How to Unlock Your Phone From Any Carrier

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A carrier-locked phone only works with the carrier that sold it, and its brands. Unlocking removes that restriction so the phone works with any compatible carrier: a cheaper MVNO, a travel eSIM overseas, or a buyer's carrier when you sell it. Carriers are allowed to lock phones they sell, mostly to protect the device payment plans and promotional discounts behind them, but they must unlock them once you meet their conditions.

Those conditions changed in 2026. In January the FCC granted Verizon a waiver ending its long-standing 60-day automatic unlock requirement, and Verizon now unlocks postpaid phones when they're paid off. This guide covers the current rules at each major carrier, how prepaid and MVNO brands handle unlocking, the exact steps to request an unlock, and the exceptions and scams you should know about. Policies change often, so always confirm on your carrier's official unlocking page before you plan a switch.

First: is your phone already unlocked?

Many phones already are, including phones bought unlocked from Apple, Samsung, Google or a retailer, and phones that finished a carrier's unlock period long ago. Check before you request anything:

• iPhone: Settings → General → About. Look for "Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions."
• Android: the location varies by maker. Look in Settings → About phone or Connections → SIM manager for SIM lock status, or try a SIM or eSIM from another carrier.
• The SIM test: insert or activate a line from a different carrier. If it connects and gets data, the phone is unlocked.

Our guide to checking whether a phone is carrier-unlocked covers every method in detail.

Why carriers lock phones

When a carrier sells you a phone on a monthly payment plan, or knocks hundreds off with switcher credits, it's betting you'll stay long enough for it to recover that money. The lock enforces that bet. Locks also make stolen phones less valuable, which is part of why carriers defend the practice.

What carriers can't do is lock a phone forever. Under the wireless industry's CTIA unlocking commitments and each carrier's published policy, a phone must be unlocked on request once it's paid for and the account meets the carrier's conditions. Verizon's former automatic 60-day unlock came from conditions attached to spectrum it bought in 2008. The FCC waived that condition in January 2026, which is why Verizon's rules changed.

Unlock rules by carrier (as of early 2026)

These are the headline rules published in early 2026. Carriers update them without much notice, so confirm on the official page before you rely on them.

Two things apply at every carrier: the account must be in good standing (not past due or in collections), and the phone can't be reported lost, stolen or involved in fraud. Phones bought from a carrier's business account may also need the business administrator's approval.

Prepaid brands and MVNOs

Prepaid brands owned by the big three generally follow policies similar to their parent's prepaid rules, but not always identical ones. That includes Cricket (AT&T), Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile (T-Mobile), Visible and Total Wireless (Verizon). Independent MVNOs set their own rules. Many require a minimum period of paid service before unlocking a phone they sold, often several months to a year.

If you're buying a phone from a prepaid brand at a steep discount, assume it will be locked for a long time. If flexibility matters, buy the phone unlocked instead. Our roundup of best unlocked midrange phones covers phones that work on every major network. For which MVNO runs on which network, see what is an MVNO.

Step by step: requesting an unlock

1. Pay off the device. Check your remaining device balance in your carrier's app. On Verizon, paying in a store avoids the 35-day delay that online payoffs can trigger.
2. Clear any past-due balance so the account is in good standing.
3. Find your IMEI. Dial *#06#, or look in Settings → About. Write down both IMEIs if the phone has dual SIM or eSIM.
4. Submit the request. Use the carrier's online unlock portal or app, or call customer service. T-Mobile and AT&T handle requests through their device unlock pages. Verizon postpaid phones unlock automatically once eligible.
5. Wait for confirmation. Approvals usually arrive within a couple of business days by email or text.
6. Finish the unlock on the phone. iPhones typically complete it after a restart with a new SIM or eSIM. Some Android phones unlock automatically over the air. Others need an app from the carrier or a restart with another carrier's SIM.
7. Confirm it worked. Check the lock status in settings, or test with another carrier's SIM or eSIM before you cancel your old service.

Unlocking a phone you bought used

A used phone can only be unlocked by the carrier it's locked to, and only if that carrier's conditions are met. Usually that means the original owner's device balance is paid off and the phone isn't blacklisted. Before buying used:

• Run an IMEI check to confirm the phone isn't reported lost or stolen and doesn't have an unpaid financing balance. See our IMEI check guide.
• Prefer listings that say "factory unlocked" or "carrier unlocked," and confirm the status in settings when you receive it.
• Ask the seller to unlock it through their account before the sale if it's still locked.
• Buy through platforms with buyer protection. See our best refurbished phone retailers.

