" option appears, your iPhone is unlocked - either by the carrier or has been jailbroken (removal of restrictions on iPhone phones).
Step 3. Double check by removing the SIM card
To be sure, remove the SIM card and turn off your phone. When you restart your iPhone, make sure the carrier status is "No SIM" or "Service Unavailable". Now tap "Settings" again.