I was given an iphone 4 but don't know the carrier to get it unlocked

It should be at the top left of the iPhone (if I'm not mistaken).

-Ethan

You are mistaken. The carrier on the display has NO bearing on to whom the phone is locked. The phone can be roaming.

Please excuse my stupidity then 😁

-Ethan

Try this: Go to settings, general, about. My phone is alive and has a sim card, but I turned off the cellular data and found it still tells me my network and carrier. Else, go to any ATT or verizon or Apple store and ask. Or talk with your parents since activating will not be free.

as it sets now, you can use like an iPod. To ask is free, if you wanted the phone part. But there's no reason to unlock if you do not go with the original carrier (for phone and data) when using like an iPod touch (I think is what they are now called). The wi-fi part works regardless of the carrier, so you can do email at McDonalds and anywhere you have wi-fi available.

Bring up Google (or any search engine) on a computer, and in the Search Window, type in the Model number of the phone to find out what carrier it was sold under. You can find the Model number by going to Settings>General>About, then find the Model number.

Cheers,

GB

Try this link, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201328. Good luck.

Since the OP doesn't know who the carrier is, the article you posted isn't of much help....

GB