A locked phone is a device restricted to a single carrier. It will reject a SIM or eSIM from another network, even if the hardware is compatible. An unlocked phone has no such restriction and works with any carrier whose network it supports.
If you are switching networks, traveling abroad, or shopping for a refurbished iPhone, knowing whether your device is locked matters. This guide explains what locking means, gives the current unlock rules for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon (re-read on each carrier's policy page on October 7, 2026), and shows what a carrier lock does to the price of a refurbished iPhone.
The short version for 2026: there is no single federal deadline. AT&T unlocks phones bought more than 60 days ago that are paid off. T-Mobile unlocks postpaid phones after 40 days of service once they are paid off. Verizon unlocks postpaid phones automatically as soon as they are paid off or bought at full price. Prepaid phones wait about a year on all three, though T-Mobile can unlock one sooner once its refills pass $100.
What it costs on the refurbished market: on October 7, 2026, the cheapest refurbished iPhone 16 (128GB) RefurbMe tracked in the US was an AT&T-locked unit at $409 at eBay Refurbished, while the cheapest unlocked one was $452 at eBay Refurbished. A carrier lock saved about $43 on that model, in exchange for being tied to AT&T.
A locked phone is a device tied to a single carrier or network provider (such as T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T). When a phone is locked, it will reject SIM cards and eSIM plans from other networks, even if the hardware is technically compatible. An unlocked phone removes that restriction, letting you use it on any carrier that supports the device's radio bands.
The lock is software. Your carrier sets it when it sells you the phone, usually because it is financing the device or discounting it, and only that carrier can remove it. Apple says so plainly on its support page: only your carrier can unlock your iPhone, and Apple cannot do it for you.
Unlocking does not make a phone work everywhere. The FCC's own unlocking guide points out that network technology differs between carriers and countries, so an unlocked phone still needs to support the bands of the network you move to. Recent iPhones and flagship Android phones work on the three big U.S. networks, but check before you switch.
The distinction affects more than just which SIM card your phone accepts. Here is a quick comparison:
| Feature | Locked phone | Unlocked phone |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible carriers | One carrier only | Any compatible carrier |
| International use | Requires carrier's roaming plan | Insert a local SIM or eSIM abroad |
| Resale audience | Buyers on that carrier | Any buyer |
| Plan flexibility | Tied to one provider's plans | Switch plans or carriers freely |
| Purchase price | Often subsidized or discounted | Usually full retail price |
| MVNO compatibility | Only MVNOs on the same network | Works with any compatible MVNO |
A locked phone can make sense if you are buying on an installment plan and intend to stay with one carrier long-term. An unlocked device is almost always better if you travel internationally, want the freedom to switch carriers, or plan to resell.
The same trade-off shows up on the refurbished market, where carrier-locked iPhones are common and usually cheaper. Of the 65 in-stock iPhone 16 listings RefurbMe tracked in the US on October 7, 2026 (one per seller, carrier, storage and color), 28 were locked to AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. Here is what the cheapest 128GB units cost that day:
| Model (128GB) | Cheapest carrier-locked | Cheapest unlocked |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | $409 at eBay Refurbished (AT&T) | $452 at eBay Refurbished |
| iPhone 16, Back Market only | $449 at Back Market (AT&T) | $534 at Back Market |
| iPhone 15 | $335 at eBay Refurbished (AT&T) | $365 at Gazelle |
Prices are RefurbMe's live listings read on October 7, 2026; we did not compare cosmetic grade or warranty between these units. A locked refurbished iPhone is a fair buy only if you already use that carrier. If you do not, pay the difference for an unlocked one, because only the carrier the phone is locked to can unlock it.
Unlocking a phone is not the same as unlocking the lock screen. It involves removing the carrier restriction so the device can accept SIM cards from other networks.
The fastest approach is to go directly to your carrier's official website or app. Most providers now unlock eligible phones automatically. Where a request is needed, you fill in an online form with the phone's IMEI number (dial *#06# on any phone to find it) along with a few account details, and the carrier confirms by email or text.
Below are the current rules for the three largest U.S. carriers, as each one publishes them.
