(Newly Updated Test Results for 2019) 

How to unlock iPhone X XS XS Max or XR?

Many mobile users are faced with the prospect of having to put up with poor service and ever-increasing prices from their carriers because they are locked to them. This means that when you buy your brand new iPhone, it is tied to a carrier before it even leaves the Apple factory. The solution? Get busy unlocking your iPhone X or iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR today!

The process relies on something known as an IMEI unlock. This is a safe and reliable way to free your beloved iPhone X/XS/XS Max from the inconsistent service of its locked-in carrier so that you can use it abroad without extortionate roaming charges, and have the freedom to shop around for the best deal.

If your iPhone X is locked to a provider inside the US, the UK, or Canada, then I strongly recommend DoctorUnlock. They have the most comprehensive range of unlocks inside these regions and accompany them with service, prices, and turnaround times that are the best on the market.

If your iPhone X is locked to a provider outside the US, the UK, or Canada, then I suggest DirectUnlocks. They can cost a little more than UnlockBase, but they offer by far the biggest range of unlocks for the rest of the world. If that’s where you live then, I can’t recommend them highly enough

Time To Master iPhone Unlocking

Your iPhone X has just arrived. It’s the coolest, easiest to use, most powerful, most advanced phone that has or ever will be made! You know it, and the world knows it! But there will be a catch; there’s always a catch… It’s tied to a carrier, which means that they can charge you as much as they like and treat you as badly as they like and there’s nothing you can do about it!

Phone locking with a little help from Apple makes this possible because it means that even though you have parted with your hard earned money, you can only use your shiny new device on your original network.

The only way to get around this is to explore the world of iPhone unlocking. It may sound like something akin to codebreaking or hacking, but there are a host of reputable companies out there who will take care of it for you.

Unlocking your iPhone X is a case of finding a company who knows the right tricks to get your phone free from your carrier. That’s all there is to it!

To save you hours Googling around I’ve put together a few notes about the three methods you’ll find when you search.

Method 1: The Software Approach

(This hasn’t worked once since the iPhone 3G)

This is the oldest technique, and for a while at least it was successful. The iPhone 3G brought with it a loophole that users were able to exploit to change carriers.

Unfortunately for the clever people that figured this out Apple closed it as soon as possible with the introduction of the iPhone 4. This means it is of no use to those lucky people like you who are holding the X right now!

Method 2: The Hardware Approach

(Users Beware: This Is An iPhone KILLER)

A brute force approach that works 30% of the time involves some less than reputable people, and will likely kill your iPhone. It doesn’t sound like the way to go about things now does it?

Not only is it hit or miss, but it’ll also invalidate your warranty which means Apple won’t step in and take the hit for you. Best avoided by anyone who wants to keep their iPhone X in one piece…

Method 3: Unlocking Your iPhone X/XS/XS Max with an IMEI Unlock

(The ONLY Approach That Works For Your iPhone X)

This is the latest and most advanced way to free your new iPhone X from the tyranny of excessive charges and poor service. Your IMEI is a unique identifier that Apple uses to track your device over its lifetime. It’s a safe and secure method to go about things, and there are a number of reputable companies that specialize in doing just that so that you can have the freedom to choose!

The iPhone X IMEI unlock method changes what is recorded in Apple’s database by reassigning your device’s status from locked to unlocked. Because it is safe, reliable, and doesn’t invalidate your warranty, this is the method that I recommend above all others.

 Time To Test The IMEI Specialists

The explosion in iPhone sales has resulted in a huge growth in the number of businesses claiming to be experts in the field of IMEI unlocked. The problem is finding a company you can trust that offers value for money.

I’ve surveyed numerous big names in the industry for previous iPhone models, and now the time has come time to put them to a serious test. By checking how they stack up against the features, Apple has added to the iPhone X; you’ll get a great idea of who you need to go with to free your device.

