They may be unlocked by the carrier when you've finished paying off the contract on the phone. You may be able to sell your carrier-locked iPhone as long as it is legally yours. If your iPhone is currently locked to a network, it is legal to sell it even if you still owe money on the phone contract.
If your phone is locked to a network, it is legal to sell. You can sell your network-locked phone online at Swift Tech Buy as long as it's legally yours, even if you owe money on your phone contract.
Once you exhausted all efforts to find the owner on the device, check with the police to see if it has been reported stolen or is needed for evidence. If all is clear with the authorities, you do have the option of selling it or even unlocking it and using it yourself.
The answer is yes, you can unlock a carrier locked iPhone from your home. You can use your laptop browser and log on to the carrier website, or try calling them to remove the lock. Once they unlock your iPhone, you can go ahead to put a new SIM card and complete the setup process.
Sites like BankMyCell or GadgetGone buy your carrier-locked iPhones. Alternatively, you can use SellLocked.com for your passcode-locked iPhones. It's just a start! There are many more platforms that buy locked iPhones with different types of locks, carrier or iCloud.
It's illegal to sell a lost or stolen phone, so recyclers are duty-bound to cooperate with law enforcement here. Only ever sell a gadget that is truly yours to sell.
One of the major benefits of buying a locked device is it usually costs less. Wireless carriers can subsidize the retail price by having you locked into their network. Alternatively, they spread the device cost over a certain period through payment plans, so you don't have to pay the full price upfront.
iCloud locked iPhones are worth almost nothing and are generally only purchased by companies who scrap them for spare parts. You'll have a very hard time finding interested buyers, as companies like GadgetGone do not accept iCloud locked iPhones. If, however, you came by the iPhone legally, then yes, you can sell it.
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.
In most cases, the first question we hear from theft victims is can someone unlock my stolen iPhone? The answer is YES. There are many ways a thief can unlock a stolen phone. They can exploit everything from your saved bank credentials to personal images and videos stored on the device.
The Police can request your mobile carrier via a warrant or judicial requirement to track a stolen device. The Police themselves do not track lost iPhones. The mobile carrier / company uses the IMEI to identify and track the iPhone.
If your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you can erase it in Find Devices on iCloud.com. To sign in to Find Devices, go to icloud.com/find.
There are a couple of benefits to purchasing a locked device. First, it is generally sold at a discounted price. By having you agree to stay on their network, the carrier subsidizes a portion of the cost (or bundles it into your monthly subscription rate). Also, locked phones prevent theft.
Private buyers may be reluctant to buy phones with a bad ESN or IMEI, especially if they don't know how to unblock it or switch carriers. Despite this, it is possible to sell a phone with a bad IMEI or ESN. While the offers are typically lower, a few online buyback stores will buy blocked phones.
Can my mobile service provider refuse to unlock my phone because I owe them money or am currently under contract? Yes. Providers do not have to unlock devices for existing or former customers that are not in good standing.
Start a support request. If you need help removing Activation Lock and have proof of purchase documentation, you can start an Activation Lock support request.
Apple does not charge to unlock activation lock. If you are the original owner of an iOS device, you can remove the Activation Lock by signing in with your Apple ID and password. You can also contact Apple Support for help with unlocking your device.
You can also choose Cell Unlocker to unlock iPhone for free. Cell Unlocker enables you to fill out your iPhone details, and then set your SIM card free. You need to submit your IMEI and iPhone model on the website, and then Cell Unlocker, which offers free iPhone unlock service, will assist you to unlock your device.
The biggest disadvantage of buying a carrier-locked smartphone is just that: it's locked to that carrier. Because you are likely not buying the phone outright and instead paying for it over the span of many months, the phone technically isn't yours until you pay it off.
If you believe your phone has been stolen, file a police report. Although law enforcement agencies don't have the resources to investigate every case of a stolen phone, if you're able to tell them where your phone is (using a finder app), they will be more likely to be able to help you recover it.
Your iPhone is essentially useless without your Apple ID and password. Some thieves may make an attempt to get that information through phishing attempts like fake emails or messages, so it's best to be aware of this possibility should your iPhone be stolen.
Method 3: Use iCloud to Find Your Lost iPhone Even When It's Powered Off/ Factory Reset. You can also use iCloud's website to track your lost iPhone even if it has been powered off or doesn't have enough battery backup.
However, if you find an iPhone and wish to use it but cannot bypass the security levels then you can still use the device. Although the device can be used again, in most cases the data gets erased, and you find yourself a phone with default settings and completely erased memory.
iPhone Locked to Owner or Activation Lock is a safety feature on iOS 15 and later versions. It ensures the data of the owner remains safe even if the device is stolen or lost. If you have purchased an old or refurbished iPhone, you might see this screen when you turn on the device.