How do I determine the carrier for an inactive iPhone?

So, how "inactive" is this phone? It sounds like you bought a used phone.....correct? If the phone was yours....surely you would remember the carrier that you were using because you paid them each month for service.

Are you able to tap on Settings > General > About and scroll down to locate Carrier? What is the name of the carrier?

Is there anything listed next to Carrier Lock?

If you cannot do this, then you will simply have to call carriers or visit them one by one and ask them if your phone is compatible with their service.

If you bought a used iPhone with a carrier lock, request that the seller resolve that or to refund your purchase.

If the seller is unavailable (and that disappearance as is all too common for these cases), you’re left to identify and pay off the remainder of any outstanding cellular plan, and that only if the carrier is even willing to discuss that with you. Most carriers won’t.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250001038

Bob Timmons wrote:

no its not used its new bought offline from a person

Despite what the seller might have claimed, the phone was used.....and very likely stolen.....so let's get that one out of the way.

Contact the person that you bought the phone from and ask for a refund. Otherwise, you have a useless brick on your hands.

Looks like the OP could stand to read

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone – Apple Community

no its not used its new bought offline from a person

Despite what the seller might have claimed, the phone was used.....and very likely stolen.....so let's get that one out of the way.

Contact the person that you bought the phone from and ask for a refund. Otherwise, you have a useless brick on your hands.

Dayton_DF wrote:

no its not used its new bought offline from a person.

I hate to break it to you, but it's used. It became "used" the minute it was sold by Apple or an authorized retailer.

If it is truly still factory sealed in the original box, I suppose we can just use the term "gray market" and call it a day.

Either way, the end result is the same.

Bob Timmons wrote:

Agree. That link was previously posted above by MrHoffman in this thread, but it might have been missed.

Sorry. I see it now. It's showing up with a name that is the same as the URL – instead of a more descriptive one.

Servant of Cats wrote:

Bob Timmons wrote:

Agree. That link was previously posted above by MrHoffman in this thread, but it might have been missed.

Sorry. I see it now. It's showing up with a name that is the same as the URL – instead of a more descriptive one.

ASC glitched, and didn't translate the URL to text. I didn't bother chasing the glitch.

Agree. That link was previously posted above by MrHoffman in this thread, but it might have been missed.