How to Unlock Your Phone from a Carrier

Marisa Crane Staff Writer

Updated 30 May 2025

Contents

Jump to:

Before you unlock your phone
Unlock from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile
Unlock from an MVNO
Unlock exemptions for military
After your phone is unlocked

When buying a new phone, most of us tend to purchase it through our cell phone carrier, rather than directly from a manufacturer like Apple or Samsung. It's certainly the best way to take advantage of cell phone deals that can shave hundreds off the phone's sticker price (or even make it completely free).

But a phone bought through a carrier like Verizon or AT&T comes to you locked, meaning it only works on that carrier’s network. You'll need to first unlock it in order to switch to a different carrier.

Unlocking your phone is relatively easy... and it’s free. We'll walk you through how to do it—and why you might want to.

Before you unlock your phone

Before you unlock your phone, you’ll want to do some housekeeping, including checking to see if your phone is already unlocked.

1. Check to see if your phone is already unlocked

There are a few quick and easy ways to tell if your smartphone is unlocked.

Check your device settings. Your device should tell you whether you have the capability to connect to a different network. While this isn’t a guaranteed method, it’s a good first step to try.
- For iPhone owners: Check Settings > Cellular > Network Selection. If you can choose a different network, your iPhone is probably unlocked.
- For Android users: Check Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Operators > Search Now. If several networks appear, your phone is likely unlocked as well.

Check your phone’s IMEI number. An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a 15-digit number unique to your smartphone, used to identify it on a mobile network. (Think of it as your phone's SSN.) You can enter your phone’s IMEI on the website for the carrier you’re interested in switching to. If it comes up as compatible with their network, it’s unlocked.
- To find your IMEI, dial *#06# on your phone’s keypad. It should pop up immediately.

Contact your current carrier. You can call your wireless carrier to check if your phone is unlocked. You may also be able to log in to your account online and check on the website. It will likely be under “Accounts.”
Try another SIM card. If you’ve already purchased a plan and SIM from the carrier you want to switch to, try swapping it out and see if your phone works. If so, congratulations—your smartphone is already unlocked.

Why should I unlock my phone in the first place?

Unlocking your smartphone from your carrier’s network is helpful for several reasons:

You’ll have the freedom to switch carriers or networks whenever you please.
When you have more choices for carriers, you can shop around for cheaper plans. (We have a few favorite cheap phone plans we recommend.)
It’ll be easier to travel internationally, as you can use a local SIM card for better coverage and reliable connections.
You’ll be better able to sell your unlocked phone, should you choose, and likely for more money.

2. Check your phone’s compatibility with other networks

Before you switch carriers, you’ll want to make sure your device will actually work on the new network you’re interested in. Most new smartphones work with any U.S. carrier, but some older devices may not have the same advantage.

Older phones may only work on one of two network types:

CMDA, used by Verizon
GSM, used by T-Mobile and AT&T

Luckily, you can check your phone compatibility using your IMEI number. Just go to the carrier’s website and enter your IMEI into their device compatibility tool.

How to unlock a phone from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile

The unlocking process between the Big Three cell phone carriers differs slightly. All three have some of the same general requirements, such as making sure your bills are paid and your phone has been completely paid off. Verizon is unique in that it unlocks your phone automatically after 60 days.

Hop over to our complete guides for the full run-downs for each carrier.

Can my carrier refuse to unlock my phone?

Your carrier could potentially refuse your unlock request if you haven't met their unlocking eligibility requirements. These include:

Not paying off your phone in full
Having unpaid or past-due balances on your account

Also, if your phone has been reported as lost or stolen, your carrier will keep it locked to their network until it's found and back in your possession.

How to unlock a phone: MVNO carriers

Like with the major carriers, the unlocking process for MVNOs like CREDO, Mint Mobile and Boost Mobile varies, but generally follows the same outline as the Big Three. Your account needs to be up to date and any device balances paid off.

Sometimes, smaller carriers may require you to maintain service for a longer period than the Big Three do—for example, while T-Mobile requires 40 days of service to qualify, Metro by T-Mobile requires 180 days, and Boost Mobile requires one full year.

Find our fully detailed unlocking guides specific to some of the most popular MVNOs below:

Phone unlocking exemptions for U.S. military

Military personnel who are deploying overseas may be exempt from a carrier’s device unlocking requirements. If your account is in good standing, your carrier will typically unlock your phone early as long as you provide proof of deployment.

Check with your carrier for their specific requirements, such as what paperwork to provide or the eligibility window within which you can apply for an early unlock. We have overviews for each of the Big Three carriers' unlocking exemptions below:

After your phone is unlocked: Picking a plan and carrier

Congrats, you did it! Once you successfully unlock your iPhone or Android device, you’ll have the freedom and flexibility to sign up with any carrier you wish. Check out some of our other guides to help figure out your next steps.

Picking the right phone plan:

All about the switching process:

Carrier-specific switching guides:

Marisa Crane

Staff Writer

Marisa Crane is a content writer and editor with more than 5 years of experience in digital publishing. She is a skilled researcher with an uncanny ability to translate confusing tech jargon into plain English. Outside the world of WhistleOut and cell phone plans, Marisa is a published creative writer, with her short stories and poetry published in more than 40 literary journals.

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