                                           Selecting My Test Cases

I’ll be honest and say that the hardest part of this was finding a dozen people willing to let me play with their iPhone X’s for a few days! It was a hard sell but through the help of few people who always come through for me I got it done and selected the following locked devices:

• 1 x iPhone X’s locked to AT&T USA
• 1 x iPhone X’s locked to Sprint USA
• 2 x iPhone X locked to Vodafone UK
• 1 x iPhone XS locked to O2 UK
• 1 x iPhone XS locked to T-Mobile USA
• 2 x iPhone XS Max locked to AT&T USA
• 1 x iPhone X Plus locked to EE UK
• 1 x iPhone XS Max locked to KDDI Japan
• 2 x iPhone XS Max locked to Rogers Canada

Choosing The IMEI Providers To Test With The iPhone X / XS /XS Max

I began by using the reviews on places like TrustPilot, Ripoff Report, and Trustmark Reviews to get a feel for which companies were worth a closer look. With hundreds on the market, it was a question of getting rid of the scams straight away so that I could spend my time looking at the professionals. In the end, I narrowed it down to three and opted to test multiple devices with each of them.

Testing Time 

Every test should be simple to understand, at least that’s my philosophy. With that in mind, I tested four separate devices with each of my chosen three companies.

I acted like a customer first and foremost when interfacing with the companies, rather than a tester. This extended to sending them reasonable requests and queries during the process to try out their customer service. I paid particular attention to how their pre-sale and post-sale communication compared with each other.

The Judging Criteria

To make the testing as comprehensive as possible, I devised 6-criteria that would allow me to endorse the best service in all areas at the end.

1: Can they unlock the iPhone X

It’s an obvious one really isn’t it? If they can’t do it, then they’re a waste of money and time, and we certainly don’t want that.

2: What is their range of services like?

I never want to recommend a provider that unlocks in an instant but then offers a really limited choice of carriers they can put you on. The aim is to give you the freedom to choose, not to free you from one carrier and then give you a really poor selection of choice.

3: Are they reasonably priced?

There’s no point finding a service that does it all if it’s more than the cost of your iPhone X. We’re looking for value as well as amazing service and flexibility after all.

4: What payment methods do they offer?

So many online businesses make paying far more difficult than it needs to be. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve found restrictions on PayPal or credit card payments and subsequently given up and gone elsewhere. If the process is going to run smoothly, then you want a team that makes payment simple, after all, they should want your money if they’re a serious business.

5: How effective was their customer service?

I want you to be dealing with a company that puts you and your iPhone X first. You don’t want to be unable to use it for long periods of time after spending all that money on it. Prompt responses are what they need to provide if they are to build your trust and get the job done the right way.

6: How fast are they?

We’re looking for a company that gets the job done professionally. This means that not only do they do everything they say they will, they also get it done in a timely manner. The stress and annoyance caused by long delays is something we’ve all experienced, so I’m keen to make sure I only recommend a service that takes care of the work in the shortest time possible.

Using DoctorUnlock.Net or you can also get your iPhone X Unlocked by visiting following link DirectUnlocks 

Step 1: Find your iPhone X IMEI code.

This is a unique identifier that you need for the method to work. You can find it in any of three ways:

• 1: If you dial *#06# you will be sent the IMEI code
• 2: You can copy it down on paper from the rear of your device. Please make sure you double check it before submitting it.
• 3: If you haven’t yet activated your iPhone X then you need to find the small “i” button that appears on the activation screen. Clicking on it will then display your IMEI.

Step 2: Next you need to know which model your iPhone is. Yours will be iPhone X.

Step 3: Select the following links DoctorUnlock.net or DirectUnlocks and input the IME and Phone Model that they request.

Step 4: Now click on the “Unlock” button.

Step 5: Decide on your method of payment and then enter your details.

Step 6: Add your email address to receive timely progress updates on your unlock. 

Step 7: Enjoy the freedom to choose which carrier your iPhone X goes with!

The 3 Leading Providers of IMEI Unlocks for your iPhone X

The testing is done, the analysis is complete, now for the results!

