How to know if your iPhone is unlocked?

Chiuy · Mar 6, 2012, 09:32 PM

I have the iPhone 3GS and was hoping to sell it. How do I know if it is unlocked? (Beside putting in another carrier SIM)
I jailbroken it before though, not sure if it is unlocked.
The phone can be used without the SIM card though.

Can I just also sell it to another ATT user? Will that work too?

Intell · Mar 6, 2012, 09:34 PM

Restore it in iTunes. If iTunes says "This iPhone has been unlocked", it's unlocked. If it is originally an AT&T 3Gs, it iTunes won't say this. Yes, you can sell it to other AT&T users if that is an AT&T 3Gs.

apollo1444 · Mar 6, 2012, 11:36 PM

type in the iPhone model number and I will repply back with the carrier it's locked too...

reclusive46 · Mar 7, 2012, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Restore it in iTunes. If iTunes says "This iPhone has been unlocked", it's unlocked. If it is originally an AT&T 3Gs, it iTunes won't say this. Yes, you can sell it to other AT&T users if that is an AT&T 3Gs.

Thats not true for iPhones that came unlocked. They never say anything. The only way to try is to put another carrier sim in.

Macman45 · Mar 7, 2012, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reclusive46

Thats not true for iPhones that came unlocked. They never say anything. The only way to try is to put another carrier sim in.

This holds true in the UK, not sure about the US though...All my phones have been purchased through Apple and any sim will work...If I don't like my current provider (O2) I ditch them (three month rolling contract) and go elsewhere. I guess we have it better than you guy's what with AT7T, Verizon etc. locking phones down. You are sort of "Buying" a provider with the phone.

JD92 · Mar 7, 2012, 02:14 AM

Unless you explicitly set out to unlock it at some point, it's probably still locked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macman45

This holds true in the UK, not sure about the US though...All my phones have been purchased through Apple and any sim will work...If I don't like my current provider (O2) I ditch them (three month rolling contract) and go elsewhere. I guess we have it better than you guy's what with AT7T, Verizon etc. locking phones down. You are sort of "Buying" a provider with the phone.

How did you get a three month O2 contract? I know Tesco do them, but Tesco's missing a few features I like - I'd love it if I could get a three month O2 contract.

chenks · Mar 7, 2012, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksteruk309

How did you get a three month O2 contract? I know Tesco do them, but Tesco's missing a few features I like - I'd love it if I could get a three month O2 contract.

you can get 1 month rolling contracts on O2 as well.

otchealth · Mar 7, 2012, 05:37 AM

While most iPhone users are aware of unofficial unlock methods, you may be surprised to discover that it’s possible to legally unlock your device, courtesy of Apple.

goosnarrggh · Mar 7, 2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otchealth

While most iPhone users are aware of unofficial unlock methods, you may be surprised to discover that it’s possible to legally unlock your device, courtesy of Apple.

... Only if Apple has received permission, from the carrier through which the iPhone was originally sold, to apply the official unlock.

The OP owns an iPhone 3GS, and lives in Northern California. That means it was most likely sold through AT&T. So, with overwhelimg probability, it is fairly safe to say that the OP does not own an iPhone that was sold through a carrier that has given Apple permission to apply an official unlock.

Anyway, even if you don't have Apple's permission to do so, unofficial iPhone unlocks have been ruled "not illegal" in the USA.

Intell · Mar 7, 2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo1444

type in the iPhone model number and I will repply back with the carrier it's locked too...

The iPhone model number is not a reliable way to check if the iPhone is unlocked. It is only good for telling which location the iPhone was sold in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reclusive46

Thats not true for iPhones that came unlocked. They never say anything. The only way to try is to put another carrier sim in.

Even factory unlocked iPhones need to be unlocked via iTunes. By default all iPhones are locked and when they are restored, iTunes checks with Apple to see if that particular iPhone can be unlocked. Apple can lock or relock all iPhones and iPads simply by removing that device from the unlock database.

