You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Liz3689
Liz3689 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Buying new IPhone from Apple. Will choosing carrier lock my phone to that carrier.

Trying to buy new iPhone SE from Apple. Its asking for my carrier. I have old prepaid 25 cent att plan which I intend to keep for a few more months..but will most likely switch over to mint mobile or another carrier later. If I select ATT for my purchase now will that lock my phone to only ATT.

I will only be using prepaid SIM card either way. No long term contract. Afraid if I don’t choose ATT, my SIM card may not work in it when I get it, but just want to be sure I will still be able to change to other carriers later.

Posted on Jan 15, 2023 9:19 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,532 points

Posted on Jan 15, 2023 9:29 PM

If you are financing your iPhone with AT&T then that iPhone may be locked to AT&T. You need to select BUY instead of FINANCE and then select the Connect to Any Carrier Later option. This will ensure that your iPhone SE will arrive unlocked and can be used with any carrier of your choice.


Axel F.

View in context

Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Axel Foley
Axel Foley
User level: Level 10
149,532 points

Jan 15, 2023 9:29 PM in response to Liz3689

If you are financing your iPhone with AT&T then that iPhone may be locked to AT&T. You need to select BUY instead of FINANCE and then select the Connect to Any Carrier Later option. This will ensure that your iPhone SE will arrive unlocked and can be used with any carrier of your choice.


Axel F.

Reply
User profile for user: Liz3689
Liz3689 Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jan 16, 2023 8:59 AM in response to Axel Foley

No, I don’t plan to finance with ATT but I do want to finance with Apple Card…will that still keep my phone unlocked? I would pick buy, finance with Apple Pay, then connect to any carrier later..is that correct?


I would then just swap out my SIM card from my old phone to the new and then transfer data.

Thanks for your response they make it a little difficult for us older folks who rarely use their phones to figure these things out. I just want to move my sim over and go without my phone being tied to a carrier so I can switch out any new carrier sim whenever I want.

Reply

Buying new IPhone from Apple. Will choosing carrier lock my phone to that carrier.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up