iPhone XS Verizon XS is carrier LOCKED

[Azathoth123]

General -> Cellular -> SIM PIN and you’ll see a toggle for SIM PIN. Set the toggle to on and you should see an option to enter a PIN to either lock (if the phone is unlocked) or unlock (if the phone is locked).

You get the unlock PIN by logging into the Verizon site, going to device management and selecting your phone in question, scroll down and there will be a menu option for the unlock PIN. Here are the instructions:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-206981/

Note that if you try and fail 3 times the SIM is disabled, so make sure that you don’t try after a long night at the pub or sipping whiskey.

Cheers, Azy

 

[C DM]

General -> Cellular -> SIM PIN and you’ll see a toggle for SIM PIN. Set the toggle to on and you should see an option to enter a PIN to either lock (if the phone is unlocked) or unlock (if the phone is locked).

You get the unlock PIN by logging into the Verizon site, going to device management and selecting your phone in question, scroll down and there will be a menu option for the unlock PIN. Here are the instructions:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-206981/

Note that if you try and fail 3 times the SIM is disabled, so make sure that you don’t try after a long night at the pub or sipping whiskey.

Cheers, Azy

Don't think this is the kind of locking that this is all about.

 

[Azathoth123]

I wondered - it wasn’t clear to me. Are we talking about buying a Verizon phone and installing another carrier’s SIM card without first activating it on the Verizon network?

Cheers, Azy

 

[cmaier]

Wow so the Verizon unlocked thing is officially over now. This is so sad. US carriers just take another huge step backwards.

Mine is unlocked. Unkess you are taking a loan from Verizon to pay for it, it should be unlocked.

 

[JC0913]

I have an iphone X and iphone 8 plus that I bought from verizon that are indeed unlocked as I have the red 8 plus on AT&T now, I will try to swap an ATT sim into my max later and see what happens. But i do indeed think they are activation locked not carrier locked.

 

[ravish9370]

Yes . I tried to bought an iphone XS max from verizon from craiglist. I checked IMEI details and find out that it was locked. Phone was sealed and brand new , never used. Same time , I checked IMEI for Iphone X from Verizon , brand new and sealed and find our that was unlocked. Below is what I got for these IMEIs, so "YES" , IPHONE XS/XS MAX are locked to Verizon out of store.

IMEI: 3572770926499
IMEI2: 3572770927948
Model: iPhone Xs Max 256GB Gold Cellular
Serial Number: FK1XFFKPKPHJ
Find My iPhone: OFF Locked Carrier: US Verizon Locked Policy
SIMLock Status: Locked

Model: iPhone X 64GB Space Gray CDMA + GSM [A1865] [iPhone10,3]
IMEI Number: 354855093084
Serial Number: G6VWQTK6JCLF
Find My iPhone: OFF
Locked Carrier: Unlocked
Simlock: Unlocked

 

[patrickbarnes]

My iPhone XS from Verizon is unlocked, and my Telstra SIM works fine in it.

 

[ravish9370]

Was it unlocked out of box ? Or did you activate it with Verizon and then waited for some time to get it unlocked?
[doublepost=1539023544][/doublepost]

My iPhone XS from Verizon is unlocked, and my Telstra SIM works fine in it.

Was it unlocked out of box ? Or did you activate it with Verizon and then waited for some time to get it unlocked?

 

[Jordan921]

General -> Cellular -> SIM PIN and you’ll see a toggle for SIM PIN. Set the toggle to on and you should see an option to enter a PIN to either lock (if the phone is unlocked) or unlock (if the phone is locked).

You get the unlock PIN by logging into the Verizon site, going to device management and selecting your phone in question, scroll down and there will be a menu option for the unlock PIN. Here are the instructions:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-206981/

Note that if you try and fail 3 times the SIM is disabled, so make sure that you don’t try after a long night at the pub or sipping whiskey.

Cheers, Azy

This has nothing to do with what the thread is about.

 

[jredecop]

Yes . I tried to bought an iphone XS max from verizon from craiglist. I checked IMEI details and find out that it was locked. Phone was sealed and brand new , never used. Same time , I checked IMEI for Iphone X from Verizon , brand new and sealed and find our that was unlocked. Below is what I got for these IMEIs, so "YES" , IPHONE XS/XS MAX are locked to Verizon out of store.