#1. DoctorUnlock(9.5/10 – The definitive #1 choice for iPhone X owners in North America and the UK)

The standout IMEI unlocking specialist for both the iPhone X is definitely DoctorUnlock.net. They unlocked all four devices I paid for which gave a quite impressive 100% success rate. Not only that, but they did so for a great price and in good time. Their customer focus came through and they really did a good job all round. Let’s take a closer look at what they did right during my testing.

Pros: They were the only one out of the 3-companies who unlocked every single device. This is ultimately what you would expect from a professional organization, and with a 100% success rate, their performance in this regard couldn’t be beaten.

On average they come in an at an impressive 17% cheaper than the competition. This is a great indicator that they offer value for money. Perfect for ensuring that you don’t pay more than the cost of your device to have the freedom to use it as you wish.

Their customer service was truly outstanding. They responded to all three of my queries within 24 hours which is exactly what I was looking for. This customer-focused approach to unlocking will enable them to build your confidence during the process.

Only the second entry on my top 3 could match their average unlocking time of just 48 hours! This is very impressive and a definite plus point that has played a big part in coming top of the pile.

The Cons: I always try and find an area where a provider can improve. It was hard, but I would say that customers outside of North America and the UK aren’t given the same level of choice when it comes to new carriers. That said, if you do live in these two regions then you are onto a winner!

The Overall Rating: A 100% unlocking rate is something that is highly impressive. This was matched by their turnaround time, price, and customer service. If I were being hypercritical, I would say that their range of services is much better for users in North America and the UK than those outside. This, however, is a minor point if your location isn’t a factor.

If your iPhone X is locked inside the US, UK, or Canada, use DoctorUnlock today.

#2 DirectUnlocks (9.0/10 – The leading choice if you are outside the USA, UK, or Canada)

The battle for the top spot was a very closely run contest. The only thing separating the two companies was surprisingly the unlocking reliability. DirectUnlocks failed to unlock one of the four devices that I paid for. This wasn’t great as I paid for it, but there is so much good about this company that they still came in a very strong second.

The Pros: They do an awful lot right. They are quick, efficient, customer-focused, well priced, and easy to deal with.

The really eye-catching thing about their service was the number of unlocked options available and the extent to which these were available in regions right around the world. I don’t have an exact number because to be honest, I lost count, but I think it was every carrier in every country by the look of things! This is fantastic for those living in more remote or less well-covered areas.

The Cons: The significant failing has to be the inability to unlock the KDDI Japan device I paid for. They did their best and warned me prior to purchase that this may be an issue. At the same time, I can’t help feeling that they should consider removing this as a service they offer until it is 100% reliable. That said, the customer service side of things really softened the blow and left no ill-feeling.

The Overall Rating: A highly professional company who offer a comprehensive choice, broken down by carrier and region. The main reason they aren’t at #1 right now is that the unlocking rate during testing was only 75%

If you have an iPhone X that is locked to a carrier outside the US, UK, or Canada, I suggest using the team at DirectUnlocks.

#3 Keys2iPhone (5/10 – AVOID)

The fact that this company was bad is one thing, but it was really exacerbated by the fact that I was using two much better companies at the same time. Honestly, they were truly awful and so unprofessional.

The worst thing was the demand for an extra payment for the same amount before any actual unlocking took place. Even with that additional spend they only had a 50% unlock rate rich is laughably poor.

The Pros: Some phones were unlocked…

The Cons: Here we go!

1      They only managed to unlock half the phones

2      They took on average 5 days and seemingly endless prompting to do even that which to me was the worst thing about the whole experience.

3      They asked for extra payment that wasn’t declared at the original time of purchase. This irritated me as it wasn’t clear and came across as very unprofessional.

4      Whilst their pre-sale responses were great they made zero effort to reply after the money had been paid. This made me feel like they didn’t care about the customer and that they were completely disinterested as to whether they provided a useful service.

