Selling locked smartphones will be banned in the UK at the end of 2021, to bring it in line with EU legislation. If you see a message that says SIM not supported then your phone is SIM restricted. An unlocked iPhone will say No SIM Restrictions opposite the Carrier Lock / Network Provider Lock option.Īnother way is to pop a SIM card from another company into the phone. The easiest way to tell if you have a SIM-restricted or locked phone is by tapping Settings > General > About. This means you don’t have expensive roaming fees to worry about. You can swap between SIM cards whenever you want after you unlock your iPhone 7. This means you pay local rates for calls and texts. With an unrestricted device, you can pick up a local SIM card when you arrive. You may also want to use your phone overseas but roaming fees make it very expensive. And once the deal ends you can switch back, or to a different provider. For example, you may want to move to a cheaper deal or get a higher data allowance. With an unlocked phone, you can also switch between carriers whenever you want. You are no longer tied to the original company that supplied the phone. When you unlock your iPhone 7 it allows you to switch to a carrier that has the best network coverage, pricing, service, or plans for you.
For newer iPhone models, see How to unlock iPhone 13, 12, 11, SE, XS, XR, X.
For iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models, see How to unlock iPhone 8.For iPhone 6, 6s, 6s Plus, and 6 Plus models, see How to unlock iPhone 6.If you have a different model of phone you can use the following iPhone unlock guides: If the passcode lock is the issue, see Unlocking iPhone 7 without passcode. If you want to get rid of the Activation Lock instead of the carrier lock, then see Removal of iCloud Lock from iPhone 7. This guide applies to the following iPhone models: In short, unlocking your phone gives you control over which cellular network you use. They are provided by the carrier and they allow your phone to make a call, send a text message, and more.Īfter unlocking your smartphone you can use any compatible SIM card from any carrier. Sim cards are small chips found inside all cellular phones. If you try to use a new SIM card from another carrier in your iPhone 7 it won’t work. When you sign up for a smartphone contract the phone they provide is normally locked to a single carrier or network.