How can I find if my iphone 5 is locked?

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Level 1

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How can I find if my iphone 5 is locked?

A few months ago, I buyed a Iphone 5 from a friend that was traveling abroad. He purchased the iPhone in december 2012 in a Somerset Apple Store. The receipt says "iPhone unlocked". He used the phone with no problems, and I used it too for some months without problems.

But recently, the iPhone says "No service" and I can't talk, receive SMS or anything that demands a telephone conection. I changed carrier, changed the SIM card, erase and restore the phone.

I'm suspectiong that any somehow the iPhone is locked now.

How can I find out if that's the problem?

Thanky ou!!!

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 21, 2014 7:22 AM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

205,632 points

Jan 21, 2014 8:43 AM in response to PortalComic

A phone sold by Apple as unlocked does not magically become locked at some later point in time.

Take the phone to the US, make an appointment at the genius bar, and take it in to have it looked at.

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Answer 2

pdroth

Level 5

5,171 points

Jan 21, 2014 8:48 AM in response to PortalComic

If the phone was locked you would see Invalid SIM message.

No service means that you have no service - bad SIM, bad cellular antenna are possible reasons.

Back up your device, then do a full restore as new and see if it comes back to life. If so, restore from your backup and you'll be fine.

If not, then you need to get phone serviced back in the US.

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Answer 3

Jan 21, 2014 8:49 AM in response to PortalComic

If the phone is locked when you turn it on it will display a message saying the SIM is not supported and you must insert a SIM for the correct carrier. If you do not get this message the phone is not locked to a carrier.

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Answer 4

PortalComic Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2014 8:50 AM in response to KiltedTim

Thank you for your answer, but I live in Argentina, so travel to US to fix it is not an option.

If it didn't become "magically locked"... What could have happened?
Any ideas, beside take the phone to US?

Thank you!

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Answer 5

PortalComic Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2014 8:58 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Ok, when I insert the SIM, the phone recognize it and shows the carrier correctly. So I must assume that It's not locked. The problem is that I don't have service. The same SIM in a iPhone 4 works fine.

I'll try the full restore. And if that don't work, I'll go to make check the antenna.

Thank you!!!

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