5      I had to file two chargebacks to cover the money for phones which were never finished. This was drawn out and completely unnecessary.

The Overall Rating: A dreadful service from beginning to end. I would never recommend this company and they were highly unprofessional. The poor unlocking rate of only 50% was one thing, but for me the worst part was complete disregard for the feelings of the customer. Never responding was a series black mark. Buyers beware!

The Conclusion

When it comes to freeing your new iPhone X/ XS /XS Max from your carrier so that you have the freedom to choose it is important to remember that hardware and software unlocking don’t work. One will destroy your iPhone X whilst the other is so outdated it didn’t even work on the iPhone 4! The only way forward that makes sense and actually works is IMEI unlocking. This is a safe and reliable process, and is also known as factory unlocking.

I looked at a huge range of IMEI providers and used review sites to narrow it down to what appeared to be three of the best. I found the result to be strongly based on your region.

If you have an iPhone X that is locked to a carrier inside the US, UK, or Canada, then DoctorUnlock are the people you need to deal with. They specialize in these regions and provide a range of services at prices that cannot be beat. When you factor in their best in class 48-hour average turnaround time then you are onto a winner from day one.

If you have an iPhone X that is locked to a carrier outside the US, UK, or Canada, then DirectUnlocks are the team I would use. They came level with UnlockBase  in every category bar the unlocking rate. At only 75% they did miss one of the phones, but to be fair I was told about the likelihood of this happening prior to purchase. Their comprehensive range of services make them the clear choice for users in regions not covered in such depth by UnlockBase.

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How to unlock your iPad

SUMMARY: There are three ways to unlock your iPad: Software unlocking, hardware unlocking, and IMEI unlocking. Software unlocking doesn’t work on tablets and hardware unlocking is dangerous and will void your warranty.Of these three processes, the only safe and reliable method is IMEI Factory Unlocking.

If you have an iPad locked to a particular carrier, the only safe way to unlock it is with an IMEI Factory Unlock. This is safe, will protect your warranty, and give you the freedom to use any carrier in any country, whenever you want.

Of the 11 IMEI Unlock providers I reviewed and three I tested, the best provider is iPhoneIMEI. They have the cheapest prices, fastest unlocks, best customer service, and most importantly, were the only unlock provider who actually completed all three  unlocks I sent them.

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IMPORTANT: This article will teach you how to unlock your iPad from its phone service carrier. If you need to unlock your tablet from its iCloud account, go to our iCloud Unlock service provider review here.

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If you’ve done any amount of research into unlocking, you’ll know there are two important things you need to keep in mind before you purchase an unlock:

1. That you’re using the right method (there are three different methods)
2. That you’re using a legitimate provider

I know both of these are critical because I’ve been stung by both. Not only with my iPad, but also with my iPhone 4 and iPhone 5.  But it doesn’t matter whether you’re unlocking your iPhone or iPad, you have to watch out for the same scams. Here’s how to avoid them.

Which iPad Unlock method should you use?

As I’ve said, there are three types of unlocks available on the market. But, as with any choice in life, there are pros and cons of each. And if you’re going to unlock your iPad and still both keep your warranty and make sure you tablet is still working, you need to know the difference.

Method 1: Software Unlocking 
(Hasn’t worked since 2009)

The first unlocking method developed was the software unlock. This involved downloading hacking software from an anonymous source somewhere in mother Russia, installing it on your phone so that it could hack into your iOS operating system, and then hoping it worked. Which is sometimes did, but other times didn’t.

Unfortunately, Apple became aware of the loophole this hacking software was exploiting to free their iOS devices and closed it before the release of the iPhone 3G. This was in 2008; well before the release of the first iPad.

So, if you read about people unlocking their iPad with hacking software, laugh at them for still owning an iPhone 3 and not knowing the difference 🙂

Method 2: Hardware Unlocking
(Dangerous and will void your warranty)

The second unlocking method to make its appearance on the market, and the first that was available on iPads, was hardware unlocking. Hardware unlocking is where you find some dodgy looking guy in an even dodgier looking back alley to physically open up your device, fiddle with its circuits, install new wiring, and close your it up.