IMEI: 3572770926499
IMEI2: 3572770927948
Model: iPhone Xs Max 256GB Gold Cellular
Serial Number: FK1XFFKPKPHJ
Find My iPhone: OFF Locked Carrier: US Verizon Locked Policy
SIMLock Status: Locked

Model: iPhone X 64GB Space Gray CDMA + GSM [A1865] [iPhone10,3]
IMEI Number: 354855093084
Serial Number: G6VWQTK6JCLF
Find My iPhone: OFF
Locked Carrier: Unlocked
Simlock: Unlocked

I remember reading a while back, last year, that a new Verizon phone needs to have a Verizon sim in it when it’s first powered on and that will unlock it. If it’s powered on with any other sim it’ll lock to that network since it then is tied to that carriers lock policy. My XS max is fully unlocked. Bought from Verizon and making payments on it.

 

[C DM]

I remember reading a while back, last year, that a new Verizon phone needs to have a Verizon sim in it when it’s first powered on and that will unlock it. If it’s powered on with any other sim it’ll lock to that network since it then is tied to that carriers lock policy. My XS max is fully unlocked. Bought from Verizon and making payments on it.

As I recall that's only when purchased from a authorized reseller with such a "flex" policy in place.

 

[hungx]

Wrong, I activated my Max on Verizon, which I purchased full price from verizon, and then put my T-Mobile sim in it. It would not allow it. I also have an X from Verizon and I have no problem swapping the Verizon and T-mobile sim cards. The Xs and Max are locked even after activation and even if you pay full price.

You mentioned that you used the 200mb T-Mobile iPad SIM in your phone. Those SIM cards are tied to the device itself, and will not work in another GSM device.

I tried swapping my T-Mobile SIM between 2 T-Mobile compatible iPads, and it would not work with the second iPad. This is a restriction only on the free 200mb plan.

 

[Packers1958]

You mentioned that you used the 200mb T-Mobile iPad SIM in your phone. Those SIM cards are tied to the device itself, and will not work in another GSM device.

I tried swapping my T-Mobile SIM between 2 T-Mobile compatible iPads, and it would not work with the second iPad. This is a restriction only on the free 200mb plan.

Not for me. I can swap it with any of my devices and it works. I put it in my X and Xs Max and i can use the data.

 

[ravish9370]

I remember reading a while back, last year, that a new Verizon phone needs to have a Verizon sim in it when it’s first powered on and that will unlock it. If it’s powered on with any other sim it’ll lock to that network since it then is tied to that carriers lock policy. My XS max is fully unlocked. Bought from Verizon and making payments on it.

This is not needed. I bought many iphones X or earlier model ,brand new sealed from craigslist , and they are always unlocked out of the box. It does not matter you activate them with Verizon sim or any other sim from USA or international sims. This all changed from Iphone XS/XS max, where you have to activate with Verizon sim for 24 hours ,first, to get them fully unlocked.

 

[Gregintosh]

I got my XS Max from an Apple store on launch day, using the $52/month Verizon payment plan. Just tried my foreign SIM card and it registered just fine.

I noticed it kept going to “no service” and then back to ATT (I guess the roaming partner of the foreign carrier). My 7 Plus had decent signal and wasn’t toggling back and forth. Hope it’s just weak ATT reception and not an issue with the phone on a foreign sim.

But I did not get any “this phone is locked” messages like when I tried using a prepaid iPhone with a foreign SIM card.

So I think this will be just fine! I just hope Verizon allows me to use the eSim soon, so I won’t have to travel with an extra easy to lose sim and the eject tool but rather everything in the phone already.

 

[JTravers]

Verizon phones are now locked if purchased on a payment plan. You may have just found some old verbiage on the website that they have not updated.

Basically, in 2008, the United States had a 700 Mhz radio spectrum auction that AT&T, Verizon and other companies participated in. Google also participated in the auction, but their motives were not to win, but rather drive the bidding up past the reserve price so that the spectrum will definitely sell and would prevent a spectrum auction with less rules on the spectrum. Google was basically acting if favor of Net Neutrality. They figured if they were "in the game" for buying it, they could suggest rules to the FCC about how the spectrum could be used. The rules were put in place and basically said that any networks or devices that used the frequencies had to be "open." Verizon NEEDED this spectrum to build their LTE network, so they were forced to accept (although they tried to sue, to get them dropped on constitutional grounds).

Basically, for Verizon to be able to build a network using band 13, that network must accept unlocked compatible devices. And for them to sell devices intended to be used on band 13, those devices had to be unlocked. And they did it.....

These rules were put into place by the FCC of 2008. Obama's FCC. Pro net neutrality FCC.

Fast forward to a few months ago. Verizon now locks it's phones... not because the rules were dropped, but because the current administration's FCC will not enforce the rules. The current FCC is headed by Ajit Pai... the same guy that killed Net Neutrality rules. The guy that used to work for Verizon. Ya that's him.

So yeah... Verizon phones are locked now.