T-Mobile's unlock policy applies to devices T-Mobile sold that are not reported lost or stolen, on an account in good standing. For postpaid plans:
You do not need to ask. Once a device is eligible, T-Mobile will automatically and remotely unlock the device within two business days if device supports remote unlock. If it does not, T-Mobile sends a notification to the phone with the next steps. You can check the unlock status in your My T-Mobile account.
Prepaid: at least 365 days must have passed since the device was activated on the T-Mobile network, unless the account has had more than $100 in refills in that time and the phone was bought more than 14 days ago. T-Mobile also caps unlocks at two per line in any 12 months.
Verizon's unlocking policy no longer runs on a 60-day clock. For postpaid phones bought from Verizon:
No action is required on your part once the balance is zero, and Verizon says it will never re-lock an unlocked device. If you pay off the phone and it still shows as locked, contact Verizon support.
Prepaid: devices remain locked until the completion of 365 days of paid and active service, after which Verizon removes the lock automatically.
If you read older guides that say Verizon unlocks every phone 60 days after activation, that was true until January 2026, when the FCC waived that requirement for Verizon. The section on the FCC rule below explains what changed.
Prepaid: an AT&T Prepaid device can be unlocked once it has 12 months of paid AT&T service.
Unlocking an iPhone follows a carrier-driven process rather than anything you do inside iOS itself. Apple does not provide a standalone unlock tool; the carrier records the unlock with Apple, and your iPhone picks it up.
Step 1: Confirm eligibility. Your iPhone must be paid off and past your carrier's waiting period: 40 days of service on T-Mobile postpaid, more than 60 days since purchase on AT&T, none on Verizon postpaid once the balance is paid. Prepaid iPhones wait about a year on all three.
Step 2: Check whether it already unlocked itself. All three carriers now unlock many eligible iPhones without a request, so look at the lock status first (Settings > General > About).
Step 3: Submit the unlock request if needed. For AT&T, use the online unlock portal. For T-Mobile and Verizon, contact support if an eligible phone has not unlocked on its own.
Step 4: Wait for carrier confirmation. Apple notes that it might take the carrier a few days to complete your request to unlock your iPhone.
Step 5: Apply the unlock. If you have a SIM from another carrier, remove your SIM and insert the new one, and the iPhone activates on the new network. If you do not have another SIM, Apple's instructions are to back up your iPhone, erase it, and restore it from that backup. With an eSIM-only iPhone, you set up an eSIM from the new carrier instead.
Step 6: Verify the unlock. Go to Settings > General > About. On U.S. iPhones the line is called Carrier Lock; on UK iPhones it is Network Provider Lock. If "No SIM restrictions" appears next to Carrier Lock, your iPhone is unlocked.
One common source of confusion: Apple removed the SIM tray from U.S. models starting with the iPhone 14 in 2022, and the U.S. iPhone 17 is activated with an eSIM and does not support a physical SIM. The unlock process is identical, but you verify it by activating an eSIM from a different carrier rather than swapping a physical card.
The steps for unlocking an Android phone vary by manufacturer, but the general process is the same across carriers.
Step 1: Check eligibility. Your device must be paid off, past the carrier's waiting period (see the carrier sections above), and in good standing on your account.
Step 2: Find your IMEI number. Dial *#06# or go to Settings > About Phone > IMEI. You will need this number when submitting the unlock request.
Step 3: Check whether the carrier already unlocked it. AT&T unlocks eligible Samsung and Google phones by themselves, T-Mobile pushes remote unlocks to phones that support them, and Verizon unlocks postpaid phones once they are paid off. If yours is still locked, go to your carrier's website or app, open the device unlock section and enter your IMEI and account details.
Step 4: Restart and verify. After the carrier confirms the unlock, restart your phone. Insert a SIM card from a different carrier, or add an eSIM, to verify the unlock worked.
If your Android phone was bought unlocked directly from the manufacturer, such as a Pixel from the Google Store, it is already carrier-free and requires no additional steps.
Checking your phone's lock status takes less than a minute and can save you from a frustrating surprise when you swap SIM cards.
On iPhone:
If you see No SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked. If you see anything else, such as SIM locked, the device is still locked to the carrier that sold it.
