How To Find Out Your Phone Service Provider

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This wikiHow teaches you how to determine whether or non your cell phone is locked to a specific carrier. If your phone is unlocked, you lot tin apply other carriers' SIM cards in your phone.

1
Blazon your phone's name followed by "unlocked" into a search engine. Doing so will give you an idea of what well-nigh people have experienced in this area. Y'all can also employ your telephone'due south model number (east.one thousand., "Samsung Galaxy S6" instead of just "Samsung Galaxy") to narrow the search results.
- With very few exceptions, Android phones are unlocked by default.
ii
Look for a "Cellular Information Network" choice in Settings. If yous open an iPhone'southward Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Information) nearly the top of the card, tap Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Information Options) about the pinnacle of the folio, and see an option entitled "Cellular Data Network" (or "Mobile Data Network") on the page, your iPhone is likely unlocked.
- A "Carrier" option just below the "Cellular" section in the Settings menu is also indicative of an unlocked iPhone.
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3
Enter your phone's IMEI number into an IMEI-checking service. Some carriers provide a service on their website to determine whether or non your phone is unlocked. You tin can view your telephone'southward International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number similar so:
- iPhone - Open Settings, tap General, tap About, and notice the "IMEI" section. The fifteen-digit number listed hither is your phone'due south IMEI number.
- Android - Open Settings, whorl down and tap About device, tap Status, and find the "IMEI" section. The xv-digit number listed here is your phone'south IMEI number.
- Most phones - Type *#060# into your phone's Phone app to brandish your phone'southward IMEI number. This won't piece of work on Verizon phones.
four

Phone call your carrier and ask them to ostend your phone's status. If y'all tin can't figure out whether or not your phone is unlocked from researching or using an IMEI number-checking service, just telephone call your carrier and provide them with your account details. They'll be able to tell yous if your telephone is unlocked and, if it isn't, if it qualifies for unlocking.

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1
Buy a unlike carrier'due south SIM card or borrow one. If you lot can successfully brand a telephone call with another carrier's SIM card in your telephone, your telephone is unlocked; however, if you can't, the telephone is carrier locked and you'll need to talk to your carrier about unlocking information technology.
- Before getting a new SIM card, figure out which size of SIM card your telephone will utilize. You can consult the telephone's transmission, or you can research the phone model online.
2

Power downwards your phone. While this process will vary from phone to phone, doing so will usually entail pressing and holding your telephone's Power button, and so pressing a button or sliding a switch to turn off the phone.
3
Locate your phone's SIM slot. If your phone has a case on it, first remove the case. You lot'll well-nigh likely accept to consult your phone's manual or look online to come across where the SIM slot is if you lot don't already know.
- On iPhone, the SIM slot is either on the right side of the telephone'south casing (iPhone 4 and up) or on acme of the case.
- Android phones vary their SIM slot locations, only you'll oftentimes find the slot on a side of the casing or under the battery cover.
4

Remove the SIM card from its slot. On some phones, you'll simply demand to pull the card out; on others (e.1000., iPhones), you'll need a newspaper clip or SIM removal tool to insert into a pocket-sized hole side by side to the SIM slot.
5

Place the other SIM card in the phone. Be sure to reference the positioning of the original SIM menu in order to ensure that yous don't improperly insert the card.
6

Turn the telephone dorsum on. You'll do this by pressing and holding your phone's Power push button.
7
Attempt to brand a telephone call. Again, this process will differ from phone to phone: open your phone's calling app, blazon in a number, and press the "dial" button. If the phone call goes through, your phone is unlocked and should be able to accept whatever hardware-supported SIM cards from other carriers.
- If yous are unable to make the phone call and you're certain that the number you're calling is valid, your phone is locked.
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Add New Question

Question

If a telephone is unlocked can it be relocked?

No, unless y'all want to contact the manufacturer of your telephone. They can (usually for a fee), relock the telephone. Sometimes they will practise this over the telephone; sometimes you have to transport it to them.
Question

Are there any messages that will tell me if the phone is unlocked if I utilize a SIM from a different carrier?

No, it will just piece of work, assuming the SIM is valid (like the account has not been blocked, etc.); if the phone is locked you will become a message that the SIM is invalid or on many phones you will exist required to enter the unlock code.
Question

How do I check if a Galaxy s7 is unlocked?

If your phone is locked, when you restart your phone at that place should exist a carrier logo. Or, if it is locked, at that place should exist a logo on the back of the phone.
Question

How long does information technology have to unlock a telephone, and how will I know when it is done?

When you contact your service provider, they should tell yous how long it will accept and how you will know when it's ready to use. Ordinarily it takes 24-48 hours.
Question

How can I cheque if my SIM carte belongs to my phone?

If you put the SIM in, ability on the phone. If it works, it'due south your sim card. If an unlock screen pops up, it'south not yours. If yous don't have an unlock code, practice non bear upon the unlock lawmaking screen.
Question

What if I can't open up the phone?

You should probably attempt to connect it to your computer and beginning it again. If necessary, endeavour to restore it using iTunes just information technology will erase all your data.
Question

I have a LG prison cell phone that I don't use afterward transferring my service to a new telephone. Tin I get a sim menu in The netherlands and use this former telephone?

You volition demand to become the device unlocked. The carrier information technology was originally from will free it up if yous left in good continuing and don't owe annihilation . There are services that will do it for a fee, if using the carrier isn't an option.
Question

If I am told to contact my service provider or that my number is invalid when I make a call using a borrowed sim bill of fare, does that mean my phone is locked?

Usually, and also might say that if the IMEI of the phone specifically has been blacklisted. There are services online that can melt your IMEI for a fee. Be careful if they attempt to change the IMEI, as that'south illegal in most countries, if not done legitimately on the service provider's terminate.

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If your phone doesn't have a removable SIM card, information technology cannot be unlocked.
Services that check your IMEI are more than likely to be wrong about your iPhone being locked than they are about it being unlocked.

Exist wary of any website or application offer to return your phone'due south lock status in exchange for coin.

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Commodity Summary X

To find out if your phone is unlocked, enter its IMEI into an IMEI-checking website like https://imei.info. If you lot don't have your IMEI handy, dial *#60# on your telephone, or notice information technology in the Most or About Device section of your Settings.

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