Verizon's iPhones are locked until activation. Once activated, the phones are unlocked in a batch process overnight, even when the phone is financed. So worst case you wait up to 24 hours to get the phones unlocked. I can verify this from many Verizon employees in the Verizon subreddit. Also, I financed 2 XS's through Verizon. Both were locked out of the box but were unlocked the next morning. I even got GSX reports before and after to prove it to myself

 

[Joncarlo1]

I can also confirm that my purchased XS Max is carrier locked to Verizon. But Verizon techs are unaware and baffled. So I went to Apple store and they confirmed it’s locked. I’m now going to try the Apple Suport Route and have them conference Verizon.

 

[ravish9370]

Verizon's iPhones are locked until activation. Once activated, the phones are unlocked in a batch process overnight, even when the phone is financed. So worst case you wait up to 24 hours to get the phones unlocked. I can verify this from many Verizon employees in the Verizon subreddit. Also, I financed 2 XS's through Verizon. Both were locked out of the box but were unlocked the next morning. I even got GSX reports before and after to prove it to myself

Yes ..you are correct. I just want to add here, it has to be active at Verizon carrier for 24 hrs with their sim card that come with phone. I just checked another iphone x model , that is also locked. It means now verizon locking all iphone X , Xs and Xs max , out of the box. I bought 2 iphone 7 brand new sealed and they were unlocked. So it does not apply to iphone 7 or 8 , it seems. See below GSX report.
IMEI: 3548460943100
Model: iPhone X 256GB Space Gray CDMA + GSM
Serial Number: DNPWX2ZRJ
Find My iPhone: OFF
Locked Carrier: US Verizon Locked Policy
SIMLock Status: Locked

IMEI: 359466084956
Model: IPHONE 7 32GB BLACK
Serial Number: F17WD23XH
Find My iPhone: OFF
Carrier: Unlock
SIMLock Status: Unlocked

 

[gurase]

Has anyone purchased a Verizon iPhone full price directly from Apple and received a locked device?

It looks like the sim free XR won’t be available at launch, so just trying to figure out my options if the T-Mobile model sells out before other models.

 

[Azathoth123]

I don’t think that there are different models from Apple - last time I was in a couple of weeks ago I asked because of this thread. I was told by an employee that all of Apple’s phones are the same and will work on any network. If you buy a non-SIM free phone, you’ll have to activate it on one of the 4 carriers and you’ll then be bound by your carrier’s TOU and policies. So as long as they have phones you should be good if I’m not misunderstanding something (which is possible lol).

 

[gurase]

I don’t think that there are different models from Apple - last time I was in a couple of weeks ago I asked because of this thread. I was told by an employee that all of Apple’s phones are the same and will work on any network. If you buy a non-SIM free phone, you’ll have to activate it on one of the 4 carriers and you’ll then be bound by your carrier’s TOU and policies. So as long as they have phones you should be good if I’m not misunderstanding something (which is possible lol).

Hmmm...in the past you could just buy the T-Mobile model, swap out the preinstalled sim with your chosen carrier’s sim before turning on the phone, and be good to go. No activation on another carrier first. But I chose to wait for the sim free model since it supported more bands and radios. Now since they are all the same, I don’t see a reason to wait. Also Apple employees aren’t always educated on how unlocked phones work. Hoping they are wrong and any phone purchased from Apple full price will be unlocked and ready to activate on any carrier, including prepaid.

 

[Azathoth123]

Let us know what you find out please.

 

[gurase]

Let us know what you find out please.

Following up as requested! I just received my Verizon XR that I preordered directly from Apple. I paid in full and selected the "activate later" option since I am not a Verizon customer. Before turning on the phone, I removed the Verizon sim and put in my Cricket sim. It activated on Cricket with no issues.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Verizon's iPhones are locked until activation. Once activated, the phones are unlocked in a batch process overnight, even when the phone is financed. So worst case you wait up to 24 hours to get the phones unlocked. I can verify this from many Verizon employees in the Verizon subreddit. Also, I financed 2 XS's through Verizon. Both were locked out of the box but were unlocked the next morning. I even got GSX reports before and after to prove it to myself

Can confirm this.

iPhone Xs Max - Ordered through Verizon. Activated on Verizon.

GSX shows the initial policy is LOCKED until activated. Then once activated, it applies the UNLOCKED policy. My phone is showing UNLOCKED: TRUE and the Unlocked LTE Device Policy as well.

 

[Azathoth123]

Following up as requested! I just received my Verizon XR that I preordered directly from Apple. I paid in full and selected the "activate later" option since I am not a Verizon customer. Before turning on the phone, I removed the Verizon sim and put in my Cricket sim. It activated on Cricket with no issues.

Thank you!