And before you ask, yes, it’s as dangerous as it sounds. Best estimates put the success rate of hardware unlocking at around 30%, with the other 70% leaving with a broken device and angry stares from large, angry men. The worst part about this method is that even if hardware unlocking works for you, your warranty is voided and you’ll have to pay for any future repairs to your iPad.

Does a 30% chance of success with a guarantee of losing your warranty sound like a sound choice to you? No, me neither. That’s why you should stay WELL away from hardware unlocking.

Method 3: IMEI or Factory Unlocking
(The only safe method for iPhone SE Unlocking)

The growing demand for iPad unlocking, and the unreliability of software and hardware unlocking, meant that there was a big demand and no solution. That’s when some clever soul worked out that there’s another way to unlock: IMEI or Factory unlocking.

An IMEI is a unique serial code attached to every iPad. Apple keeps a database of all the IMEIs in the world and alongside that, stores information about that iPad, including the model number, memory size, production date, and most importantly, whether or not that tablet is locked to a particular network or unlocked and available to use on any network.

IMEI or Factory Unlocking is where someone with access to the Apple database changes your devices status from locked to unlocked based on your IMEI. There’s no software to download and no-one has to open up and play with your iPhones circuits. All they have to do is change your iPad’s status and you’ll be free to use your tablet on any network in any country.

IMEI unlocking is the only safe method and the only one you should use.

Which iPad IMEI Unlock Provider Should You Use?

The surge in demand for iPad IMEI Factory Unlocks has resulted with the market being flooded with providers. And with all markets, some of these providers are better than others. And when I say that, I mean that some of these providers are complete scammers and some of them will actually free your iPad.

To make sure you got the device unlocked you needed, we’ve road tested these providers to let you know which ones are legitimate and which ones are a scam.

To skip the testing methodology and go straight to the reviews, click here

Why I’m Qualified to Tell You This

As you can imagine, there are no formal qualifications in iPad unlocking which means I obviously don’t have a university degree in unlocking. But what I do have, which is even more important than any piece of paper stuck on my wall, is experience.

My first unlocking experience was back in 2008 when I first encountered AT&T’s sub-standard service and decided I needed to change carriers in a hurry. Since then, I’ve lost an iPhone 4 to hardware unlocking and unlocked over 30 iPhones and iPads through IMEI unlocking.

I’m as much of an expert as you’ll find in this space and that’s why I’m qualified to tell you this.

iPad IMEI Unlock Provider Testing Process

The process I used to test IMEI providers was simple.

The first step was to create a list of every provider who claimed they could perform the service on iPads. This left me with a list of 11 providers. Once I had that list, I went through various review websites, such as TrustPilot and Ripoff Report to eliminate obvious scammers. This left me with only 3 providers who appeared to be able to legitimately unlock iPads.

The next step in this process was to test these providers to see which one performed the best and which one was simply posting fake reviews. To do this, I needed iPads. You can’t test a service provider without using their service, so I put the call out to my mailing list to find anyone who needed an iPad unlocked. Of the 51 people who responded, I chose 9 to test. They were:

1. iPad
2. iPad 2
3. iPad mini
4. iPad mini 2
5. iPad mini 3
6. iPad air
7. iPad air 2
8. iPad Pro (12.9 inch screen)
9. iPad Pro (9.7 inch screen)

This gave me three devices per IMEI Unlock provider and allowed me to test all the different iPad versions.

How I Judged Their Performance

There are 5 criteria I used to judge the performance of the various providers. They were:

Criteria 1: Range of Unlocks

The first thing you need when you’re choosing a factory provider is that they have your unlock. Obvious, right? Because of this, the first criteria I judged these providers on was their range of unlocks. The more carriers they could unlock you from, the higher they scored.

