If you're thinking of moving from your current network provider to a new ane, while keeping concord of your iPhone, or you've picked one upwards second-mitt, you may find that the device is locked to your current carrier or network provider. While this could be a huge hurting in the past, the practiced news is that it'due south usually much easier to unlock an iPhone these days.

Y'all should be able to get your network provider to unlock the iPhone for you; often for complimentary. In fact, you lot might even be able to do information technology yourself.

In this article we show how to unlock any iPhone model, either with an unlock lawmaking from the network itself (which is usually free and piece of cake) or by using a 3rd-party service like Physician SIM.

Unlocking an iPhone volition soon be a thing of the past, as Ofcom has announced that all providers will be banned from locking devices to their network past the terminate of 2022. But plain this won't necessarily affect all devices already in circulation. And then, for now, you'll demand to follow the steps outlined in this article to get your iPhone unlocked.

We're focusing on unlocking an iPhone tied to a United kingdom carrier, just for those in the United states of america, visit our sis site's article on how to unlock an iPhone.

Should you lot exist looking for help on gaining access to information on a device in the sad event of its owner dying, you can read how to unlock an iPhone, iPad or Mac when its owner passes away.

Is iPhone unlocking legal?

It'south completely legal to unlock your iPhone if you've finished paying for your contract or you lot purchased it outright, unsubsidised. However, if you're however in the process of paying for your contract you don't fully own the iPhone yet, so you're best to check with your carrier before unlocking information technology.

How to unlock an iPhone: iPhone 13 mini

Is my iPhone locked?

Usually, if your iPhone is locked you'll see a bulletin proverb something similar 'SIM Not Supported' when you try to set up the device. For more data here's how to tell if your iPhone is locked.

The reason for the device being locked is most likely if you lot bought information technology second-hand or inherited it from a friend or family fellow member. The previous owner may have bought the iPhone as part of a contract, and it's been standard practice for years that the network provider uses software restrictions to keep the device tied to its service for the duration of the contract.

How to unlock your iPhone

There are four simple steps to have to unlock an iPhone:

  1. Contact your provider and request an unlock using the contact details and online tools listed beneath.
  2. If you oasis't got the original SIM, y'all'll need to reset the telephone before it can be unlocked.
  3. Ability down the phone, then replace the quondam SIM card with a SIM from a different network.
  4. Cheque that the iPhone is able to connect a telephone phone call over the new network.

That'south the shortened version, but permit's go through those steps in a chip more detail.

Contact your network provider

Below we will outline separately how to get your iPhone unlocked from each of the UK's most popular networks. Curlicue down to your carrier to detect out that company's specific procedure.

How to unlock an iPhone on EE

EE states that it volition automatically unlock 'an iPad or iPhone - 18 months after information technology was sold (or later on it was dispatched, if it was a replacement)'. So if you lot know the purchase date, and so you might find that the device volition unlock itself very before long. Should this not be the example, so you can nevertheless request EE to unlock the device.

If you've had your EE business relationship for at to the lowest degree vi months and have paid all of your bills to date, EE will unlock your iPhone for you. It'll cost £8.99 if you're however inside the contract, though, and takes around 72 hours. If your contract has reached it's end, then EE will unlock the iPhone for free.

If you're a Pay As You lot Go client and have enough credit to pay the £8.99 admin fee, EE will unlock your iPhone for yous.

If you lot've bought the iPhone second-paw, say from eBay, then EE volition unlock it for y'all at a cost of £8.99. It does stipulate, 'As long as the second-hand device is more than 6 months old and has not been reported lost or stolen then nosotros can unlock it'

The process is quite straightforward. All yous demand to do is telephone call 0800 956 6000 then select options 2 followed by four. You'll be required to undergo a security test (to foreclose anyone stealing your iPhone and unlocking it) afterward which yous'll be given the unlocking instructions.

You lot'll discover all the information you need on EE's How do I unlock an EE device to employ with some other network? folio.

How to unlock an iPhone on Vodafone

Vodafone states on its site that all Apple products issued by the company are already unlocked.

Should you find this isn't the instance, and so yous'll demand to get a Network Unlock Code from Vodafone. Before attempting this, exist aware that the company states, 'Unfortunately, if yous bought your telephone from a different provider or eastward.g. Carphone Warehouse, we can't unlock it. You lot will accept to contact them directly.'

So it could be that the device is locked by the other provider rather than Vodafone.

If you're thinking of handing on your iPhone to someone else, and are worried that information technology might exist locked to your Vodafone account, you tin use Vodafone's online unlocking form to complete the process. The visitor claims it normally manages to unlock your device within 72 hours, but that in some cases it may be up to ten days depending on the circumstances. The process is free.

How to unlock an iPhone on 3

Three keeps things prissy and simple. On its website, the carrier states that any iPhone purchased after 1 January 2022 from 3 is automatically unlocked as soon every bit you connect it to Wi-Fi or iTunes/the Finder (depending on the version of macOS you are using).