Daveoc64 · 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Even factory unlocked iPhones need to be unlocked via iTunes. By default all iPhones are locked and when they are restored, iTunes checks with Apple to see if that particular iPhone can be unlocked. Apple can lock or relock all iPhones and iPads simply by removing that device from the unlock database.

Nobody has disagreed with that*, but the "Congratulations, your iPhone is unlocked" message doesn't normally appear if you bought your phone directly from Apple "factory unlocked".

My iPhone 4 shows that message when I restore in iTunes because I bought it from my old carrier and they unlocked it for me (for free).

*Except I will now! How can all iPhones be locked by default? Which carrier would they be locked to?

The real answer is that an iPhone is not locked to any carrier until it is activated. Apple sends an WildcardTicket to the device at the time of activation which tells the device which carrier(s) it is locked to and whether a country lock is in effect (as is the case with Verizon/Sprint unlocks).

Intell · Mar 7, 2012, 12:06 PM

They are not locked to any carrier, just locked.

Daveoc64 · Mar 7, 2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

They are not locked to any carrier, just locked.

In what way?

The carrier lock is controlled solely by the WildcardTicket. An unactivated device has no WildcardTicket, so it cannot be locked or unlocked in that state.

Diode · Mar 7, 2012, 12:52 PM

No real way to tell except taking it to a Apple store genius or trying a foreign sim.

Intell · Mar 7, 2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveoc64

In what way?

The carrier lock is controlled solely by the WildcardTicket. An unactivated device has no WildcardTicket, so it cannot be locked or unlocked in that state.

It's locked in that the baseband hasn't been set and is in its default state of null.

Daveoc64 · Mar 7, 2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

It's locked in that the baseband hasn't been set and is in its default state of null.

Baseband hasn't been set!? That statement is in the state of null!

Intell · Mar 7, 2012, 01:18 PM

We're both discussing it being in the same state, but we're using different words.

Daveoc64 · Mar 7, 2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

We're both discussing it being in the same state, but we're using different words.

Ok then.

apollo1444 · Mar 8, 2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

The iPhone model number is not a reliable way to check if the iPhone is unlocked. It is only good for telling which location the iPhone was sold in.

Even factory unlocked iPhones need to be unlocked via iTunes. By default all iPhones are locked and when they are restored, iTunes checks with Apple to see if that particular iPhone can be unlocked. Apple can lock or relock all iPhones and iPads simply by removing that device from the unlock database.

true but if it's an iPhone 3GS sold in the UNITED STATES the obvious answer is ATT don't you think?
same with an iPhone 4 GSM sold in the states...

sure they can be factory unklocked USA phones but you wouldn't want to know if it belongs to a carrier if the phone is already unlocked...

Intell · Mar 8, 2012, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apollo1444

true but if it's an iPhone 3GS sold in the UNITED STATES the obvious answer is ATT don't you think?
same with an iPhone 4 GSM sold in the states...

sure they can be factory unklocked USA phones but wouldn't you want to know if it belongs to a carrier if the phone is already unlocked...

There can be a factory unlocked 3Gs in the US and an AT&T unlocked one. There was this popular service that was able to insert an iPhone unique number into Apple's unlock database. Some people with AT&T iPhones had their numbers added. Thus, the creation of some unlocked AT&T iPhone 3Gs'.

Apple and AT&T both sell unlocked iPhone 4's in the US. They sometimes have the same model number as the locked ones. Making the model an unreliable way to checking upon a carrier lock.

If an iPhone is sold factory unlocked by Apple (not AT&T), it is carrier free and being carrier free, it never belonged to any single carrier. Some of these carrier free ones have the same model number as an AT&T locked one.

Tea-Aholic · Jun 2, 2012, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Even factory unlocked iPhones need to be unlocked via iTunes.

Technically you are somewhat right, but it's wrong to say that all iPhone are locked. All iPhone come unactivated and the activation process determines the lock status of the phone.

kyjaotkb · Aug 6, 2012, 05:16 AM

You guys might want to check this
http://www.dev.mk/

to figure out if your iPhone is locked or not.
Found the link there
http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...ed-with-no-sim

at your own risks... seems to be working OK though!

