Can You Switch Carriers With An Unlocked Phone

You can switch carriers without buying a new device. Here's how.

By Melanie Pinola

Changing wireless providers can sometimes salvage you big money. Information technology can likewise assistance if you are traveling away or if you want to go the most value when selling your erstwhile phone. Merely earlier yous make the switch, you may accept to unlock your phone from your current carrier'south network.

Unlocking your phone isn't hard to do—and it's completely legal—simply a little help can get a long way, because the process varies from phone to phone and carrier to carrier.

If you lot didn't make a point of buying an unlocked model when you purchased your phone, information technology'due south likely tied to your current network.

"When you buy a locked phone, information technology will work simply on that carrier'due south service," says Richard Fisco, who oversees electronics testing at Consumer Reports.

Co-ordinate to the Federal Communications Commission, however, the carrier must unlock your phone for free after yous've fully paid off the device (or coughed upwardly an early on termination fee).

In some cases, the carrier will push button a software update to your phone, so all you need to do is insert the new carrier's SIM carte du jour and yous're practiced to go. Or yous might need to enter an unlock bill of fare earlier yous tin install a new SIM menu.

If you have a phone that's uniform with eSIM, such every bit Apple's new iPhone xiv phones and several Android devices, moving to a new carrier is easier—just yous'll nonetheless need to accept your current carrier unlock your phone.

The procedure can accept up to two concern days, but once it'due south washed, you're free to accept the phone to another wireless carrier. To be clear, this doesn't cancel your service; it just gives you the option to move to a new provider with your electric current telephone.

If you lot'd rather not handle this yourself, you tin pay for a service to unlock the telephone. Only be careful: People have been caught running fraudulent unlocking schemes in the by. "Do your research," Fisco says.

And in that location'southward actually no reason yous can't handle this on your ain. It'due south easy.

Here'due south what you need to do.

Make Sure Your Phone Is Compatible With the New Network

While about phones can work with any carrier in the U.S., some—especially older, less expensive devices—might however be confined to specific network types. In the past, two standards divided carriers: Verizon used a standard called CDMA, while AT&T and T-Mobile used GSM.

The quickest way to confirm that your telephone is compatible with a new network is to type the IMEI (international mobile equipment identity) number, a unique identifier for every mobile phone manufactured, into an online tool on the carrier's website.

Almost every carrier, whether one of the three largest or a smaller provider, will have a department on its website where y'all can use your IMEI to confirm that your phone is compatible.

Here'due south how to find the IMEI.

On an Android phone: Go to Settings > About telephone. The number should be on that screen.
On an iPhone: Become to Settings > General > Nearly. Scroll down to observe the number. If you don't see the IMEI/MEID there, the number may be etched on the SIM tray or engraved on the back of the telephone.

Next, caput to the new carrier's website and insert the IMEI number into the tool. Here are the advisable pages for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

On top of all of that, if yous have a 5G-compatible telephone, you'll likewise want to make sure information technology works on your new carrier's 5G network. While your phone may operate perfectly well on your new carrier's 4G or LTE network, it might not have the hardware built in to connect with the network'south 5G signals.

You can check your manufacturer's website for more information, or just requite your new carrier a phone call. And while you have a representative on the phone, yous might too inquire if they'll just requite you a telephone locked to their network free of charge, or at least at a heavy discount.

The wireless carriers are embroiled in a never-catastrophe state of war for each other's customers and will often offer hefty incentives if they think information technology'll get yous to switch.

What You'll Need

Once yous've paid off the phone and confirmed that information technology volition work on the new network, go set up to unlock the phone.

Exist certain to keep the IMEI number handy because y'all're likely to need it over again.

Additionally, you should have some other info set up earlier yous start. The list includes the business relationship number, account holder's name, Social Security number, and the phone number attached to the device you want to unlock.

If you're in the military and about to be deployed overseas, the carriers will expedite the unlocking process, but y'all'll need to provide proof, so gather up your deployment papers, too.

Ready to become? Cull your carrier and complete the final steps.

Unlock a Telephone on AT&T

Go to AT&T's unlock folio and select "Unlock your device." You'll need to hold that you lot meet the eligibility requirements, and so submit the form. Among the requirements: If you paid off your installment programme early, you'll demand to expect 48 hours after y'all brand your final payment to submit the unlock request.

Subsequently that, yous'll get a confirmation email with the unlock request number. Click the link in the email within 24 hours to confirm the unlock request. If you wait also long, the request volition be canceled.

AT&T will respond within 2 concern days to confirm that your phone is unlocked.

Here'south AT&T's SIM unlock policy.

Unlock a Phone on T-Mobile

This carrier restricts how many devices yous can unlock in a 12-calendar month menses, which tin create issues for those on a family unit plan. If you enquire to accept more than two T-Mobile phones unlocked in a given year, the visitor will deny your request.

To unlock a T-Mobile device, become to T-Mobile'due south unlock page and follow the steps listed for your telephone's manufacturer.

If 40 days have passed since y'all bought your phone through the carrier and your postpaid account is in skillful standing, T-Mobile will unlock your phone.

The visitor may send you an unlock code or ask you to unlock your phone via a T-Mobile app. Yous tin can also have your phone unlocked by calling 611 from your T-Mobile telephone or 800-937-8997.

Here'southward T-Mobile's SIM unlock policy.

Unlock a Phone on Verizon

This carrier automatically locks any phone bought through Verizon for 60 days. After that lx-day period, your telephone is unlocked—with no extra steps needed.

To confirm that your phone is unlocked, yous can dial *611 from the device or call Verizon'south customer service at 800-922-0204.

Hither's Verizon'southward SIM unlock policy.

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