LCMan
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Will US iPhone model work in other country?

I have an old iPhone 5 that I do not use anymore and was thinking of sending it over to Thailand. Will this iPhone 5 work in different when it was purchased and use in the US? If so, what do I need to do to make sure it will work in Thailand or other countries besides the US?

iPhone 5, iOS 8.1

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 7:10 AM

by elcpu,Apple recommended
elcpu elcpu
Level 6 (16,022 points)
Photos for Mac
A:

You would have to contact the carrier you are planning on using in Thailand, give them the model number of your iPhone (found in Settings, About) and ask them. Depends on the bands and the service provider.

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 7:14 AM

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LCMan

Q: Will US iPhone model work in other country?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by elcpu,Apple recommended

    elcpu elcpu Sep 12, 2016 7:14 AM in response to LCMan
    Level 6 (16,022 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 12, 2016 7:14 AM in response to LCMan

    You would have to contact the carrier you are planning on using in Thailand, give them the model number of your iPhone (found in Settings, About) and ask them. Depends on the bands and the service provider.

  • by LCMan,

    LCMan LCMan Sep 12, 2016 10:34 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 12, 2016 10:34 AM in response to elcpu

    So, I don't have to have Apple unlock this phone or anything, correct? I just have to make sure the carrier in Thailand will work with this phone and it should be fine then, right?

     

    Thanks for the reply.

  • by KiltedTim,Apple recommended

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 12, 2016 10:36 AM in response to LCMan
    Level 9 (55,083 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 12, 2016 10:36 AM in response to LCMan

    Apple does not unlock phones. If an iPhone is carrier locked, only the carrier it's locked to can authorize unlocking it.

     

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

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu Sep 12, 2016 10:43 AM in response to LCMan
    Level 6 (16,022 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 12, 2016 10:43 AM in response to LCMan

    LCMan wrote:

     

    So, I don't have to have Apple unlock this phone or anything, correct? I just have to make sure the carrier in Thailand will work with this phone and it should be fine then, right?

     

    Thanks for the reply.

     

    My understanding is that all iPhones purchased from the Apple Store at full price are unlocked. However if you bought the phone from a US carrier on a contract, that's another matter. Apple will not unlock it as you were told, they have nothing to do with it. The carrier would have to unlock it IF it is locked to their system, and that is an IF. How did you by the phone?

  • by LCMan,

    LCMan LCMan Sep 15, 2016 10:03 AM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 10:03 AM in response to elcpu

    If I remembered correctly, I bought it from Apple's website but I got a discount from my carrier if I owned the phone for more than two years. So, when I got the phone, I just called my carrier and they just got it to work because when I ordered from Apple's site, I specify who my carrier is.

  • by Milestone777,

    Milestone777 Milestone777 Sep 15, 2016 10:06 AM in response to LCMan
    Level 2 (208 points)
    Sep 15, 2016 10:06 AM in response to LCMan

    Like the other person said, check to make sure the carrier can support it, then if they can you'll have to get the iPhone unlocked to work on a different carrier.