Criteria 2: Price

No-one wants to spend more money than they have to, this is obvious. Because of this, the second criteria I judged these providers on was the cost of their unlocks. The cheaper, the better… mostly. P

rice was used more as a tiebreaker if more than one  provider ha

d the same range, success rate, and speed because there’s no point in being cheaper if you can’t deliver 🙂

Criteria 3: Customer Support

What’s the point of a huge range of unlocks at a great price when there’s no-one there to respond to your email messages asking ‘What’s going on?’ To make sure these providers not only can unlock your iPad but also talk you through any challenges along the way, we contacted each provider three times over the course of the service process.

The first contact we made was before we placed our orders to see how responsive their pre-sales team was. The second contact we made was after we’d purchased our order but before the unlock was completed to test their customer support. And the final contact we made was after the service was completed to test just how committed they were to giving us a good customer experience.

This was done for every attempt and every provider was scored on the average of their responses.

Criteria 4: Success

The 4th criteria is the most important: success. Did they or did they not unlock the iPad? Simple as that. If they weren’t able to unlock any, they failed. If they managed to complete some, then they got a conditional pass. And if they unlocked all three, then they were winners.

Criteria 5: Speed

The final criteria is speed: how quickly did they complete the service? Obviously, the faster the better.

I averaged the time for all three factory providers and judged them on that.

Steps to expect when using an unlock provider

1. Have your IMEI code available. This is the unique number for your iPad that the 3rd party provider needs to unlock the correct device.  Its easy to find the IMEI number:

• Method 1: Dial *#06#
• Method 2: On your iOS device, Go to Settings > General > About and then scroll to find your device’s IMEI
• Method 3:  Look on the back  of your iPad (cellular models), and you’ll find the IMEI number  near the bottom. If you have the packaging , look for the IMEI number on the barcode label.
• Method 4: For non-activated phones, there is a little “i” button on the activation screen, click it and you’ll see the IMEI on the screen

The Top 3 iPad Unlock Providers

After purchasing 9 iPad IMEI factory unlocks from 3 providers and waiting for the results, here is the list of the top iPad providers.

#1 DirectUnlock.com – 9.5/10 (The top choice to unlock your iPad)

Of the all the providers we tested, DirectUnlock.com  are our #1 choice. Here’s a breakdown of how they performed.

PROs: First of all, and most importantly, they were the only unlock provider who unlocked all three iPads. If the success of your unlock is a high priority (and I’d be concerned if it wasn’t), then this should be enough of a reason for you to choose them.

But that’s not the only reason they’re #1 on the list.

The second reason they’re #1 is that they’re also fastest provider I tested. The average time it took them to unlock an iPad was 3 days. When you consider the number of iPad unlocks they’re processing and what they have to go through to get this done, 3 days is remarkable.

The third reason they’re #1 on the list is their customer service. The average response time to the pre-sale, post-sale but pre-unlock, and post-unlock emails I sent them was an hour and twenty minutes. That’s more than good enough for me.

And the final reason they’re #1 is the price. You’d expect the only unlock provider who can deliver on what they promise, in the fastest time, with the best support, to charge a premium for their services, but UnlockBase.net don’t. Their prices are between 10% and 30% cheaper than their competitors.

CONs: I struggled to find anything to put in here. I like to try and be very even-handed with my reviews to make sure that people know exactly what they’re getting themselves into, but I couldn’t find something I would list as a serious con.

The only thing that could be a slight con for some people is they don’t accept Paypal as a payment method. If you’ve got a Paypal account but no credit card, this might be an issue, but if you have a credit or debit card, they can process your payment.

OVERALL: UnlockBase are the #1  unlock provider we reviewed because they were the only one to successfully complete all three iPads. But, to make this victory more comprehensive, they also did it with the best prices, the fastest unlocks, and the best customer support. You’re welcome to try another iPad unlock provider but to be honest, you’ll just be wasting your money.

If you need to unlock your iPad, visit DirectUnlock now.

