How do i change my carrier from sprint to t-mobile?

Call T-Mobile and tell them you want to switch from Sprint. I'm sure they'd be happy to make help.

http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/switch-carriers-no-early-termination-fee.html

Sprint will not unlock that phone - at least officially so

You need to overcome that hurdle first

Also T Mo 's LTE bands are different and may not work with a Sprint branded phone

I am sorry - what I also meant to say is that - the no early termination fee rebate program offers you a discount if you trade an Eligible device in - I would still go to a T Mo store and talk to them about upgrading to a 5S, 6 or 6S if that suits your budget -

You'll first need to contact Sprint to have them unlock your phone:

https://www.sprint.com/legal/unlocking_policy.html

Yes, Sprint will unlock your phone if you meed the criteria.

Meg St._Clair wrote:

You'll first need to contact Sprint to have them unlock your phone:

https://www.sprint.com/legal/unlocking_policy.html

Yes, Sprint will unlock your phone if you meed the criteria.

Meg St._Clair - very sorry to post a contrarian POV but you are mistaken in practical terms - I made the mistake of going to Sprint from AT&T in 2011 and paid dearly for it - for phones released before March 2015 when the law kicked in, in the US about allowing unlock, Sprint merely provided a 6 digit code that did nothing in practical terms - search the internet for "6 digit Sprint unlock codes" and you will see what I refer to

They claim that the "software precludes unlocking for domestic use"

OP said they have iPhone 5 - same as I did - I did get a 6 digit code from Sprint but could do nothing with it - and I am not alone - the Sprint and T Mo forums bear witness that this is widespread.

In some manner it is moot since iPhone 6S but there is the practical personal experience for ya .....

Also while your internet article is right on (as usual) this is what it shows since the last time I saw it

That is also what I attempted to point out to OP

I've heard reports of Sprint properly unlocking and of Sprint being difficult. The OP should still contact them to find out if they will do it. They might get lucky and save a few bucks.

mmmmmmmm- call Sprint - be nice above all - and ask to speak to their International Department - ask them for an unlock and if they provide that code - ask them to get Apple on the line on a three way

That has worked in some cases

It depends on how much time you have to spend on the matter

seanfrommoreno valley wrote:

I apologize for such a delay in response. But I've found ManSinha is correct. Sprint gave me a 7 digit unlock code but T-Mobile wasn't able to do anything with it (the phone itself doesn't even ask for a code). Like their highlighted section states, if the phone was a 5s or 5c it might work but since it's just a 5 I cannot get a DSU. Thank you all for your answers though. Looks like it's just an iPod at this point.

Sprint pretty consistently gives users an unlock code to shut them up. But iPhones are not unlocked using an unlock code (most other phones use an unlock code, but not iPhones). The process to unlock any carrier locked iPhones is:

• Complete whatever the carrier's requirements are for unlocking
• The carrier sends an electronic request to Apple authorizing the unlock
• Apple changes the status of the phone to "unlocked" in their master database
• The user restores iOS using iTunes and sets up as a new phone
• As part of the restore process the phone gets an authorization from Apple's servers that includes the fact that the phone is unlocked
• You see a message in iTunes that says, "Congratulations. Your iPhone is unlocked."
• The user restores their backup to the phone.

If you have a SIM from another carrier and you put it in the phone after the 4th step the last 4 steps can sometimes be skipped.

See also: How to unlock your iPhone for use with another carrier - Apple Support

But the whole process starts with the carrier the phone is locked to following procedure. Sprint has made this as difficult as possible. They are the only US carrier to follow the letter of the law, which only requires them to unlock phones for domestic use sold after March 2015. Every other US carrier will unlock any iPhone regardless of purchase date once you have met your contractual requirements. And Verizon phones from the 5 and later are unlocked from day one. Which is why I will never do business with Sprint.

I suggest filing a complaint with the FCC, and sending a copy of the complaint to Sprint. https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us