The phone has not been reported lost, stolen, or involved with fraudulent activity. If your phone is unlocked, your phone will accept SIM cards from any other network, given that your phone supports the network type (a GSM phone will not support a CDMA network) of the carrier you are trying to use. Once your GSM phone is unlocked, the process of bringing it to Consumer Cellular's service is pretty straightforward. Some people may want to unlock other devices like a USB Internet dongle (not just a phone). Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. If the SIM card is not rejected and you see. from the network search, or if the Search Networks option is unavailable in the Networks menu. Non-active or non-Cricket customers will need to call Crickets Customer Support (1-800-274-2538) for unlocking instructions. Typically, if the phone is locked and you insert another carrier's SIM, a pop-up message displays saying "unsupported sim." In some cases, a SIM icon will appear on the signal bars with a slash or a cross sign in front of it. You can track your order progress using the tracking page. A device that is compatible with SIM cards of all carriers is more preferable than a one-carrier mobile. The steps differ for iPhones and Androids, but well go through them both below. Most GSM phones will not work on the CDMA network, and vice versa. To unlock your Metro by T-Mobile phone, it must meet the eligibility requirements. Unlocking the device allows the user to activate it under any carrier that supports it. The contract or installment plan must be completed. Therefore, when buying a used phone, you should check whether your phone is network locked or unlocked by the store? The helpline numbers are listed below: AT&T: 1-800-331-0500 T-Mobile: 1-877-453-1304 Verizon: 1-800-922-0204 Metro (by T-Mobile): 1-888-863-8768 Sprint (now owned by T-Mobile): 1-866-275-1411 Mint Mobile: 1-800-683-7392. They can (usually for a fee), relock the phone. If your phone was locked, it wouldn't accept the other SIM card and it wouldn't let you make a call. Verizons unlocking policy states that as of 7/23/2019 postpaid devices purchased from Verizon are automatically unlocked after 60 days of purchase. The phone is not active on another AT&T account. Carriers lock phones to their service so phone buyers cant purchase a subsidized phone from a carrier at a discount and then quickly move to another carrier for service. Simply put, an unlocked phone is a carrier-free device; its not bound to a specific cell phone carrier and can be used on any carrier that supports the device. You can find out what it is by dialing *#06# on any mobile. Unlock an iPhone without a passcode by doing the following: Swipe down from the top to open the Control Center. Open Settings. We check your order and make sure you have selected the right network and fix it automatically if you made a mistake. Then open your iPhones SIM card slot with a removal tool or a paper clip. There's an option to track failed to unlock attempts as well, in case of too many wrong attempts the app will lock the device and can even erase . If they say that it's unlocked, you can either take their word for it or ask for additional proof. Once the user unlocks their phone, the phone will stay unlocked until it senses that it's been set down. Open the SIM card slot with a removal tool, paper clip, or earing. Now, you can confirm if your phone is unlocked or locked in the reply message received. Methods to Check and Unlock it. This article has been viewed 1,746,092 times. Some of these steps may vary on your Android phone depending upon the Android version and manufacturer. Is your Phone Unlocked? Just contact the carriers customer service department to request an unlock. Though inconvenient, it's the most reliable way to determine the lock status of your phone. Open Settings > General > About Foundry Since iOS 14, Apple has. Many cell phone plans dont support international calling and texting. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Android phones vary their SIM slot locations, but you'll often find the slot on a side of the casing or under the battery cover. If you see a list of available networks, the phone is probably unlocked. Or, if it is locked, there should be a logo on the back of the phone. Our best-selling devices will help you boost your cell phone signal on all available network speeds, regardless of the U.S. carrier or mobile provider you use, reducing dropped calls and missed texts, increasing data and internet speeds, improving audio and video streaming capability, and more. Go to Networks (maybe Mobile Networks or Cellular Networks, depending on your phone model and the version of Android OS its using). For example, Verizon automatically unlocks your phone after 60 days of active services on your phone. 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