Key Takeaways

• You can check if your phone is unlocked using your device's network settings, trying a SIM card from a different carrier, or speaking with your mobile carrier directly.
• Generally, phones purchased directly from the manufacturer are unlocked, while carrier-bought phones are likely locked.
• Unlocked phones allow you to use a SIM card or eSIM from any carrier to switch to another service, while locked phones can only connect to the carrier from which you purchased the device.

Whether you're thinking of switching mobile carriers or buying a phone second-hand, it's important to know if a device you have is unlocked. We'll show you how to check if your phone is unlocked, what this means, and what to do if your device is locked.

How to Check if Your Phone Is Unlocked

Depending on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, there are a few methods you can use to check if your phone is carrier-unlocked.

This discussion is about your phone being locked to your carrier's network. If you can't get past your phone's lock screen, see what to do if you've forgotten your Android passcode or how to reset your iPhone passcode.

How to Tell if Your iPhone Is Unlocked

In iOS 14 and later, there's an easy way to check if your iPhone is unlocked. Head to Settings > General > About and find the Carrier Lock field. If you see No SIM restrictions here, your iPhone is unlocked. Conversely, SIM locked means that your iPhone is locked to your carrier.

Check if Your Android Phone Is Unlocked

Android doesn't provide an easy method for checking your SIM status like iOS does. The simplest method isn't perfect, but is worth a try.

To check the unlock status of your Android device, head to Settings > Network & internet. Next to SIMs (or Mobile network on older Android versions), look for a Plus button and hit this. This menu lets you add a secondary network (if your device supports it), so it won't work if your phone is locked to one carrier.

The above refers to stock Android; the process may be different on your phone. While it's a good indicator, even if this option doesn't appear, your phone might still be unlocked. To be sure, you should continue to the next method.

Check for an Unlocked Phone Using Another SIM Card

If you want to make sure your device is unlocked, you should ideally test it with another SIM card. This gives you concrete proof of whether your phone is locked.

Assuming you don't have a second SIM card from another carrier sitting around, you can borrow one from a friend who doesn't use the same carrier as you. If this isn't an option, try a cheap prepaid SIM available at drugstores or Walmart.

You can also take advantage of a free trial from an MVNO like Mint Mobile. Mint's free trial is intended to help you make sure the carrier works on your existing phone, making it a good way to check for an unlocked phone if you don't have another SIM handy. If your phone supports eSIM, you can use that for the trial so you don't have to wait for a physical card.

Here's how to check if your phone is unlocked using a second physical SIM:

1. Make a phone call with your current SIM to confirm everything is in order. If you don't want to bother someone, call a local automated weather service or similar.
2. Assuming the call works correctly, shut down your phone.
3. Use a SIM removal tool, bent paper clip, or similar pointed object to eject your current SIM and swap it for the new one.
4. With the new SIM in place, turn your phone back on.
5. Place a call again.

If you're using an eSIM for the test, follow the carrier's instructions to proceed with the eSIM install instead of steps 2-4. Make sure to place the test call through your temporary eSIM and not your main SIM card.

If the call goes through with the second SIM, your phone is unlocked. However, if the call doesn't work, your phone shows an "unsupported SIM" error, or you see a prompt to enter a SIM unlock code, your phone is locked.

Find Out if Your Phone Is Unlocked Through Your Carrier

If you're still unsure of your phone's locked status after trying all the above, you should contact your carrier to find out. The company will be able to tell you for sure, though it might take some time to hear back. The representative will likely need your phone's IMEI number to check for you, so make sure to have this handy ahead of time.

To reduce the wait, try visiting a retail store if it's more convenient. If your carrier doesn't have any stores nearby, you can also go into a different carrier's store, tell them you're thinking of switching services, and ask them to check if your phone is unlocked.

In general, if you bought your phone directly from Apple, Google, Samsung, or another company, it's most likely unlocked. Phones purchased directly from your carrier, especially ones still on a payment plan, are likely locked.

What Does It Mean When a Phone Is Unlocked?

Now that we've seen how to check if your phone is locked, how does this affect your device? As mentioned above, an unlocked phone is available to use on different cell carriers. With an unlocked phone, you can switch to a new carrier and use a new SIM card (or eSIM) to connect to the new service without any hassle.

This contrasts with a locked phone, which is only available to use with the carrier you purchased it from. If you buy a phone from Verizon (for example) and it's locked, you can't simply buy a SIM card from another carrier and start using a different service. Your phone will only work with Verizon unless Verizon unlocks it.

What If My Phone Is Locked?

If you've found out you have a locked phone and want to switch to another provider, you'll need to unlock your device first. How to do this depends on your situation, but you'll need to go through your carrier no matter what.

If you are still paying for your phone via a carrier's payment plan, chances are that the company will unlock your device when you pay it off. However, this differs by company, so you'll have to ask to make sure. Some carriers require you to submit a form to unlock your device, or wait a certain number of days after having paid it off. You might be able to request it online, while others require a phone call.

See our guide to unlocking your smartphone for more details on this.

Considerations With Locked Phones

Some people don't mind having a locked phone because they stay with one carrier for a long time. But if you're fed up after looking into this, you should consider buying unlocked phones in the future.

The main benefit to a locked phone is (sometimes) cheaper upfront pricing, but you pay for this with far less flexibility. You'll likely save more in the long run by opting for a cheaper carrier (paying less every month), even if it costs you more for your device.

With unlocked phones, you avoid getting locked into one carrier's pricing for 24 months at a time. You might want to try an MVNO like Google Fi to save on data costs, or maybe you want the flexibility to use an international SIM while traveling.

Next time you buy a phone, double-check to make sure that it's unlocked. Sellers like Best Buy and Amazon sell both unlocked and locked phones, so it's easy to confuse them. And finally, if you ever buy a second-hand phone, you should make sure that it's not locked to the previous owner's carrier before paying. Otherwise, you may end up with a device that you can't use.

Now you know how to check if your phone is unlocked and what this means for you. While locked phones aren't the end of the world, we recommend unlocked phones if you have a choice. With a bit of luck, your carrier will unlock your locked device so you can use it anywhere.