If you just see at the top and it says “no service”, then that means the phone is UNLOCKED but the SIM card is not activated and has no service. Before you switch iPhones, you must log out of the Apple account on the old iPhone. Here’s how to use LockWiper to unlock iPhone passcode without SIM card: Step 1: Download and launch the LockWiper, and hit the Start button to begin the process. Step 2: After connect your device to the program, click on Next to load your device information.
There were a lot of news stories out this past week covering the fact that Apple started selling variants of the iPhone 7 as 'SIM Free.' Most of the news sites are just simply reporting that these 'SIM free' versions of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are now available, but they don't really explain the difference between unlocked and SIM free.
The Physical Difference
If you buy an iPhone, either through a carrier or even through Apple's Upgrade Program, the iPhone is still delivered to you with a SIM card already installed. This means you have to make a choice of carrier when you purchase the phone. Now, when you unbox that beautiful new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus it is ready to activate on the network of the carrier you chose at the time of purchase. So that it the physical difference between unlocked and SIM free. Unlocked comes with a SIM card installed (when buying the phone brand new) and SIM free phone come without a SIM card (you must supply your own SIM card and install it before the phone can fully function). Both a carrier unlocked phone and a SIM free phone can be used on other carriers as they are both not locked to a single carrier (at least from a network perspective). In other words, the carrier has not locked either the unlocked phone or the SIM free phone to their network so it is free to be used on another carrier's network. But just because you can take your unlocked or SIM free phone to another network doesn't mean it will actually work on another cell carrier's network.
The Band Differences
Beyond just the difference of the unlocked iPhone 7 having a SIM card and the SIM free iPhone 7 coming without any SIM card there are other differences as well. In the case of the iPhone 7 the other major difference between unlocked and SIM free is the supported LTE bands. I could literally write several thousand words trying to explain all the differences between the unlocked iPhone 7 and the SIM free, but I won't. Instead, I will just summarize it this way. The SIM free version of the iPhone sold by Apple are essentially the same iPhones as the ones you get when you get an iPhone 7 for the Sprint or the Verizon networks (they just come without a SIM card and are not pre-configured to work on a specific network). In other words, it is an iPhone that comes with a Qualcomm CDMA modem. CDMA is a cellular technology that is used by Verizon and Sprint, while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. So if you buy an iPhone 7 to specifically use on AT&T or T-Mobile it comes with an Intel modem that uses GSM technology.
So what does buying a SIM free iPhone 7 mean if you want to use it on AT&T, T-Mobile or over seas? An iPhone 7 bought specifically for AT&T or T-Mobile (which means is has the Intel modem and only supports GSM) will NOT work on other U.S. cell carrier networks. But a SIM free iPhone (which has the Qualcomm CDMA modem) will work on all the major U.S. cell carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon) because the Qualcomm modem (while primarily a CDMA modem) will also support GSM. From an international perspective you are probably ok with any iPhone 7 you purchase. Most foreign cell networks use GSM as their cellular technology so all variants of the iPhone 7 support this. But there are always outliers so check Apple's compatibility website for any countries you may visit before you decide.
Purchasing Differences
It is important to note that the only way you can purchase a SIM free iPhone 7 in the U.S. is by purchasing it directly from Apple (either online or in one of their Apple Stores). Cell carriers and 3rd party re-sellers like Best Buy are not selling the SIM free variant of the iPhone 7. The SIM free iPhone 7 also does not come with any financing options like you can get with Apple's Upgrade Program or through carrier financing. So if you want a SIM free iPhone 7 then you are going to need to buy it directly from Apple and you will have to pay the full price up front.
So Who is a SIM Free iPhone For?
In summary, the SIM free iPhone 7 is mostly for people who plan to use their iPhone on more than one U.S. cell carrier network (because it works with them all) and for people who do a lot of foreign travel (because again, it gives them the most compatibility). But this is a very small percentage of the population. For most people, just getting an unlocked iPhone 7 through Apple's upgrade program or even an iPhone 7 directly from a U.S. cell carrier is going to serve them just fine. Hopefully this post helped you. It was driving me crazy reading all of the news articles about the SIM free iPhone 7 and having NONE of them explain what the difference between unlocked and SIM free really meant.
- 1. Unlock iPhone Locked Screen
- 2. SIM/iCloud Unlock iPhone
- 3. Fix Disabld iPhone
- 4. Reset Locked iPhone
- 5. Unlock iPad/iPod Tips
- 6. Unlock MDM Tips
by Jenefey AaronUpdated on 2020-07-30 / Update for Unlock iPhone
I wanna buy a second hand iPhone recently, and my friends suggest me getting an iPhone that is unlocked. But the question is, how to see if iPhone is unlocked without SIM?
It is a cost-effective choice to purchase a second hand iPhone. It can let you have a good device at a low price. But before you buy it, you need to make sure that the old iPhone is unlocked. So how do you know if the device is unlocked or not? In this guide, we will share with you how to check if an iPhone is unlocked without a SIM card and tell you how to solve it if iPhone is locked?
Part 1: Why My iPhone is Locked by Carrier?
