iPhone 16 Pro is still SIM locked after AT&T confirmation

Follow the instructions here: How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support

Specifically, this:

If you don't have another SIM card to use

Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

1. Back up your iPhone.
2. After you make a backup, erase your iPhone.
3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.

BUT My iPhone 16pro still shows SIM locked.

ATT might have told you that the phone was unlocked, but it is not unlocked until you see a message of No SIM Restrictions instead of SIM Locked.

Just did a reset all settings and that didn't work.

This will never work. Only ATT can unlock the phone. Apple has nothing to do with this.

I am scared to go to factory settings just to unlock.

This will never work either. Only ATT can unlock the phone. Factory settings will not unlock the carrier lock on the phone.

Ask for a senior support person when you call ATT back again. For the most part, the new hires are not really going to be able to help you. They will use some excuse like it might take a few days, or Apple needs to get involved (nonsense).ATT is hoping you will give up and stop calling, because they realize that they are likely going to lose a customer otherwise.

abacobrad wrote:

ATT says my phone is unlocked on their end and I got a text to that effect. BUT My iPhone 16pro still shows SIM locked. Tried updates, rebooted several times. Just did a reset all settings and that didn't work. I am scared to go to factory settings just to unlock. Any other options?

read here How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support