Mr Hill · Aug 6, 2012, 07:58 AM

Put a tmobile sim card in it.

Gib · Aug 6, 2012, 09:45 AM

Did you try this?

HomerM1 · Sep 13, 2012, 03:50 PM

Hmmm... I don't know about giving out your IMEI number to a website. The 2 ways that I'm aware of is to either
1) Call your service provider and ask them(AT&T, Verizon, etc...)
-or-
2) put in a different carriers SIM card (as mentioned earlier in the postings.)

As far as the UK having the month to month or 3 month contract for iPhones, we also have this now in US. Go to link below for more info

http://www.mcewenmedia.com/SOLAVEI

Mar 6, 2012, 09:32 PM	#1
Chiuy macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2011 Location: NorCal, Bay Area	How to know if your iPhone is unlocked? I have the iPhone 3GS and was hoping to sell it. How do I know if it is unlocked? (Beside putting in another carrier SIM) I jailbroken it before though, not sure if it is unlocked. The phone can be used without the SIM card though. Can I just also sell it to another ATT user? Will that work too? __________________ 13" MacBook Pro 2011, Intel i5 2.3GHz HP Elite, Intel i7 960 @3.2GHz 2GB ATI 5770, 12GB Ram, 1.5TB HD, 22" Samsung PX2370.
	0

Mar 6, 2012, 09:34 PM	#2
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Restore it in iTunes. If iTunes says "This iPhone has been unlocked", it's unlocked. If it is originally an AT&T 3Gs, it iTunes won't say this. Yes, you can sell it to other AT&T users if that is an AT&T 3Gs. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	4

Mar 7, 2012, 05:37 AM	#8
otchealth macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2012	iphone unlock While most iPhone users are aware of unofficial unlock methods, you may be surprised to discover that it’s possible to legally unlock your device, courtesy of Apple. __________________ glucose test test strips
	-2

Mar 7, 2012, 12:06 PM	#12
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	They are not locked to any carrier, just locked. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	0

Mar 7, 2012, 12:52 PM	#14
Diode macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington DC	No real way to tell except taking it to a Apple store genius or trying a foreign sim. __________________ 16GB iPhone 4; 2.4 GHZ C2D iMac 4GB Ram; 32GB iPad2; AppleTV2
	0

Mar 6, 2012, 11:36 PM	#3
apollo1444 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: mexico	type in the iPhone model number and I will repply back with the carrier it's locked too...
	1

Mar 7, 2012, 01:18 PM	#17
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	We're both discussing it being in the same state, but we're using different words. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	0

Aug 6, 2012, 05:16 AM	#22
kyjaotkb macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Paris, France	You guys might want to check this http://www.dev.mk/ to figure out if your iPhone is locked or not. Found the link there http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...ed-with-no-sim at your own risks... seems to be working OK though! __________________ 13" MBA '11, 1.7/4/256 ; 16GB 3GS ; 160GB iPod Classic '07 ; 8GB nano 3G ; 1GB Shuffle 2G
	0

Aug 6, 2012, 07:58 AM	#23
Mr Hill macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC	Put a tmobile sim card in it.
	0

Aug 6, 2012, 09:45 AM	#24
Gib macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2010	Did you try this? __________________ How is it everyone in my family has 3rd or 4th Generation iPads, I am still plugging away on my sluggish 1st Generation? Oh, yeah. I'm a school teacher.
	2

Sep 13, 2012, 03:50 PM	#25
HomerM1 macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta.GA	To check if phone is unlocked Hmmm... I don't know about giving out your IMEI number to a website. The 2 ways that I'm aware of is to either 1) Call your service provider and ask them(AT&T, Verizon, etc...) -or- 2) put in a different carriers SIM card (as mentioned earlier in the postings.) As far as the UK having the month to month or 3 month contract for iPhones, we also have this now in US. Go to link below for more info http://www.mcewenmedia.com/SOLAVEI
	0

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