How To Unlock An AT&T iPhone

The Comprehensive Guide To Unlocking An AT&T iPhone

The most frequently asked question when it comes to buying and selling an AT&T iPhones is, “Are AT&T iPhones unlocked?” If you currently have an AT&T device and you want to sell it or take it elsewhere, AT&T happily provides unlocking instructions when asked. AT&T representatives also provide unlocking assistance for both customers and non-customers.

Unlocking an iPhone is meant to provide the owner of the phone the freedom to sign it up with any phone carrier they want, sell it, or take it with them to another country. When a phone is not unlocked, it is strictly a certain carrier’s phone. For example, AT&T unlocked cell phones can be connected to a Verizon plan. A locked AT&T phone can only be used within AT&T carriers. If you purchase an iPhone directly from the Apple store, it comes unlocked, giving you the freedom to choose whichever carrier you desire.

Here is everything you need to know to on how to unlock AT&T phone for free, and the information you need to know before you take your phone in.

 

What You Need To Know

Before you bring your phone into AT&T to unlock it, there are a few important things you should know. If you plan on using your AT&T phone at T-Mobile, for instance, the unlocking process is a piece of cake. Both carriers use the same GSM technology, so once you unlock AT&T phone, the transition process will be easy. Just slip in your new T-Mobile SIM card, and everything will be running smoothly. After you’ve unlocked your phone you need to update the AT&T APN settings. We’ve published a step by step guide for changing the att iPhone apn. Once in a while your phone will ask for the ATT Carrier Update. Be sure to carry out these updates.

On the other hand, Verizon uses a CDMA standard, which means you may be able to use your AT&T device on their LTE network because they run on the same spectrum. However, you won’t be able to make or receive calls or texts on Verizon’s 3G service, so it has to be their LTE network.

Another CDMA carrier is Sprint, however, they run their LTE network on a different band of the spectrum than AT&T, so it may or may not work. It is a good idea to check or ask if an AT&T unlock iPhone can work with Sprint.

How to unlock iPhone 6 AT&T? All the instructions apply to all iPhone versions:

Unlock Checklist

Now it’s time to get you prepared before you go for an AT&T device unlock request. For an AT&T unlock, there are some things you need to check off:

  • The device cannot be reported as a lost or stolen phone.
  • If the iPhone was purchased through an upgrade plan with AT&T Next, you need to ensure it is fully paid off. There cannot be any remaining payments if you want to unlock a phone.
  • If you just upgraded to a new phone but are looking to unlock your old phone (that is fully paid off), there is a waiting period of 14 days before AT&T can grant you an unlock.
  • If you are a customer on a postpaid plan, your account must be active for at least 60 days for a phone to be unlocked. A prepaid/GoPhone must be active for up to 6 months before unlocking.

If you know these requirements have been met, then you will need to visit the AT&T unlock device support page. They will ask you to submit a device unlock request form. If approved, AT&T will email you the instructions for unlocking your device.

 

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