Some carriers do process unlock requests from non-customers for paid-off phones, but it's slower and not guaranteed.

Special cases: travel and military

Traveling abroad

If you're traveling internationally with a locked phone, you can't use a local SIM or a travel eSIM. Plan ahead. Pay off the phone and request the unlock a week or two before the trip. If that isn't possible, your carrier's international roaming passes are the fallback. Our best travel eSIM guide and Saily vs Airalo vs Holafly cover the eSIM options once you're unlocked.

Deployed military

Under the industry unlocking commitments, carriers will unlock phones for deployed military personnel on request, even if the normal conditions aren't met. You'll need deployment papers. Separately, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act lets eligible servicemembers end some wireless contracts without penalty when deployed or relocated. See our military and veteran discount guide.

Unlock scams to avoid

Search results are full of sites selling "unlock codes" or "IMEI unlock services." Avoid them:

• Carrier unlocks are free. If you're eligible, the carrier does it at no charge.
• Remote "IMEI whitelist" services for phones that aren't eligible are unreliable at best. Some rely on fraudulent requests that can get reversed, leaving you with a locked phone and no refund.
• Software "unlock tools" often carry malware and can void your warranty.
• A blacklisted phone can't be fixed by unlocking. A lost, stolen or unpaid-balance flag blocks it from networks regardless of lock status.

If your carrier refuses a legitimate unlock request, ask for a written reason, escalate with customer service, and if you're still stuck, file an informal complaint with the FCC. See how to file an FCC complaint.

After you unlock: switching carriers

An unlocked phone still needs to support your new carrier's network bands and technology. Most recent phones work on all three major U.S. networks, but older or imported phones may miss key bands. Check with our network bands compatibility guide. Then follow our bring your own phone guide and complete guide to switching carriers. Set a port-out PIN first so your number can't be hijacked mid-move (see port-out locks and PINs).

Unlocking tablets, hotspots and smartwatches

Carrier locks aren't limited to phones. Cellular tablets, mobile hotspots and some connected devices bought from carriers can be locked too, and they're generally covered by the same unlock policies. Request them the same way, with the device's IMEI and a paid-off balance. Cellular smartwatches work differently: they usually pair to a phone line through a carrier's number-sharing service rather than a separate SIM, so "unlocking" a watch typically means removing it from the carrier's service and pairing it on the new one. See how smartwatch number sharing works.

eSIM and unlocking

An unlocked phone with eSIM is the most flexible setup there is. You can add a new carrier's line by scanning a QR code or through the carrier's app, and keep a second line for work or travel. But eSIM doesn't bypass a carrier lock: a locked phone will refuse another carrier's eSIM just as it refuses a physical SIM. Unlock first, then add eSIMs freely. See how to set up an eSIM and transferring an eSIM to a new phone.

Business and family accounts

On family plans, the account holder (or an authorized manager) usually has to request unlocks for any line, since the device financing sits with the account. On business accounts, company policy may require an administrator's approval, and the company may own the device outright. If you're leaving a job and want to keep a company phone, ask IT about a device buyout and unlock before your last day, because it's much harder afterwards.

What to do if the unlock doesn't take

If the carrier confirms the unlock but a new SIM still shows "SIM not supported," restart the phone with the new SIM inserted. iPhones often finish the unlock on that restart. On Android, check for a carrier "Device Unlock" app or a system update, then restart. If it still fails, contact the carrier with the IMEI and the approval confirmation. Occasionally the unlock was applied to the wrong IMEI on dual-SIM phones.

Keep a record

Save the unlock confirmation email or text, and note the date and IMEI. If a buyer or a new carrier ever questions the phone's status, that record resolves it quickly.

Unlocking before selling or gifting

If you're passing a phone to a family member on another carrier, or selling it, unlock it while your account is still active. It's the fastest route, it raises resale value, and it spares the next owner a frustrating process. Then sign out of your accounts and factory reset it. See prepping a phone for sale.

Unlocked phones worth buying outright

The easiest way to never deal with carrier locks again is to buy your next phone unlocked. These well-known models work across major U.S. networks. Always confirm band support for your carrier.