Is My iPhone 5 unlocked?

Question

Level 3

838 points

Is My iPhone 5 unlocked?

I have an iPhone 5 / 16GB that I purchased from BestBuy about 2 years ago as part of a winter sale. I renewed my contract with Verizon at the same time.

I am planning on using it in the Caribbean. I stop by the Verizon store to ask if they have a special overseas plan for a week. The rep said I would be better off buying a SIM card/plan from the country I am visiting and swap out the card. It would more cost effective. I asked if my iPhone needs to be unlocked. He skirted the issue and he claims that all I need do is swap out the SIM card. I did some searches on the web and see conflicting stories. Some articles say that even if you swap out the SIM card, the iPhone can still be locked. How can I get a clearer answer on this?

iPhone 5, iOS 8.1.2, null

Posted on Jan 21, 2015 8:57 PM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

263,673 points

Jan 21, 2015 9:12 PM in response to Carlton Chin

Your "clear answer on this" will come from Verizon. They can tell you the exact status of your ability to unlock the iPhone.

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Answer 2

Carlton Chin Author

Level 3

838 points

Jan 21, 2015 9:41 PM in response to sberman

I probably need to talk to someone else in the store. I think the rep that helped me was either trying to avoid unlocking my phone (I heard of stories like this) or he assumed that my phone was unlocked without really checking.

Just to clarify, does the SIM card have anything to do with whether the iPhone is locked or not? Also, what kind of information does the SIM card hold? Does it store anything like information from my Contacts app?

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

263,673 points

Jan 21, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Carlton Chin

Again, if your iPhone is locked, only the cellular carrier it is locked to (Verizon in your case) can unlock it. Talk to Verizon.

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Answer 4

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

230,311 points

Jan 21, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Carlton Chin

The iPhone 5 and other LTE capable phones for Verizon are locked on the GSM side from the beginning as part of an FCC requirement for a bandwidth auction. It will not be necessary to have the device unlocked. Just get a local SIM and you will be able to use the device. Remember not to lose the Verizon SIM that is in the device.

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Answer 5

ManSinha

Level 6

12,171 points

Jan 21, 2015 10:43 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

You mean UNlocked - Chris?

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Answer 6

Ethmoid

Level 6

11,482 points

Jan 22, 2015 1:03 AM in response to Carlton Chin

No, an iPhone sim card carries no data at all and you cannot store anything on the sim card, which is why you have to sync with iTunes.

Also, NO you do not need to get the phone unlocked. A Verizon phone is a CDMA phone and with the iPhone 5, is sold with a GSM sim card tray that is unlocked, so that when you go travelling, you can insert and use local GSM sim cards in that section of the phone to make it easier and you just switch back to Verizon when you get back for the US.

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Answer 7

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

230,311 points

Jan 22, 2015 8:06 AM in response to ManSinha

Ah yes, what a typo!! That's what I get for staying up past my bedtime answering questions here. 😝

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Answer 8

Jan 22, 2015 8:12 AM in response to sberman

ALL Verizon iPhones from the 5 on (5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6+) are unlocked out of the box for use on GSM networks. So you can even use your Verizon phone on AT&T in the US if you want to. This is due to an agreement with the FCC that allowed Verizon to buy additional spectrum several years ago.

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Answer 9

Carlton Chin Author

Level 3

838 points

Jan 22, 2015 8:18 AM in response to Ethmoid

I notice there is only one slot on the right side of the iPhone. So that's where I would swap out the card, correct?

How can I eject it? I understand Apple Tech have a special tool. I lightly tried a thumbtack but it does not seem to be a push and eject type of function.

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Answer 10

Jan 22, 2015 8:19 AM in response to Carlton Chin

The "special tool" is a standard-sized paperclip.

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Answer 11

Jan 22, 2015 8:20 AM in response to Carlton Chin

See: Remove the SIM card from your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

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