HT201351: What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn about What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
rosafromcorydon

Q: How to unlock my iPhone so I can used another carrier?

HOw to unlock my iPhone so I can use to another carrier?

iPod touch

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 4:23 PM

Close

Q: How to unlock my iPhone so I can used another carrier?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Jun 14, 2016 4:26 PM in response to rosafromcorydon
    Level 9 (53,368 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 14, 2016 4:26 PM in response to rosafromcorydon

    The only one who can unlock the iPhone is the carrier to whom it is currently locked. You must ask them to unlock it for you.

     

    Any of the sites that claim to be able to unlock an iPhone for you are nothing but scams.

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Jun 14, 2016 4:25 PM in response to rosafromcorydon
    Level 9 (73,198 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 14, 2016 4:25 PM in response to rosafromcorydon

    Contact your cellular provider to determine their unlocking policy, and more importantly, if you qualify.

  • by sdbond,

    sdbond sdbond Jul 13, 2016 4:11 PM in response to rosafromcorydon
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 4:11 PM in response to rosafromcorydon

    My cell provider is Sprint, and someone with AT&T is interested in buying my iPhone 5s.

     

    I called Sprint and was told it was as simple as swapping out my SIM card for his, and that would initiate the sending of an unlock signal to the phone.

     

    I can only hope it turns out to be that easy-peasy!

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Jul 13, 2016 4:14 PM in response to sdbond
    Level 9 (53,368 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 13, 2016 4:14 PM in response to sdbond

    Whoever you spoke to does not know what they are talking about. It will not work that way.

  • by sdbond,

    sdbond sdbond Jul 13, 2016 7:04 PM in response to sdbond
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 7:04 PM in response to sdbond

    <Shrug>

     

    I am just reporting what I was told this very afternoon as one data point. The CSR asked enough questions to understand completely what I wanted to do with the iPhone, and then went away for a while to consult with other(s).

     

    The potential buyer is going to confirm with AT&T in the morning about whether this is the procedure to follow. I will be happy to report what she finds out.

  • by Johnathan Burger,

    Johnathan Burger Johnathan Burger Jul 13, 2016 7:39 PM in response to sdbond
    Level 6 (16,099 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 7:39 PM in response to sdbond

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

    Unlocking for Domestic Usage

    Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:

    • The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
    • The device must be or have been active on the Sprint network for a minimum of 50 days
    • Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
    • The associated account is in good standing
    • The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked

    For domestic SIM unlockable ("DSU") devices launched after February 2015, Sprint will automatically unlock the device when it becomes eligible. Please note that a domestic SIM unlock will also enable your device to be used internationally using a foreign carrier's SIM card.

     

    Sprint makes no guaranty that an unlocked device will work on another carrier's network. Whether another carrier will accept and activate a device is subject to that carrier's policies and capabilities. Additionally, Sprint devices which the owner has attempted to reprogram or activate on another carrier's network or otherwise altered from its initial programming or settings may not be able to be reactivated on the Sprint network.

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Jul 13, 2016 9:23 PM in response to sdbond
    Level 5 (4,426 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 13, 2016 9:23 PM in response to sdbond

    Shrug if you wish, but the advice you were given is incorrect.

     

    At the very least, your buyer will have to erase all the content on the phone and run the setup assistant. This will make a connection between the device and Apple's activation server. *If* the phone has been truly unlocked from Sprint, only at that point will it be easy-peasy.

     

    This assumes of course, you meet all the requirements in Johnathan's post.

  • by sdbond,

    sdbond sdbond Jul 13, 2016 10:03 PM in response to Johnathan Burger
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 10:03 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

    TThank you, Johnathan; I didn't poke around the Sprint website much when this opportunity arose today because sometimes it's better to talk with a human being, and this was one of those times.

     

    While the CSR did not word his questions to me exactly like the bullet points, he covered all of them and confirmed I met the policy conditions.

     

    SO the next step is on the buyer, who I mentioned is going to confirm how the "handshake" needs to be handled.

  • by sdbond,

    sdbond sdbond Jul 13, 2016 10:11 PM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 13, 2016 10:11 PM in response to LACAllen

    You got a shrug because you dismissed out of hand up-to-date information I reported. I guess it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way ...

     

    And yes, I meet all the conditions for unlocking the phone. I have no intention of selling it without resetting it to factory defaults and wiping my data from the phone; why would anyone =not= take that step?

     

    The buyer seems nice, but I wouldn't want my personal data left on the phone.

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Jul 13, 2016 10:58 PM in response to sdbond
    Level 5 (4,426 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 13, 2016 10:58 PM in response to sdbond

    huh?

     

    If you are referring to this...

     

    I called Sprint and was told it was as simple as swapping out my SIM card for his, and that would initiate the sending of an unlock signal to the phone.

     

    That is completely wrong information. The swapping of the SIM card does not initiate the unlock signal. The paying of the fee. The meeting of the conditions. That triggers the unlock signal.

     

    Would you rather we have not tried to correct this?

     

    I did not suggest you erase the phone to remove your data. Erasing of the phone will be required by the new user to then be able to install their AT&T SIM in a now unlocked phone. the phone will need to be activated again.

  • by sdbond,

    sdbond sdbond Jul 14, 2016 4:39 AM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 14, 2016 4:39 AM in response to LACAllen

    Allan, I invite you to review your first reply to my post; if you don't care to, it provides no specifics. It merely contained a blanket statement about what I was told.

     

    IF you would also go back to my first post, I made absolutely zero declaration that this was absolute truth. Yes, I did use the phrase "easy-peasy," which you seemed to scoff at, but again, if you review what I wrote, I expressed hope that easy-peasy-ness would in fact be the case.

     

    My only aim was to provide information the OP (or anyone else) might find useful.

     

    FInally, if you would review my last response, my question was why on earth I would turn over my phone to anyone with all my data still on it. Every article I have read (including on the Apple website) advises you to erase your data before selling or giving away your iPhone.

     

    The =only= way I would consider following your advice would be if the buyer and I met in person and had someone from Sprint and/or AT&T on the phone to make the handoff work.

     

    So again, I ask you why you stated with certitude what you did.

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Jul 14, 2016 5:51 AM in response to sdbond
    Level 5 (4,426 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 14, 2016 5:51 AM in response to sdbond

    The =only= way I would consider following your advice would be if the buyer and I met in person and had someone from Sprint and/or AT&T on the phone to make the handoff work.

     

    So again, I ask you why you stated with certitude what you did.

     

    I haven't given you any advice. I have made an attempt to clear up some bad guidance you were apparently given by AT&T. You are free to ignore my attempt if you wish.

     

    I am stating with certitude that simply swapping a SIM does not unlock a phone. I state this because it's accurate.

     

    I've tried to state it several times and several ways. I am now done. Best of luck to you.