On Android:
The menu path varies by manufacturer. On Samsung phones released after September 1, 2025, AT&T gives this path:
On other Android phones, look under Settings > Network & Internet (Pixel) or the SIM settings for a network or SIM lock entry. If you cannot find one, use the universal method below.
Universal method (works on any phone): Insert a SIM card from a carrier different from the one the phone was purchased through. If the phone registers on the new network, it is unlocked. If it shows "SIM not supported," "Invalid SIM," or a similar error, it is locked.
Via your carrier account: AT&T shows "Device unlocked" in the device info of your online account, and T-Mobile shows the unlock status in My T-Mobile. When buying a used phone, ask the seller for a screenshot of the Carrier Lock line before you pay.
It depends on two clocks: how long the carrier makes you wait before the phone is eligible, and how long it takes to process the unlock after that.
| Carrier | Postpaid: eligible after | Prepaid: eligible after | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 40 days active on the line, paid in full | 365 days, or more than $100 in refills | Automatic remote unlock within two business days |
| AT&T | Bought more than 60 days ago, paid in full | 12 months of paid service | Automatic for eligible Apple, Samsung and Google devices; others by request |
| Verizon | Paid in full or bought at full price (35 days later after a Verizon Gift Card payment) | 365 days of paid and active service | Automatic |
Policies as published by each carrier, checked on October 7, 2026.
MVNOs (prepaid brands such as Mint Mobile, Cricket or Visible) set their own unlock rules, so read the brand's own policy page. Carriers that follow the CTIA wireless industry code, which the FCC's unlocking page summarizes, unlock prepaid devices no later than one year after initial activation, consistent with reasonable time, payment, or usage requirements.
If you have met your carrier's requirements and nothing happens, the same code sets a response time: within two business days after receiving a request, carriers will unlock the device or explain why it does not qualify or why they need more time. That is a voluntary industry commitment, not an FCC rule with its own deadline.
No. Many guides, including an earlier version of this one, said the FCC finalized a rule in 2024 that makes every carrier unlock phones 60 days after activation. That is not what happened.
July 18, 2024: the FCC proposed requiring mobile providers to unlock phones 60 days after activation. Its own release calls the action a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 24-77). A proposal asks for comment; it binds no one.
January 12, 2026: the only binding 60-day obligation applied to Verizon, through conditions on its 700 MHz spectrum licenses and its purchase of TracFone. The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau waived that requirement for Verizon (order DA 26-43). In exchange, Verizon has committed to fully comply with the unlocking policies in the CTIA Consumer Code, the same voluntary standard AT&T and T-Mobile follow.
So in 2026 unlock timing comes from each carrier's own policy plus the CTIA code. The order says the waiver will remain in effect until such time as the Commission decides on an appropriate industry-wide approach for the unlocking of handsets, which is what the 2024 proposal (WT Docket No. 24-186) was meant to settle.
Carriers lock phones for a financial reason: high-end smartphones cost hundreds of dollars, and carriers often subsidize part of that cost through installment plans or promotional credits. Locking the phone discourages customers from taking the subsidy and immediately switching to a competitor.
Fraud is the other reason, and it is the one Verizon gave the FCC. In its January 2026 waiver order, the FCC wrote: "Today, criminal networks are specifically targeting Verizon handsets due to the company's unique unlocking policies." The order also records Verizon's claim that it "saw a spike in fraud of approximately 55% after TracFone moved from its earlier policy of a one-year lock to Verizon's 60-day lock." A subsidized phone that unlocks quickly can be bought with a stolen identity and resold abroad.
For consumers, the upshot is that unlocking now mostly turns on paying the phone off. Pay the balance and the lock goes automatically at Verizon, and after 40 days of service at T-Mobile or more than 60 days of ownership at AT&T.
An eSIM (embedded SIM) lets you activate a cellular plan without inserting a physical SIM card. The chip is built directly into the phone, and you activate it by scanning a QR code, using your carrier's app, or following the prompts in your device settings.
eSIMs offer several practical advantages:
Apple removed the SIM tray from U.S. models starting with the iPhone 14 in 2022, and the U.S. iPhone 17 does not support a physical SIM. The UK model still takes a nano-SIM alongside eSIM. Android flagship phones from Samsung, Google Pixel, and others have also adopted eSIM support widely.