#2 iPhoneIMEI – 7.5/10 (Use if UnlockBase aren’t available)

The #2  provider on our list is iPhoneIMEI.  They’re our most recommended choice after iPhoneIMEI but they do have some drawbacks (most notably: not completing all three unlocks we purchased). Here’s a breakdown of their performance:

CONs: Unfortunately, we need to start the review with the cons, because they’re significant. Of the three  unlocks we purchased, they were only able to complete two of them. Yes, they refunded our purchase straight away and were very apologetic about their failure, but there’s no getting around the fact that they failed to complete the service we purchased.

The other con is that they only display their prices in Brittish Pounds (£). This means that in order to work out how much the unlock’s actually going to cost you, you need to use a currency converter.

This doesn’t necessarily make the unlock any more expensive, but it does add additional time and effort to purchasing their unlock.

PROs: Despite the fact that they only completed two of the three unlocks and only display prices in British Pounds, there’s actually a lot to like about iPhoneIMEI. They have a huge range of unlocks, which is great if your iPad is under contract with a more obscure carrier and can’t find it anywhere else.

They also have excellent customer service, which includes phone service. This means you can actually speak to someone about the unlock status and get someone to talk you through any issues you’re having.

The two unlocks they were able to process were unlocked in 4 days, putting them a little longer than DirectUnlock, but not too far away to damage their rating.

OVERALL: DirectUnlocks have a great range of unlocks, can process them quickly, and have great customer support to back their service up. They only managed to complete two of the three unlocks we purchased, but they were very apologetic and gave us an immediate refund when they failed. If DirectUnlock aren’t available and you need your tablet unlocked, Official iPhone Unlock is a good choice. Visit their website here:

You can visit their website here: iPhoneIMEI

#3 IMEICodes – 5/10 (Not recommended)

The final iPad provider we tested is IMEI Codes, and before you get any further, I need to warn you that I think they’re a scam site. Despite what their online reviews said, they didn’t come anywhere near close to being able to deliver on their promises.

CONs: Let’s start with the cons once again.

First of all, they failed to unlock any of the device IMEIs we sent them. Not one. Zero. Nothing. To make things worse, their customer support is also so poor that we didn’t know if they’d completed the unlocks until well after their promised completion date.

But this isn’t the end of the problems. They continued to claim that they’d unlocked our iPads when they hadn’t, and so refused to give me a refund.

At the end of the day, I was stuck with three locked tablets and three chargeback requests with my credit card provider.

PROs: Their pre-sale sales team is excellent! 🙂 Other than that, there’s nothing nice to say about these guys.

OVERALL: Stay away from them. They’ll take your money, give you nothing in return, and you’ll have to fight them through your bank to get your money back.

If you’re crazy enough to check out their website, you can do it here: IMEI Codes

To Wrap It All Up…

Of the three iPad unlocking methods available, the only safe and effective method is IMEI Factory unlocking. It will allow you to use your iPad on any carrier in any country, without voiding your warranty or putting your iPad in any harm.

Of the 11 iPad IMEI unlock providers we reviewed and the 3 we tested, the only provider who completed all three unlocks was iPhoneIMEI. They also had the best prices, fastest unlocks, and the best customer service.

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Whether you’re buying a new or pre-owned iPhone, it’s a good idea to take a look at whether it’s locked or unlocked. This can have a big impact on what mobile carrier you’re able to connect with as well as the price you pay for your new phone.

You can’t tell just by looking whether your phone is unlocked though, which is why we’re here to help you check on the status of your iPhone before you buy it.

Have an iPhone that is locked to a carrier and don’t have any options to unlock it to choose any carrier?  We have an guide that analyzes the safest and most reliable unlocking services to consider.  Read this. 

What is an Unlocked iPhone?

The lock is essentially a software code that’s put on the iPhone by the manufacturer to meet operator requirements, attaching the iPhone to a carrier. This means that an unlocked iPhone is a phone that isn’t limited to a particular carrier.

