Can a Locked Android Phone Be Unlocked

What Is an Unlocked Phone? The Difference Betwixt Locked and Unlocked Phones

Published by

on August 18, 2021

Maybe it’southward considering you’re about to switch to Mint Mobile (hey there) or maybe it’s because you randomly heard the phrase “unlocked telephone” out in the wild. Whatsoever the reason, y’all might be wondering what exactly it ways to have a phone that’s unlocked.

Unlocked phones are phones that aren’t tied to a specific carrier’southward network. That means an unlocked telephone can work with more than than just i service provider and it makes it easy for you to switch carriers whenever you want, like when y’all find out sure carriers have some pretty f*!ing great deals (we said foxing).

Merely that’due south but the start. Read on to discover out more near unlocked phones (and how to unlock yours from the clutches of Big Wireless), equally well every bit the benefits of having an unlocked telephone.

Locked vs. unlocked phone

Equally you might imagine, since at that place are unlocked phones, in that location are also locked phones. Unlocked phones are phones that aren’t tied to a specific carrier and can work with different providers (or permit you switch providers whenever you lot want). On the other manus, locked phones have software that prevents them from being used past unlike mobile networks, hence they’re locked into a certain network and can only be used with that specific carrier. Fifty-fifty if you didn’t buy your phone from a specific carrier, information technology tin still sometimes be locked by that carrier (sneaky, huh?)

So, you lot might be asking why carriers sell locked phones. Locked phones are commonly discounted, and the contract you sign with the carrier makes up for the fiscal loss the carrier takes on. Locked phones ensure you can’t switch networks until after a sure time, sell your telephone before the contract is over, or skip out on your neb and switch (let’due south call it the dial and nuance). Some carriers simply crave you to have a locked phone for a twelvemonth, while sure Big Wireless companies require a longer lock. Like, upwards to two or 3 years long.

Another term yous may take heard while discussing locked or unlocked phones is the term jailbreaking. While it sounds similar a jailbroken phone is the aforementioned as an unlocked phone, that isn’t the instance. Jailbreaking a phone simply has to practise with its software. A jailbroken phone will have media restrictions lifted then that users tin run different operating systems on their device, or delete or hibernate preloaded apps that usually cannot be deleted. However, a jailbroken telephone does not hateful the phone is unlocked—a phone can be jailbroken, simply all the same tied to a specific carrier.

Benefits of unlocked phones

The benefit of having an unlocked phone is the freedom to switch carriers when yous want. This way, yous can get the best rates and coverage for you (or even utilize two providers on one phone, if y’all have both a concrete SIM carte and eSIM—more on that
here). But there are other benefits as well.

If you think you may want to sell your telephone i day, you’ll typically go way more money for an unlocked phone, considering the person that buys it can use whatever carrier network they want (freedom is always a selling bespeak). Unlocked phones are as well expert for international travelers, since you can employ your unlocked phone with any strange carrier that works with your phone’s technology. Instead of paying roaming charges, yous’ll be able to pay local rates. If you accept yet to purchase a telephone, another benefit to opting for an unlocked phone is that you tin can choose unlike models beyond what your current carrier offers. More choice is always good.

However, one important thing to annotation is but considering a phone is unlocked, doesn’t hateful it volition work with every single carrier. It also depends on which cellular network your telephone model is compatible with:
GSM or CDMA. Most new telephone models are uniform with both, but older phones may only be uniform with ane of those cellular networks. In fact, the network your telephone is uniform with may make it harder or easier to unlock your phone. GSM-compatible phones (which are the types of phones that are uniform with Mint) are more straightforward to unlock, while CDMA-compatible phones tin can be harder to transfer to new carriers, since certain Big Wireless carriers have their own unique databases and networks (they really exercise make everything more hard).

Is my telephone unlocked?

There are a few means to double-bank check whether your phone is unlocked:

1. If you lot’re on a prepaid or pay-every bit-you-go program, your phone is probably unlocked.
2. Check through your cellular network settings. For Androids:
   1. Go to Settings.
   2. Become to Connections.
   3. Go to Networks (or Mobile Networks or Cellular Networks)
   4. Select Network Operators. If available networks announced, your phone is probably unlocked. If but one, or no networks, popular up, you most probable have a locked telephone.
3. Check through your cellular network settings. For iPhones:
   1. Get to Settings.
   2. Tap Cellular.
   3. If you lot encounter a Cellular Data option under the Cellular menu, then your iPhone is unlocked.
   4. If you don’t see Cellular Data Network as an option, then it’south still locked.
4. Call your wireless carrier to ask if your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked and you want information technology unlocked, you lot can inquire them to do that for you while checking the condition of your phone. You’ll merely need to provide your IMEI number, which you can detect by dialing #06# on your keypad. Alternatively, y’all tin visit your carrier’s shop and inquire, or check if they have a website or app where you can check this information.
5. You lot tin too check if your phone is unlocked by trying to bandy out SIM cards, by either borrowing a SIM bill of fare from a friend or requesting a new ane, similar the one that comes from a certain provider’s
   free trial. Here’s how to test information technology out using a new SIM card:
   1. Power off your telephone and take out the electric current SIM card. The location of your SIM carte will vary by device, simply yous should be able to remove information technology by using a SIM ejector tool (or only a common paperclip). Printing downwards on the SIM tray console and it will open.
   2. Remove your current SIM card and put in the new one, from a different carrier. Turn your telephone dorsum on.
   3. If your phone asks for a lawmaking to unlock your SIM, your phone is locked to your carrier. If you’re able to utilize your phone every bit normal, and calls go through, it’s unlocked.

How practice I unlock my phone?

You lot might be wondering how to unlock your own device if you’ve but discovered that it’southward locked. When you’re prepare to unlock your phone, you lot’ll need to call your current carrier (or visit their store or website) and request for it to exist unlocked. Typically, this involves providing your business relationship password and your IMEI number. Some carriers also have apps that tin do this for you.

There may also exist conditions to unlocking your telephone. If you have a prepaid device, those are unremarkably eligible within 1 twelvemonth of initial activation, consistent with reasonable fourth dimension, payment or usage requirements. If yous take a postpaid device, they’re usually eligible to be unlocked after you’ve fulfilled the applicable service contract, completed the device installment plan or paid an early termination fee. In either case, you’ll commonly also have to accept an account in good standing to unlock your phone, which means no outstanding bills (or illegal usage).

Can I bring my unlocked phone to Mint Mobile?

Ok, so. Do you already accept an unlocked phone you want to bring to Mint? Or maybe you lot simply purchased one at our online shop? The next step is to bank check out our plans
here
to see which one is right for you and your newly-unlocked phone.

Information technology feels proficient to break free from Big Wireless, doesn’t it?