How to unlock your iPhone to use it with a different service provider

Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different service providers.

About unlocking

Your iPhone may be locked to your service provider. Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different service providers. To contact your service providers and unlock your iPhone, follow these steps. You can find out if your iPhone is locked by going to Settings > General > About. If "No SIM restrictions" appears next to Service Provider Lock, your iPhone is unlocked.

If you don't want to switch service provider and your device is locked because you've forgotten the passcode, you don't need to follow the steps in this article. Find out how to reset your passcode.

Apple can't unlock your iPhone for use with a different service provider. Only your current service provider can unlock your iPhone.

Contact your service provider

  1. Only your service provider can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you've submitted the request, it may take a few days for it to be completed. Contact your service provider to check the status of your request.

  2. After your service provider has confirmed that they've unlocked your iPhone, follow the steps below.

If you need to activate an eSIM from a service provider other than your current service provider

Find out how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone

If you have a SIM card from a service provider that's different to your current service provider

Follow these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

  1. Remove your SIM card.

  2. Insert the new SIM card. Your device will activate.

If you don't have another SIM card to use

Follow these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

  1. Back up your iPhone.

  2. After you've made a backup, erase your iPhone.

  3. Restore your iPhone from the backup you've just made.

Get help

You may see this message on your computer or iPhone: "The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported service provider may be used to activate iPhone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported service provider store."

If you see this message on a device that's running iOS 14 and later, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings > General and tap About.

  2. Under Service Provider Lock, you should see a message that says "No SIM restrictions". If you can't see that message, contact your service provider.

If your device is running iOS 13 or earlier, follow these steps:

  1. Contact your service provider to confirm that they've applied the unlock in their system.

  2. Restore your iPhone to factory settings.

  3. Restore your iPhone from a backup.

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