Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

pectin232

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 22, 2008
296
0
I thought I saw some news that you can now request to unlock your device even with a contract? I called and they said it could not be done unless the contract is over. Are there services which you can unlock... as I need to use it to go overseas in June for a short 2-3 weeks. It is way cheaper than using ATT exorbitant plans.
 

EDH667

macrumors 65816
Nov 25, 2009
1,035
279
Northern California
I thought I saw some news that you can now request to unlock your device even with a contract? I called and they said it could not be done unless the contract is over. Are there services which you can unlock... as I need to use it to go overseas in June for a short 2-3 weeks. It is way cheaper than using ATT exorbitant plans.

Some are having luck trying the unlock request page since there may be a glitch in the automated system. https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/#/unlockrequest

There is no rime or reason. I have two iPhone 6 plus phones under contract and one was unlocked and the other wasn't.

Go to this thread for any updates. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1837666/
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
I thought I saw some news that you can now request to unlock your device even with a contract? I called and they said it could not be done unless the contract is over. Are there services which you can unlock... as I need to use it to go overseas in June for a short 2-3 weeks. It is way cheaper than using ATT exorbitant plans.

You thought wrong.
You cannot unlock it if it's still under contract.
You can try but according to their rules they will deny the request until the contract period is over or you pay the full etf amount.
You can pay a 3rd party unlock provider but it's about $75 I think for an att i6
 

minicard

macrumors regular
Oct 31, 2014
241
86
Oregon
Yes that's right, if under contract they will not unlock. I just unlocked my 6+ ATT contract phone with theofficialunlocks.com. Great service and done in 3 days. Cost me $85.
 

vietalogy

macrumors 6502
Sep 17, 2006
402
49
Some had luck and att has unlocked my friends which is on NEXT plan. Some others had no luck. Like someone stated above you can go to a 3rd party and get it unlocked for around $80. I got mine done at swiftunlocks.com if you decided to go that route.
 

aristobrat

macrumors G5
Oct 14, 2005
12,292
1,403
What Applejuiced said about what AT&T's policies is correct, but I can also say that the method EDH667 mentioned in post #2 worked for me.

Even though my iPhone 6 is still in a Next contract, AT&T unlocked it for me after I filled out the online unlock request.

My advice would be to try their online unlock request and see how that goes. If it doesn't work for you, then consider buying an unlock.
 

perezr10

macrumors 68020
Jan 12, 2014
2,005
1,482
Monroe, Louisiana
That is true but you can "buy out the contract" after about 3 months. If you have paid at least 3 months of service and then cancel your contract and fulfill your penalty fees, they will unlock your phone for you. I've done it before.
 

iphone1027

macrumors 6502
Jul 2, 2008
469
178
Out of personal experience here, I was able to unlock both an iPhone 6 & iphone 6 Plus under the 2-year contract via the At&T request unlock website within 5 minutes of the request.

Both phone were purchased under the 2 yr contract on the first day they came out. What I have seen on here, it's been hit or miss on unlocking it via the website.

Some people have attempted 2 times and have received the unlock request successful while others have attempted 7+ times & have also received the unlock successful. In retrospect, some have attempted 3 times and have been unsuccessful.

----------

You thought wrong.
You cannot unlock it if it's still under contract.
You can try but according to their rules they will deny the request until the contract period is over or you pay the full etf amount.
You can pay a 3rd party unlock provider but it's about $75 I think for an att i6

You're technically both wrong AND right in your statements.

You CAN unlock if the phone is still under contract because I have been able to do so with 2 of the phones under contract.
However, according to AT&T, you technically shouldn't be able to unlock your phone until you are out of contract.

I tried the first time, requesting both phones to be unlocked, purchased on the 1st day they came out and both were successfully unlocked on the first attempt.
 

Sixcranker

macrumors member
Sep 22, 2014
66
58
You just need to keep trying. It took me 12 tries to get mine unlocked. I am only 4 months into my Next Plan on my iPhone 6 Plus. It literally takes you less than 5 minutes to fill out the request each day. Just be persistent. It if takes you 30 tries, it's still cheaper than paying an unlock service. You only lose time, not money. :cool:
 

CoMoMacUser

macrumors 65816
Jun 28, 2012
1,063
399
How exactly do those third parties unlock phones? For example, what information do they have access to that enables them to do an end run around the carriers?
 

yg17

macrumors Pentium
Aug 1, 2004
15,028
3,002
St. Louis, MO
How exactly do those third parties unlock phones? For example, what information do they have access to that enables them to do an end run around the carriers?

They likely have a contact who works at the carriers who can submit unlock requests even for phones that shouldn't be unlocked.

When they say there's high demand or delays in processing your unlock request, what they really mean is that their contact got caught and fired and they're trying to find a new person dumb enough to put their job on the line.
 

CoMoMacUser

macrumors 65816
Jun 28, 2012
1,063
399
They likely have a contact who works at the carriers who can submit unlock requests even for phones that shouldn't be unlocked.

