How to unlock your iPhone: An easy guide

In case you are looking to unlock your iPhone, there are two things you might want to do. First, either your iPhone is locked to a specific mobile operator or carrier. The second option is that you have entered the wrong password or PIN-code too many times and your iPhone has been disabled.

We’ll go through both options in this guide and get you back to using your iPhone just like before.


Option 1: How to unlock an iPhone to be used with a different carrier

If your iPhone is locked to a specific carrier or mobile operator, you’ll need to contact your operator to unlock the phone. After doing this, it might take some days until the phone is again unlocked for use.
Once the carrier has unlocked your iPhone, there are two options for what to do next. to unlock your phone.
How to unlock an iPhone without a SIM card If you do not have the appropriate SIM card, you’ll have to backup and reset your phone.


Start by backing up your iPhone. You can read our other blog post to learn how to do this.After you have backed up your phone and made sure that everything is secured, proceed to reset your iPhone. To do this, go to your phone’s Settings, then select “General” and “Reset”. To finalize the reset, choose “Erase All Content And Settings”Once you have finished resetting your iPhone, power it back on again and restore your backup that you made in step 1.Insert a new SIM card to start using your iPhone.Done!Here at Swappie, all of our phones are unlocked. This means that you can start using your new phone right out of the box! Our refurbished iPhones also work internationally and with local service providers.


Option 2: How to unlock a disabled iPhone

You might run into a situation where your iPhone is disabled because you have entered an incorrect password or PIN code too many times.Luckily there is something you can do to fix this. 
However, to unlock a disabled iPhone, you need to reset your phone back to its factory settings.This means that you’ll lose everything on your phone if you haven’t made a backup.This is why backing up your iPhone regularly is so important. Read our other blog post to learn how to back up your iPhone. 


Here’s what you need to do in order to reset your iPhone.
Shut off your iPhone.This step depends on the model of your iPhone. With iPhone X and newer models, connect your iPhone to a computer while holding down the side button.With iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, connect your iPhone to a computer while holding down the volume down button.With iPhone SE, iPhone 6s and older models, connect your iPhone to a computer while holding down the home button.Continue holding the button until the recovery screen appears.If you have created a backup of your iPhone, you are ready to restore your backup.Done!

How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier
Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers.

About unlocking
Your iPhone might be locked to your carrier. Unlocking your iPhone means that you can use it with different carriers. To contact your carrier and unlock your iPhone, use these steps. You can find out if your iPhone is locked by going to Settings > General > About. If “No SIM restrictions” appears next to Carrier Lock, your iPhone is unlocked.

If you don’t want to switch carriers and your device is locked because you forgot the passcode, you don’t need to use the steps in this article. Learn how to reset your passcode.

Contact your carrier
Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone. Contact them and request an unlock. After you submit the request, it might take a few days to complete. Contact your carrier to check the status of your request.
After your carrier confirms that they unlocked your iPhone, follow the steps below.
If you need to activate an eSIM from a carrier other than your current carrier
Learn how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone

If you have a SIM card from a carrier other than your current carrier
Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

Remove your SIM card.
Insert the new SIM card. Your device will activate.
If you don’t have another SIM card to use
Use these steps to finish unlocking your iPhone:

Back up your iPhone.
After you make a backup, erase your iPhone.
Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.
Get help
You might see this message on your computer or iPhone: “The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported carrier may be used to activate iPhone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported carrier store.”

If you see this message on your device with iOS 14 and later, use these steps:

Go to Settings > General and tap About.
Under Carrier Lock, you shou

ld see a message that says, “No SIM restrictions.” If you don’t see that message, contact your carrier.
If your device is on iOS 13 or earlier, use these steps:

Contact your carrier to confirm that they applied the unlock in their system.
Restore your iPhone to factory settings.
Restore your iPhone from a backup.