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Is My Sim Only Phone Unlocked
If you can successfully make a call with another carrier's SIM card in your phone, your phone is unlocked; however, if you can't, the phone is carrier locked and you'll need to talk to your carrier about unlocking it. Before getting a new SIM card, figure out which size of SIM card your phone will use.
The easiest way to confirm whether an Android Phone is Locked or Unlocked is to take out the existing SIM Card from the phone and insert a SIM Card from another Carrier into the Phone. Dec 01, 2020 Before buying a used iPhone, you'll want to check one of three different ways to know if your iPhone is unlocked or not. You can check if the iPhone is unlocked in Settings, with the SIM card, or using an online resource. We're going to go over each of those methods so you can easily check if your iPhone is unlocked or locked. This is a reliable way to check if the iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card. To check your iPhone's lock / unlock status, you must have two SIM cards from different carriers for this test. If you can use your iPhone with another SIM card from another provider, your iPhone is unlocked.
When you buy an Android smartphone from a carrier or a third-party reseller, it is possible that the device is network-locked. This means that you can not use a SIM from another carrier on that device. Usually, carriers implement these SIM locks on the devices in order to keep the customer within their own ecosystem. For example, a T-Mobile or Sprint phone may be locked to the respective mobile network until you unlocked it. This type of SIM lock is also called a network lock, carrier lock or subsidy lock. Since most locked devices are sold on contract, it is easy to understand why the network would not want you to switch to another carrier shortly after buying the device.
Every carrier in the US and around the world has its own policies regarding unlocking Android devices that are locked to their own network. In some cases, you will have to wait for a specific period of time before you can request the company to unlock the device. In other cases, you may need to pay all pending bills before your request will be accepted.
Types of Locks on Android or iPhone
SIM or Network Lock: This particular type of lock binds a device to a single network, which means a SIM from a different network or carrier will work on that device. If you try inserting a different SIM from another carrier into the device, you will see an error message on your screen during the setup process. Also, you will not be able to make calls, send messages or access cellular data when an incompatible SIM is inserted.
Security Lock: This is very different because it is set by the user rather than by the network. One example of such a lock is the PIN or Pattern lock, also called a Screen Lock. This is not a restrictive feature for exclusive network use, but rather a personal data protection feature intended to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the data on the device.
Why Buy An Unlocked Phone
You might be interested: Forgot Android Passcode, how to unlock?
iCloud Activation Lock: In the case of iOS devices, there is also another type of lock called iCloud Activation Lock. This is linked to the Find My iPhone feature, which is a security implementation on Apple's smartphones. This type of lock is applied when a particular Apple ID or iCloud ID is associated with that device. Unless this account is delinked from the device, it will be unusable by any other user. Although this type of lock does not apply to Android devices, the carrier lock is applicable to both Android and iOS smartphones.
In summary, a SIM-locked phone is a device that is tethered to a particular network, preventing it from being used with a SIM card from a different network. In such devices, you can only use a SIM card that has been issued by the carrier or network to which the device is locked.
Method 1: Check if Your Phone is Locked or Unlocked via SIM Card
When a device is locked to a network, it means that it can not be used with a SIM card from another network or carrier. This offers a way to test whether a particular device is locked to a network or not. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: To make sure that the device is working properly, try making a call, sending a text message or accessing data using the current SIM card. If it's working fine that means the device is OK. This step is merely to eliminate the possibility that there is a problem with the device rather than a lock being applied to.
Step 2: Now remove the SIM card from the device and insert an active SIM from a different carrier into the device. Once again, try making a call or sending a text message, or browsing the internet using cellular data. If you get an error message on your screen after inserting the new SIM, it is possible that the device is locked to the network of the previous SIM card.
Step 3: To make sure that this is not a compatibility issue, check and see whether your device supports the network's signal type. You should be able to find this information in your Android's Settings under About Phone.
Method 2: Check IMEI to Tell If Your Phone is Unlocked or Locked
Another method is to check it using mobile tphone IMEI number, which is the International Mobile Equipment Identity number. This unique number is issued to all GSM devices. You will see the number on the box that the device came in, but you can also check your IMEI number by dialing *#06# and hitting the call button on your Android phone.
This will display your IMEI number as well as other information about your device. Once you have the number in hand, go to www.imei.info and input your IMEI number into the box provided on the site. When you hit enter, the site will check your IMEI number and provide various types of information. One of these bits of information will show you whether or not your Android phone is locked to a particular carrier, and it will also display the carrier's name in case you need to contact them to request an unlock.
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Once you have confirmed that your phone is locked to a particular network, you can have it unlocked if you choose to do so. This will free your phone from the network and make it available to use with a different SIM from another carrier.
Method 3: Check Phone Status via Carrier Website
There is one thing to be clarified that not all phones purchased from carrier were locked. Big carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint still sell unlocked devices to customers. And you can check the IMEI status to see if the phone will work on the network. Here are a few examples of US wireless carriers.
For T-Mobile: https://www.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx
For AT&T: https://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/byop/checkIMEI.html
For Spint: https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/bring-your-own-phone.html
For Verizon: https://www.verizonwireless.com/onedp/byod
Why Unlock your Android Phone?