One important note: an eSIM-only phone can still be carrier-locked. The lock applies at the software level, not to the physical SIM card itself. If you buy an eSIM-only iPhone from a carrier on an installment plan, it stays locked until it meets that carrier's requirements above, and you check it in the same Carrier Lock line.
Yes, unlocking your phone through your carrier is legal in the United States. The Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, approved on August 1, 2014, restored the copyright exemption that lets owners unlock their phones, or have someone do it at their direction.
What the law does not do is force carriers to unlock on a schedule. That comes from each carrier's policy and the voluntary CTIA code described above. Under that code, participating providers will not charge customers or former customers additional fees to unlock a device if it is eligible to be unlocked, though they may charge a reasonable fee to people who were never their customers.
If you are still under a contract or installment plan, leaving your carrier early may mean paying off the remaining device balance. The unlock itself is free; any cost comes from the service agreement, not the unlocking action.
Unlocking your iPhone is one of the easiest ways to get more value from the device. Here is why it matters:
You can also read Apple's official unlocking guide for the iPhone-side steps.
One of the cheapest ways to get an unlocked iPhone is to buy refurbished. A refurbished iPhone has been inspected, tested, and restored to full working condition by the seller, and costs well below a new one.
Not every refurbished iPhone is unlocked. As the price table above shows, carrier-locked units make up a large share of listings and sit at the bottom of the price range, so read the carrier field before you buy. Every iPhone listing on RefurbMe names its carrier, and our FAQ on whether refurbished phones are locked to a carrier explains how to filter for unlocked ones. Our guide to where to buy an unlocked refurbished iPhone covers which refurbishers sell unlocked stock and how to confirm the Carrier Lock field before you pay. On RefurbMe, you can compare prices across multiple trusted refurbishers, all of which offer a warranty, and find the best deal on the exact model you want.
For a broader look at where to shop, see our guide to the best places to buy refurbished iPhones and our roundup of the best refurbished iPhones by model.
Browse unlocked iPhones and start comparing prices:
A locked phone is a smartphone tied to a single carrier, such as T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon. It will reject SIM cards and eSIM plans from other networks at the software level, even if the hardware is compatible. Unlocking removes this restriction so the phone can work with any compatible carrier.
Yes, by the carrier it is locked to, once the phone meets that carrier's requirements. As of October 2026, AT&T unlocks phones bought more than 60 days ago that are paid in full, T-Mobile unlocks postpaid phones after 40 days of service once paid off, and Verizon unlocks postpaid phones automatically once they are paid off. Prepaid phones wait about 12 months. There is no FCC rule that sets one deadline for every carrier.
No. In July 2024 the FCC proposed a 60-day unlocking rule (FCC 24-77) but did not adopt it. The only binding 60-day requirement applied to Verizon, and the FCC waived it on January 12, 2026. Carriers now follow their own policies and the voluntary CTIA code.
Usually not. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all require a financed phone to be paid in full before it unlocks. Paying off the remaining balance is the fastest route; at Verizon the unlock then happens automatically.
No. Unlocking a phone through your carrier is an officially supported process and does not affect your manufacturer warranty or any AppleCare coverage.
An unlocked phone will work with any carrier whose network bands are compatible with the device's hardware. Recent iPhones and flagship Android phones support the major U.S. carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T) and many international networks, but check compatibility before you switch.
A locked phone is tied to a specific carrier but is otherwise in good standing. A blacklisted phone has been reported as lost or stolen, which means carriers will refuse to activate it on their networks regardless of its lock status. Always verify a phone's IMEI status before purchasing a used device.
The official method is always through your carrier. Third-party unlocking services exist, but they carry risks including scams and unlocks that do not hold. The safest route is to contact your carrier directly, since the unlock is free once you are eligible.
Check the carrier field in the listing: on RefurbMe every iPhone listing names its carrier or says Unlocked. Once the phone arrives, confirm it under Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock (Network Provider Lock on UK iPhones), where an unlocked iPhone shows No SIM restrictions.
Last updated: Oct 7, 2026 · First published: Oct 20, 2023
CEO and Founder at RefurbMe. I made this project back when I was 15 when I had to wake up at 2am to buy my own refurbished Macbook Pro. Passionate about circular economy, great UX and goats.
