How to Unlock Your SIM Card on an iPhone

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Carrier unlock your iPhone or disable your SIM PIN

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: November 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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Carrier Unlocking Your iPhone

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Unlocking a PIN-Locked SIM

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Turning Off Your SIM PIN

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Do you see a message that says “SIM locked” when you check your iPhone’s carrier lock settings? Or does your iPhone prompt you for a SIM PIN when you start it up and prevent you from making calls? While these are two very different issues, they’re both pretty easy to resolve. Whether you’re trying to carrier-unlock your iPhone or you need to unlock a SIM card using a SIM PIN, read on to learn what to do. In either case, you might need to contact your carrier for help.

Unlock an iPhone SIM Card (Carrier Lock or SIM PIN)

To check if your iPhone is carrier locked, go to Settings > General > About. Next to Carrier Lock, look for a message that says “SIM locked.”
If your iPhone is carrier locked, request an unlock from your carrier. Typically, they’ll do this for free if the phone is paid off.
If your SIM is locked with a PIN and you can’t remember it, call your carrier for an unlock code.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Carrier Unlocking Your iPhone

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1
Check Settings to find out which carrier your SIM is locked to. If your iPhone is locked to a specific carrier, you’ll need to contact that carrier to get your phone unlocked. If you got the phone second-hand and you aren’t sure who the former carrier was, here’s how to find out:^{[1]
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- Open the Settings app and select General > About.
- Scroll down until you see the Carrier Lock header. If you see the text “SIM locked” next to it, that means your iPhone is locked to a specific carrier (“No SIM restrictions” means your iPhone is already unlocked).
- Scroll down to the SIM or eSIM section of the menu and locate the Carrier header. You should see the name of your phone’s current carrier (e.g., “T-Mobile”).
2
Contact your iPhone’s current carrier and request an unlock. As long as your iPhone meets certain requirements (i.e., the device is fully paid off and/or has been on that carrier’s service plan for a certain number of months), you should be able to get it unlocked for free. Contact them and ask them to unlock your device. It may take a few days for the process to complete.
- Apple offers a directory of carriers that you can use to easily find your carrier’s contact information. In some cases, there’s a direct link from the directory to the carrier’s unlocking service.
- Unfortunately, if you bought the phone second-hand, the previous owner will need to request the unlock for you.
- There are also third-party carrier unlocking services, but most of them are scams. Use these services at your own risk, and always research them thoroughly first.
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3
Install a new SIM in your unlocked iPhone. Once your carrier informs you that the unlocking process is complete, you can add a new SIM card from your new carrier.
- If your iPhone model uses a physical SIM, simply remove the old card and install the new one to activate with your new carrier.
- Many newer iPhones use an eSIM instead. If your phone uses an eSIM, you’ll need to get a new eSIM from your preferred carrier. There are several ways to activate an eSIM, depending on how your carrier sends the eSIM to you. Consult this guide from Apple to determine the right method.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Unlocking a PIN-Locked SIM

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1
Don’t try to guess your iPhone’s SIM PIN if you’ve forgotten it. A SIM PIN is a code you can use to block others from making unauthorized calls on your iPhone. If your SIM is PIN-locked, you’ll be prompted to enter the PIN any time you restart your iPhone or remove the SIM and put it back in. If you can’t remember your PIN, don’t try to guess it. Entering the wrong code can permanently lock your SIM.^{[2]
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- If your SIM is PIN-locked, you’ll see a message that says “Locked SIM” in your iPhone’s status bar at the top of the screen.
- Your carrier may have a default SIM PIN. You might be able to find it in the documents that you were given when you signed up for your plan. You can also ask your carrier what it is.
2
Call your carrier's customer support line. Before using one of the numbers listed below, try calling *611 or 611--on most phones, this is the default customer support line.
- AT&T Customer Service - 1 (800) 331-0500
- Verizon Customer Service - 1 (800) 922-0204
- T-Mobile Customer Service - 1 (800) 937-8997
- Make sure you have your carrier account PIN on hand so that you can verify your identity.
3
Communicate your problem to the automated assistant. In most cases, you won't reach a human being when you call initially. Instead, say something like "I want to remove a lock PIN on my SIM card" and wait for your call to connect to a customer service representative.
- You may have to wait for up to several hours to get in touch with a representative.
4
Ask your customer service representative for a PIN unlock code. You may also need to explain to them that you aren't trying to unlock your iPhone itself–just the SIM card.
- If you’re completely locked out of your SIM because you entered the wrong PIN too many times, your carrier may be able to provide you with a PUK (“Personal Unlocking Key”). This is an alternative code you can use to unlock your SIM.
- Alternatively, your carrier might give you their default PIN for your SIM card, and you can try to use that to unlock the SIM.
This is the four-digit PIN you'll enter when you go to unlock your SIM card.
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Enter the unlock code provided by your carrier. When your phone prompts you to enter a PIN for your SIM, enter the PUK or PIN your carrier gave you. This should unlock your SIM.
- If you can’t unlock your SIM with the default PIN or the PUK provided by your carrier, or if you get a message that says “PUK exhausted,” you’ll need to request a new SIM or eSIM from your carrier.^{[3]
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- If you accidentally bypassed the screen to enter your PIN, you may be able to trigger it again by turning Airplane Mode on and then off again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Turning Off Your SIM PIN

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This is the grey gear icon on the Home Screen.
This setting might be called Mobile Data in some regions. It’s near the top of the Settings menu.
If you have a dual SIM or dual eSIM, tap the phone number for the SIM you want to unlock. Then, select SIM PIN.
4
Slide the green SIM PIN switch left to the "Off" position. Doing so will signal to your phone that you would like to unlock your SIM card.
- If this slider is white, your SIM card is unlocked already.
5
Type in your SIM PIN. If you don't know your SIM PIN, you can call your service provider for a reset code.
- If SIM PIN was enabled but you’ve never actually set your own PIN, it’s probably set to your carrier’s default PIN. See if you can find it in your plan’s documentation, or contact your carrier to ask what it is. Don’t try to guess it.^{[4]
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It's in the top right corner of the screen. As long as you entered your SIM PIN correctly, your SIM card should now be unlocked. You won’t be required to enter a SIM PIN next time you restart your phone or reinsert the SIM card.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I unlock a SIM card when I have forgotten my password?

Jay

Community Answer

You should visit your carrier and show evidence that it's you with your full name, phone number etc.

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My sim is saying "locked sim." I don’t know what to do. Please help. I cannot call or anything.

TD96

Community Answer

This must mean your phone is locked to your previous phone carrier. Ask the carrier to unlock it for you, or simply get a new unlocked/locked to your new carrier's phone.

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How can I unlock a Globe SIM card without a PUK code for a friend?

Snakey006550

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If your friend’s Globe SIM card is locked and they don't have the PUK code, they will need to retrieve it. Contact Globe’s customer support by calling their hotline or visiting a Globe store, as only they can provide the PUK code. Alternatively, if your friend has an account, they can log in to the GlobeOne app or Globe’s website to view the PUK code. Sometimes the PUK code is printed on the original SIM card packaging or documents. Without the PUK code, the SIM cannot be unlocked, and Globe may need to issue a replacement SIM.

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Tips

If you have any doubts about your SIM PIN, call your service provider (e.g., Verizon) and ask for help.

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Warnings

Trying unsuccessfully to guess your SIM PIN three times will result in your SIM PIN being permanently locked.^{[5]
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