On the other hand, an unlocked Android device is not exclusively tied to one network. That means you can insert any SIM from any carrier and start using the phone right away - as long as the device is compatible with the network's technology. As an example, a 3G device may not work on a network which offers an exclusive 4G signal. This type of incompatibility has nothing to do with the phone being carrier locked, but rather with the two technologies being incompatible with each other.
Unlockiing your Android phone from its carrier is extremely useful in many cases, such as when you travel overseas. You may want to avoid exorbitant roaming charges when you are aboard, and the only way to do that is to use a local SIM in that country. Unless your device is first unlocked from its network, you will not be able to do so. In other cases, you may want to unlock your device because the signal strength for voice or data may not be strong enough at your place of work or in your residence. If you want to use an alternate SIM from a network that has stronger coverage in your location, you can only do this after unlocking your device.;
Nowadays, users like to take advantage of the many SIM-only deals available from major carriers. This allows them to enjoy low rates on voice and data, while not being tied to an inconvenient contract.
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Knowing whether or not your Samsung phone is network locked can come handy in certain situations. One such situations can be the time when you're trying to buy a preowned phone. Learn what network unlocked means and other things related to it.
What does network unlocked mean?
Samsung devices are usually made-to-order by carriers. This means that Samsung build their devices according to specifications of carriers that buy them. In some cases, 'global' or 'universal' or 'international' Samsung devices may be built for those wanting to have a generally 'generic' device. Carrier-branded devices show the logo of the carrier and is generally custom made for its services. Thus, you'll see that Verizon Samsung devices have the Verizon logo on them as well as Verizon proprietary apps installed. A modified Android firmware by Verizon is also installed on the device, which is also tailored for Verizon specifications. Such specifications include Verizon-specific network configuration too. This means that the phone may not work with other networks. This is what network locked means. Fortunately, most Verizon devices are network unlocked these days so they may work right off the bat if you use them in compatible network.
How to check if your Samsung phone is network locked
There are two ways to check if your Samsung device is network locked or not.
Method 1: Insert a different SIM from another carrier
Is My Phone Sim Unlocked
This is the easiest way to know if your Samsung device is network locked or not. SIM card is carrier-specific so if another one is inserted to your phone and shows one of the messages below, it's not unlocked at all. Your Samsung phone is network locked if it shows these messages:
- SIM Network Unlock PIN
- Enter Network Lock Control Key
- Network Locked
In some cases, 'Emergency calls only' will be shown on the status bar to indicate the same situation.
Once you inserted a valid SIM card to the phone, try to place a call and see what happens. Make sure to take note of the error if you get one. You can then use Google to search for the meaning of the said error. Normally, if the SIM card works and your phone has been unlocked properly, your first call should go through without a problem.
Method 2: Use the Phone dialer
For some select Samsung devices, dialing this code will show you if it's network locked or not: *#7465625#
If your phone shows an a screen with these three items, check out the explanations below to know what each of them means:
[ ] Network lock
[ ] Subset lock
Method 2: Use the Phone dialer
For some select Samsung devices, dialing this code will show you if it's network locked or not: *#7465625#
If your phone shows an a screen with these three items, check out the explanations below to know what each of them means:
[ ] Network lock
[ ] Subset lock
[ ] SP lock
If all three items are indicated as OFF, then your Samsung phone must be network unlocked.
If Network lock says ON, then your Samsung device is network locked.
If Subset lock is ON, then your Samsung device has to be unlocked and requires a code from the original carrier.
Is My Phone Sim Unlocked Cell Phone
If SP lock is ON, then your Samsung device has to be unlocked and requires a code from the service provider. Some third party retail shops can provide you this code.
If nothing happens when you dial *#7465625# you can assume that your phone's firmware does not allow the code, or its service menu has been disabled.
What network unlocked is NOT
Having a network unlocked device does not mean it's fully compatible with any other networks out there. Network unlock is only a modification at the software level to allow the device to use another network. If your Samsung device is network unlocked but its hardware is not compatible with the network you're trying to connect to, it will not work. Any Samsung device has a specific radio frequency so if the other network has a different frequency band, your phone won't be able to 'talk' to the tower at all.
A network unlocked Samsung phone also does not mean that all features in the device can work normally. For example, a lot of Verizon devices may not allow MMS or has trouble with mobile data when used outside Verizon networks. This is because Verizon's software is coded differently and sometimes, there's no way to modify them effectively.
How To Check If An IPhone Is Unlocked, Or Locked To A Network ..
Other reasons why a phone may be network locked
Video youtube mac free. Aside from the fact that carriers may not voluntarily unlock their device, other factors may come at play.
Unsettled bills. This is a common reason for many network locked phones sold online. Some people may want to get rid of their phones and sell them online to ignorant users. The thing is, many of phones being sold online are carrier-branded with unpaid bills associated with them. In other words, the original owner may have intentionally tried to sell their phones despite the fact that they haven't fully paid their subscription yet. If that's the case, an unwitting buyer may find out too late that their purchased device may not be used in their own network because it still needs to be unlocked by the original carrier.
Blacklisted. In some cases, phones may be reported as stolen or lost by their original owner. This will prompt the carrier to blacklist the said device. If a device is blacklisted, it can no longer use any cellular services like texts, calls, or mobile data. Before you buy any preowned Samsung device, be sure to check if its IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number or ESN (Electronic Serial number) is blacklisted. You can either use a website to check it, or contact the original carrier.
