Purchasing a financed iPhone but carrier not shown

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Level 1

4 points

Purchasing a financed iPhone but carrier not shown

Hello I’m thinking about upgrading my phone and am looking at iPhone 17s , I have metro pcs but when I click finance and try to order it is telling me to pick a carrier . Under the finance text it does say , “Carrier selection of AT&T, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon is required at time of purchase. Your iPhone will remain unlocked.” Does this mean I simply just have to order it under one of those and then take it to metro and just activate it or will it be lcoked to the carrier I chose?

iPhone 11, iOS 17

Posted on Sep 12, 2025 11:32 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

stevejobsfan0123

Level 9

55,226 points

Sep 13, 2025 12:46 AM in response to DannyRu

Financing a phone through Apple requires that the phone be activated at the time of sale, and Apple only offers activation support for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Boost Mobile. If you have another carrier, you would need to switch carriers to one of those or pay in full.

Activating is not the same as locking. The phone can be activated but will remain unlocked. All phones sold directly by Apple are unlocked - the only exception is when you choose to finance the phone via your carrier - then certain carriers will lock it for the finance term.

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Answer 2

WheelieNick

Level 8

45,951 points

Sep 13, 2025 12:37 AM in response to DannyRu

If you're doing it that way you're buying it with a carrier and it can be that you have to use that carrier

If you dont want that simply buy the iPhone without a carrier at the Apple Store or an authorized reseller

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