By default, if you buy an iPhone from Apple Store at full cost, it is unlocked usually. However, if you purchase it from a network, the carrier may lock your iPhone so that you can only use the carrier's SIM card for the duration of the contract(24 months is common). Of course, when the owner finished the contract, the iPhone will be unlocked.
It's very important to unlock the iPhone. If your iPhone is locked, you can only use a specific carrier. If not locked, you can choose to use any signal carrier you want. Therefore, it’s necessary to know how to check if iPhone is unlocked without SIM card.
Part 2: How to Tell If an iPhone is Unlocked without a SIM Card?
When you buy a second-hand iPhone, how to tell if iPhone is unlocked without SIM? Take a look at the three solutions below.
Way 1: How to See If iPhone is Unlocked without SIM in Settings
You can check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked through “Settings”, it is generally considered as the simplest method. You can follow the steps below:
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim
- Unlock your iPhone and tap on 'Settings'.
- Click on “Cellular” after opening the “Settings”.
- In this menu you can find the “Cellular Data Network”. If you see an option for it, your iPhone is most likely unlocked. Besides, if this option is unavailable in your device then your phone is locked.
Way 2: How to Test If iPhone is Unlocked without a SIM with IMEI
If you know your IMEI, you can use many IMEI checking tools online. For example, WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker, IMEI.info, DirectUnlocks and so on, I will only introduce the using steps of one of them. You can make sure whether your iPhone is unlocked or not via IMEI. And WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker is one of the most popular online checker, but it isn’t free, you have to pay a small fee for it. Here is how to use it.
- Open the internet browser and enter the page of WipeLock iPhone Carrier Checker.
- Tap on “Submit IMEI”, then enter IMEI number of your iPhone.(You can find the IMEI number at the back of your device.)
- Please pay for it. After that, you will receive an email telling you whether your iPhone is unlocked. The results are similar as follows:
Way 3: How to Verify If iPhone is Unlocked without SIM Card by Contacting Support
If your problem is still unsolved, perhaps you can try to contact carrier’s support. You can find their contact information on the carrier's website or in the signed contract. Then call them and they will answer your questions. There are several main carriers’ contacts, if your carrier is one of them, you can call them.
- Verizon: 1-888-878-9188
- T-Mobile: 1-800-937-8997
- Sprint: 1-888-226-8-212
- AT&T: 1-888-873-8808
But please note that they will ask you a lot about the contract.They may require you to provide some security information since the contract is a legally binding document. This process will take some time, and the carrier may give you feedback in a few days.
Part 3: How to do If iPhone is Locked?
But if your iPhone is locked and you want to access necessary data or apps, how to do? Here we provide you two solutions to help you.
Solution 1: Using Professional Tool to Unlock iPhone(for iCloud Locked iPhone)
There is a great tool to help you to unlock your iPhone called Tenorshare 4MeKey. When your iPhone is locked by iCloud, it can help you unlock it. It also helps you activate your iPhone when you forget your apple ID. Anyway, it’s absolutely a good tool. If you want to unlock your iPhone, please follow the guide below:
How To Tell If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card
- You should download and install Tenorshare 4MeKey first.
- Please connect your iPhone to the computer via USB cable.
- Then, download the jailbreak tool. After downloading, click 'start jailbreak'. If you're a Mac user, you can refer to this detailed guide.
- In order to add the correct function to your iPhone, you should confirm your device details. Then tap on “Start Remove” to unlock your device.
After a few minutes, you can use your iPhone freely.
Cons:
Although it is a useful tool, you need to know that it’s not free. It support iOS devices from iPhone 5S to iPhone X.
Solution 2: Unlock iPhone with DirectUnlocks(for Carrier Locked iPhone)
If through the several ways above, you find your iPhone is locked by carrier. There is a tool called DirectUnlocks you can use to remove the iPhone lock. Follow these steps to unlock the iPhone.
- Launch an internet browser and enter into DirectUnlocks iPhone Unlock.
- Please select your iPhone model, country and carrier network.
- Type in the IMEI of your iPhone. If you don’t know the IMEI number of the device, please call *#06#.
- Click on “Continue” button and then pay for it. In a few days, your order will be processed by processed. And you’ll receive an email alerting you that the unlock was successful!
Cons:
- It will cost a few days to deal with your order, so you need to wait.
- You need to pay a lot for it, but it doesn’t have 100% success rate.
Apple Check If Phone Is Unlocked
Conclusion
Through reading, I trust you are clear about how to know if iPhone is unlocked without SIM card and what to do when your iPhone is locked. But if your iPhone is locked, I sincerely recommend Tenorshare 4MeKey( for iCloud Locked iPhone) to you. It is the quickest way to help you. Choosing it, and you won’t regret it.
FAQ about Carrier Locked iPhone
Check If Phone Is Unlocked
Q1: How do I tell which carrier my iPhone is on if there is no SIM card?
Tap on the “Settings” on the iPhone and choose ‘General’ and then go to “About”. Scroll down to find the Carrier, then you can find what you want.
How To Know If Iphone Is Unlocked With Imei
Q2: Will both the SIM card slot and the eSIM be carrier locked for a locked iPhone?
How To Check If Iphone Is Unlocked Without Sim Card Uk
Regardless if it is eSIM or SIM card type of phone, both of them will be locked. The carrier network will not allow the phone to be used on any different network except its own.