But even if y'all purchased your iPhone before that, you but demand to connect the iPhone to iTunes/the Finder and restore the device to unlock it. You'll want to back up first, though, every bit restoring volition wipe all the data.

Alternatively, you can make full out Three's online grade.

How to unlock an iPhone: Three

How to unlock an iPhone on O2

If you or the original owner purchased your iPhone from O2 after 1 August 2022, it'southward likely to be unlocked already.

Should y'all find you however can't use another SIM with it, then (if you are an existing O2 customer) you can follow these steps:

Log in to My O2 on your browser. Select 'More' in the menu bar at the pinnacle of the page, followed by 'Unlock your device'. At present follow the instructions to get your iPhone unlocked.

Alternatively at that place's the Live Chat characteristic on the O2 site, although you'll need to take your IMEI ready (hither's how to find it).

The whole procedure is explained clearly on the Unlocking an O2 mobile for utilize on a different network folio of the company website.

The company says information technology will send a text to allow you know when the iPhone is unlocked. You just need to pop the new SIM carte du jour in so and it should evidence equally unlocked. If not, you lot'll demand to connect the device to iTunes/the Finder with the non-O2 SIM, and iTunes will confirm the unlocking.

How to unlock an iPhone on Virgin Mobile

Virgin says any iPhone purchased from the visitor volition be unlocked already, but some older iPhones models might non. These are iPhone 4 and earlier though, so there'southward a very practiced change your handset is unlocked.

If yous are on an iPhone 4, and why non it's still a great device, so you should yet be able to perform a full restore of the device to unlock it. Just be sure to back upwards your data first and then null gets lost.

Y'all tin can read more almost how to exercise the former in our how to manufacturing plant reset an iPhone and iPad guide.

How to unlock an iPhone on Tesco Mobile

If you've been with Tesco Mobile for 12 months or more, or if you've completed your contract, you lot'll exist able to become an unlock code from Tesco for complimentary by using the online form.

How to unlock an iPhone on Giffgaff

Giffgaff has a handy tool that helps you lot effigy out how to free your Apple iPhone from other its own and other networks. It has the wonderful name of Unlockapedia and is well worth exploring.

Using a tertiary-political party unlocking service

An alternative to contacting your carrier and asking them to unlock the iPhone is to use a mobile telephone unlocking service.

Retailers in near areas will arrange an unlock code for a small fee (commonly around £25).

You lot can also notice online services that will unlock your iPhone, but they aren't always reputable and we would generally suggest against information technology. If you do make up one's mind to employ ane, please make sure you lot read all the small print before you purchase, because they tin surprise you with extra bills at the end of the process.

We've tried Doctor SIM, which promises to refund you if the unlock is unsuccessful, and then that could be an option if y'all've tried all of the methods listed above. Doctor SIM successfully unlocked our phone with no problems and no hidden fees, so we feel confident in recommending them.

How much should I pay?

Ideally y'all shouldn't pay annihilation to unlock your iPhone, because your carrier should unlock it for y'all for complimentary. Merely some carriers are still setting admin charges, so you might adopt looking at third-party options. These seem to charge between £10 and £25, and nosotros wouldn't pay more than than that. Store around if anybody quotes you a higher price.

How to tell if the unlock worked

Once your phone has been unlocked you lot'll receive a confirmation from the carrier. Now follow these steps:

  1. Ability down the telephone: agree down the ability button (or the power push button and book down, if it's a Face ID equipped iPhone) and swipe your finger across as directed.
  2. Use the SIM menu tool (or a straightened paper clip, but preferably the proper tool) to eject the SIM card holder from the side of the telephone.
  3. Remove the old SIM menu from the card holder. Identify your new SIM - from a dissimilar network - into the card holder.
  4. Reinsert the SIM card holder into the iPhone.
  5. Make a telephone call, and check that the iPhone is able to connect over the new network. If so, information technology's unlocked!

Insert SIM

How to update an unlocked phone without the SIM carte du jour

If you've requested an unlock from your carrier, merely have non got the original SIM card, or if you lot have caused a locked iPhone from someone else, yous may need to reset the telephone before it will be unlocked. Follow these steps to reset the iPhone:

  1. Support your iPhone to iCloud or via iTunes/the Finder.
  2. Erase your iPhone. Click on Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Consummate the setup assistant and restore from your backup.

The phone should now be unlocked.

When yous turn the iPhone back on, complete the setup assistant and restore it from the backup you created. So you tin can insert the new SIM menu and it should now work.

And there we have information technology! Your iPhone should exist unlocked and complimentary for use on any network. If y'all're interested in repeating the procedure for your tablet, nosotros've got a separate guide for those who wish to unlock an iPad.

If you're thinking of moving your old iPhone on to someone else, you lot should also read how and where to sell your old iPhone for the best cost for some tips on resetting it and getting the best deal.