When they say there's high demand or delays in processing your unlock request, what they really mean is that their contact got caught and fired and they're trying to find a new person dumb enough to put their job on the line.

Thanks. I suspected that it was something sketchy like that.
 

TheAppleFairy

Suspended
Mar 28, 2013
2,588
2,223
The Clinton Archipelago unfortunately
Yes that's right, if under contract they will not unlock. I just unlocked my 6+ ATT contract phone with theofficialunlocks.com. Great service and done in 3 days. Cost me $85.


AT&T is unlocking them, even though their official policy is they need to be paid for and contract free. Don't call AT&T just request via the link on their webpage. Some people are having success on first try. One of mine was unlocked on first request, another on the 3rd request. I have one more that I have requested about 5 times now.
 

ifanme

macrumors regular
Mar 25, 2014
116
3
macforums
AT&T is unlocking them, even though their official policy is they need to be paid for and contract free. Don't call AT&T just request via the link on their webpage. Some people are having success on first try. One of mine was unlocked on first request, another on the 3rd request. I have one more that I have requested about 5 times now.


I tried mine and few of my friends the same way with their 6 / 6+ but none of them got successful confirmation. I tried mine almost 50 times with no success.

But it was successful on very first attempt with my old iPhone 5 and Lumia 520.
 

TheAppleFairy

Suspended
Mar 28, 2013
2,588
2,223
The Clinton Archipelago unfortunately
I tried mine and few of my friends the same way with their 6 / 6+ but none of them got successful confirmation. I tried mine almost 50 times with no success.

But it was successful on very first attempt with my old iPhone 5 and Lumia 520.

Well I got it down with two 6's and still working on the 6+. Look at the link posted in post 2 of this thread. There are several people who have had success.
 

Applejuiced

macrumors Westmere
Apr 16, 2008
40,672
6,533
At the iPhone hacks section.
According to their rules you will get denied.
But like you said you could get lucky.
I submitted about 117 requests and finally my in contract 6 plus for approved. :)


Out of personal experience here, I was able to unlock both an iPhone 6 & iphone 6 Plus under the 2-year contract via the At&T request unlock website within 5 minutes of the request.

Both phone were purchased under the 2 yr contract on the first day they came out. What I have seen on here, it's been hit or miss on unlocking it via the website.

Some people have attempted 2 times and have received the unlock request successful while others have attempted 7+ times & have also received the unlock successful. In retrospect, some have attempted 3 times and have been unsuccessful.

----------



You're technically both wrong AND right in your statements.

You CAN unlock if the phone is still under contract because I have been able to do so with 2 of the phones under contract.
However, according to AT&T, you technically shouldn't be able to unlock your phone until you are out of contract.

I tried the first time, requesting both phones to be unlocked, purchased on the 1st day they came out and both were successfully unlocked on the first attempt.
 

steve knight

macrumors 68030
Jan 28, 2009
2,735
7,180
Yes that's right, if under contract they will not unlock. I just unlocked my 6+ ATT contract phone with theofficialunlocks.com. Great service and done in 3 days. Cost me $85.

cost me 1.99 with my 5s. How prices have gone up.
 

JWorld127

macrumors 6502
Jan 12, 2013
414
111

TxExCxH

macrumors regular
May 16, 2014
133
449
Chicago
I thought I saw some news that you can now request to unlock your device even with a contract? I called and they said it could not be done unless the contract is over. Are there services which you can unlock... as I need to use it to go overseas in June for a short 2-3 weeks. It is way cheaper than using ATT exorbitant plans.

Im still under contract, have an iPhone 6 plus and was able to get mine unlocked for this exact reason.
 

JWorld127

macrumors 6502
Jan 12, 2013
414
111
Anyone know how to check if it is indeed unlocked? I dont trust some of those sites.
 

dmystic1

macrumors regular
Nov 20, 2010
187
4
Hemet, CA
My 6+ was unlocked the first request and I have only made 3 Next payments on it. However my 6 has been denied like 100 times :(
 

AFDoc

Suspended
Jun 29, 2012
2,864
629
Colorado Springs USA for now
I thought I saw some news that you can now request to unlock your device even with a contract? I called and they said it could not be done unless the contract is over. Are there services which you can unlock... as I need to use it to go overseas in June for a short 2-3 weeks. It is way cheaper than using ATT exorbitant plans.

Why would/should they unlock it as long as they are still carrying your phone on their books? Pay it off and they'd be happy to unlock it for you.
 

eneisch

macrumors 6502a
Jul 11, 2008
803
293
I unlocked my iPhone 6+, which is under contract, yesterday. I did it using the online form and was successful on the first try. I believe AT&T takes into account such things as how long you have had your account and your payment history (whether you pay your bills on time). If you have a long history with them and clean account I think they are more willing to unlock for you since there is less chance you will jump ship for another carrier.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.