You can switch your phone from one network to another and it will still work just fine. Usually, iPhones bought directly from Apple will be unlocked.

If you buy your phone used or from a specific carrier though, the phone is generally locked until the contract is completely paid off, or until the previous owner’s contract is paid off.

Since iPhones are not branded by specific mobile carriers, you can’t determine the carrier just by looking. You’ll have to check whether the iPhone is locked or not if you’re buying and would like to switch your carrier.

How To Check If iPhone is Unlocked

Unlocking your phone is important if you’d like to change carriers, which is why many people like to perform this check on the iPhone before they buy one.

You have a few different methods you can choose from to perform this check, the simplest one being the SIM card check.

Is My iPhone Unlocked – SIM Card Check

All you have to do is take out your iPhone’s SIM card and put one in for a different carrier. Make a phone call using that SIM card and see if it connects. If the phone call doesn’t connect, then the iPhone is locked.

You can try this method easily if you have a friend using a different carrier for their phone, although not everyone has a SIM card readily available to them.

You might be able to walk into a store for a different carrier and ask to borrow a SIM card though.

This might not work for all other carriers, but some are very accommodating and will simply hand you a SIM card for a few moments. It should only take a few seconds to have your answer.

How to Know if iPhone Is Unlocked – Check Settings App

Head on over to your Settings app and tap into the Mobile Data and Mobile Data Options. Check to see your Mobile Data Network – if you see the option for your network, this means that your phone is unlocked.

If you do not see the option, it won’t appear on locked iPhones. This isn’t completely effective though and should be double-checked.

Call Your Carrier

This solution is a bit more difficult and may not always work, since carriers do not always tell you whether the phone is locked or unlocked over the phone. However, it’s the surest way for you to know the status of your device.

Keep in mind that this method takes some time, since you have to wait for the carrier to get back to you. You may have to spend time on the phone with customer service, but you will know for sure.

Find Your IMEI Number

You can actually use a couple online tools to check if your phone is locked using its IMEI number. This is the serial number of your iPhone that communicates with Apple servers and provides all the information you need about your Apple device.

You’ll have to pay about three dollars to perform the check, but a few tools are free after you locate your IMEI number. You can find your IMEI number using a few methods. First, you can take a look at the back of your iPhone to see if it’s there, or head on into Settings then to About.

You can also find the IMEI number by connecting your phone to your computer and launching iTunes. Just go to Device Summary and click on the phone number.

You also have the option of checking your device’s original packaging and barcode, or even looking at the SIM card tray in some cases.

How To Know If Your iPhone Is Unlocked – Online Tools

Once you have that IMEI, your checker will let you know whether your phone is locked or unlocked. However, it will not unlock your iPhone for you. Regardless of what checker you use, make sure it has GSX access, which connects right to Apple.

This will provide you with the most up-to-date information about your iPhone. You can find this out by looking at the website you’ve chosen to see if there is a GSX report in the “Next Tether Policy” value.

After you’re sure of your website, input the number, prove you’re not a robot with the captcha and take a look at the information given to you by the website. Then, look for the Lock Status to see if you’re locked or unlocked.

Word of Caution

If you’re buying a used iPhone from someone, of course you’ll want to know whether it’s locked or not. However, also check to be sure that it’s not on the GSM blacklist. This is a list of stolen phones that can be identified by their IMEI numbers. You can check this with IMEI checkers or by contacting any wireless carrier. Once you’re sure of your phone’s status, contact a mobile carrier if you’d like help getting it unlocked.

Conclusion

Technology can seem daunting at times, but knowing whether your iPhone is locked or or not doesn’t have to be complicated. Perform a couple of these checks to see if your phone is unlocked and whether you can use it on another mobile carrier.

If you have a iPhone that is locked to a carrier and don’t have any options to unlock it to choose any carrier, we have an article that describes some great services to consider that we tested.  Read this. 

Even though you can’t tell your phone’s status just by looking at it, our tips make it easy to purchase your phone with peace of mind.