The newly released iPhone 14 is definitely one of the best phones on the market right now. Better cameras, an improved A15 Bionic chip for better performance, dynamic island, vibrant display, etc., are just some of the features making it everyone’s dream phone.
However, you’ll also have to spend a fortune to get one. At that price, the only option left for most people is getting one from a carrier, which leads us to today’s topic; unlocking a carrier-locked iPhone 14.
How to Check if iPhone 14 Is Unlocked
Any phone bought from a carrier is obviously locked to that carrier until it meets all the unlocking requirements. If you bought one directly from an Apple Store, it’s most likely unlocked and can use any SIM card.
However, you can never be sure what you’re getting if you buy one from online platforms like eBay or Craigslist. Either way, it’s best to confirm whether you’re getting a locked or unlocked one.
You can check if your iPhone 14 is locked using the steps below;
Step 1: Launch the Settings app, then go to General > About.
Step 2: Scroll down and locate Network Provider Lock/Carrier Lock.
Step 3: Check the status of the “Network Provider Lock” or “Carrier Lock”. Your iPhone is unlocked if you see the No SIM Restrictions status, as displayed in the screenshot above. Anything different means it’s carrier locked.
There are other ways to check if your iPhone is carrier lock. You can use online IMEI checkers like WipeLock IMEI Checker or insert another carrier’s SIM card and see if you can make calls or send messages.
Nonetheless, confirming via settings remains the most straightforward way.
What Is Carrier Lock & Why Should You Unlock Your iPhone 14?
Assuming your iPhone 14 is locked, what does it mean to you, and why should you have it unlocked? As you’ve probably guessed, carrier lock means your iPhone is locked to a particular network until its contract runs out.
When you purchased your iPhone from your carrier, say Verizon, you signed a contract that allows Verizon to lock your phone to the Verizon network until you pay it off. Most carriers will automatically unlock the phone after this.
Why should you unlock your carrier-locked phone, then? Well,
- You’ll have the freedom to change carriers as you please. You’ll never miss out on a great deal from another carrier.
- Those outrageous roaming charges when travelling will no longer be a problem. Just buy a SIM card from the local carriers, pop it in, and you are set.
- You’ll be able to use two different numbers on the same device. You can use one carrier for home use and the other for work stuff.
- Selling the device will be much easier when you finally decide to upgrade. You’ll also make more money than you would have if it were locked.
- Unlocked phones offer more coverage. Anytime you are outside one carrier’s coverage, you can change SIM cards and continue using your phone as usual.
How to Unlock Your Carrier-Locked iPhone 14
The Free Way – via Carrier
The only trusted, free way of unlocking any carrier-locked phone is by the carrier that locked it in the first place. These carriers will have requirements you must meet before you can be eligible for a free unlock.
One requirement you should expect is a clean blacklist status. No network carrier will unlock an iPhone that has been flagged as lost, stolen or fraudulent.
If you bought a used iPhone, I recommend using WipeLock IMEI Checker to confirm the phone’s blacklist status. It will give you a detailed report manually prepared by WipeLock experts.
Assuming your iPhone’s blacklist is clean, you can unlock it for free by;
Step 1: Submit an unlock request to your carrier.
Step 2: Wait for your carrier to approve your request and confirm that your iPhone has been unlocked.
Step 3: If you have a new SIM card:
- Remove your old SIM card
- Insert the new SIM card you want to use. Your iPhone will automatically activate
Step 4: If you haven’t bought another SIM card:
- Backup then erase your iPhone
- Restore your iPhone from the backup created in the above step.
Contact your carrier for help If your iPhone still doesn’t support the new SIM card.
The paid Way – DirectUnlocks
The free way sounds easy, but it only works if you meet all the eligibility requirements.
However, if you miss one requirement, say the number of days your phone should be active on the carrier’s network before it’s unlocked, you can use a paid unlock service.
One service you can trust to unlock your iPhone is DirectUnlocks. This easy-to-use service allows you to remove the carrier lock from any phone, even if it’s ineligible for a free unlock.
With DirectUnlocks, your iPhone will be permanently unlocked in under 24hrs.
How to Unlock iPhone 14 Using DirectUnlocks
To unlock your iPhone using this service;
Step 1: Dial *#06# to get your iPhone’s IMEI number.
Step 2: Go to DirectUnlocks unlock page.
Step 3: Enter your iPhone’s IMEI number (from step 1), the model and the network it’s locked to.
Step 4: Process the payment to complete your order, then wait for a confirmation email.
Step 5: Follow the instructions in the email to unlock your iPhone.
How to Set up an eSIM After Unlocking an iPhone 14
You might not have the choice of using a physical SIM card if you bought your iPhone 14 in the US. Apple confirmed that all iPhone 14 models available for the US market would only use the eSIM technology; no SIM slot this time!
After successfully unlocking your iPhone 14, the next step is to set up eSIM on it. You can do this through eSIM Carrier Activation, manually entering the eSIM information, or scanning a QR code from your new carrier.
i) eSIM Carrier Activation
Step 1: Ask your carrier to set up eSIM Carrier Activation
Step 2: Tap the “Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed” when it appears on your screen.
Step 3: Go to Settings, then tap “Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.” Tap Continue at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4: Test the eSIM by making a call.
ii) Scanning Qr Code From the Carrier
You can use this method if your carrier does not support eSIM Carrier Activation.
You can set up eSIM While setting up your iPhone by:
Step 1: Tap “Use QR Code” when you reach the “Set Up Cellular” screen.
Step 2: Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up eSIM on your iPhone.
To set up eSIM on your iPhone after setup:
Step 1: Ask your mobile carrier to send you a QR code.
Step 2: Start your camera app and scan the QR code.
Step 3: Tap the “Cellular Plan Detected” notification when it appears on the screen, then tap
Continue again at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4: Tap Add Cellular Plan, then enter the confirmation code provided by your mobile
carrier.
ii) Enter eSIM Information Manually.
There’s the option of setting eSIM manually if the first two methods don’t work. To set up eSIM manually on your iPhone;
Step 1: Ask your carrier for the correct eSIM details
Step 2: Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Step 3: Tap Cellular or Mobile Data.
Step 4: Tap Add Cellular Plan.
Sep 5: Tap Enter Details Manually, then enter the eSIM details from step 1.
Final Words
The iPhone 14 lineup packs a lot of features, and it’s only fair you enjoy them without worrying about network restrictions. I hope that by reading the article to the end, you’ve seen how easy it is to unlock your phone.
For more information on eSIMs, check out our article on the same. Feel to use the comments section for requests or comments.
