Open Settings. Tap 'General', then 'About' Tap 'Carrier lock'. If it says 'No SIM restrictions', then your phone is unlocked.
An IMEI number can be used to determine the device make and model, and whether the device is locked or unlocked. If a device has been lost or stolen, the IMEI can also be used to block it from being used on most carrier networks, including T-Mobile's.
To see whether that's the case with your handset, go to Settings > About Phone and find the network lock header. Alternatively, you can scan for network providers around you to tell if your Android is carrier unlocked. Open Settings. Go to Connections, Mobile networks, and tap Network operators (or network providers).
Look for the "Cellular Data Network" option.
If this option is available, your phone is most likely unlocked. If it is not available, it is most likely locked.
The best way to quickly check whether a mobile phone is locked or not is to slip the SIM card out, and put in one from another network. If it can make calls, send texts, and connect to the internet, that means your phone is unlocked. Just make sure that the two SIMs don't actually connect to the same network.
Unlock The Phone On Your Own
First of all, you have to turn off your mobile phone and take out the SIM card. Then turn on the device without the SIM card and wait for it to show a message with the instruction to insert the SIM card. From that moment you will need to write the IMEI code to unlock the phone.
A carrier-imposed “lock” is a software code that prevents your phone from working on another cellular network. With an “unlocked” phone, on the other hand, you can get service with any carrier on a compatible network — and that's just one of the benefits of an unlocked phone.
Use an online IMEI checker
Once you've found your IMEI number, you can see if your iPhone is unlocked by plugging it into an online database. There are many of these sites available (search “online IMEI checker”) but most or all will take you to a paywall to find out the device's SIM lock status or carrier status.
The simplest way to definitively tell whether your phone is locked is to call your current carrier and ask. Though inconvenient, it's the most reliable way to determine the lock status of your phone. Here are the customer service phone numbers for all four major carriers: Verizon: 1-800-837-4966.
A phone that is blacklisted will have a bad Equipment Serial Number (ESN) or International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. As a result, the phone cannot connect to cell towers in the United States, and you can't use it to connect to the internet or make calls.
If the cell phone is locked, it means that it will only work on one specific network. Consequently, if you insert a SIM card that is from a different carrier, it will simply not work.
Your phone cannot be re-locked to different network. Any compatible SIM card can be inserted, and as long as you have an account and credit with that network, you'll be able to make calls, send SMS, and perhaps even get online.
Turn your Samsung device on after inserting the SIM card Type *2767*688# and press Exit.
Dial *#06# on the phone you want unlocked.
This displays the phone's unique IMEI number.
You can unlock any Samsung phone via IMEI with doctorSIM without having to specify the model. Whether it's a Samsung Galaxy, a Note, a GT or an ACE, you'll have your phone unlocked via IMEI and ready to use on any network in the world in a matter of hours.
That means you cannot sell a phone or tablet that you reported as stolen and then found again; you cannot sell a lost phone that you happened to find; and you certainly cannot sell a phone that you or someone else has stolen. You can only legally sell a gadget that you own and is yours to sell.
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.
Find out which manufacturer and carrier can help you
Open your device's Settings app. Tap About phone. To find manufacturer info, tap Model & hardware. To find carrier info, tap SIM status and check under "Network."
Your iPhone may be locked to your network provider. Unlocking your iPhone means you can use it with different network providers. To contact your network provider and unlock your iPhone, follow these steps. You can find out if your iPhone is locked by going to Settings > General > About.
An IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Think of it as your phone's fingerprint — it's a 15-digit number unique to each device. Phone carriers and manufacturers share IMEI numbers to enable tracking of smartphones that may be stolen or compromised.
Is IMEI the same as SIM? No, IMEI is not the same things as a sim card but it is tied to the device. Each device has a SIM and an IMEI. The SIM is associated with the network, whereas the IMEI is associated with the device.