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What is an IMEI iPhone unlock?
A locked iPhone only accepts the SIM of the carrier that sold it. Unlocking it by IMEI means that carrier flags your device as factory unlocked in Apple's database: from then on it works with any company, in any country. It is the same official process the carrier runs when you finish paying off the phone — except you do not need the account or the contract.
This isn't a jailbreak, an app, or a chip you slide under the SIM. None of those survive an iOS update — this one does, because the change lives on the carrier's side, not on your phone.
How it works
- 1. Get your IMEI.
Dial
*#06#on the phone, or go to Settings → General → About. It's 15 digits. - 2. Pick your carrier service. Each one shows its price, its turnaround, and what happens if your device doesn't qualify.
- 3. Pay and wait. We submit the order to the carrier. We email you and you get a tracking link.
- 4. Insert the new SIM. If it was already in, restart the phone. Done, for good.
Countries and carriers we unlock
There are also services for devices with a balance owed or still under contract. If a device is reported lost or stolen, we won't touch it.
Rather sell it?
Your Phone Is Cash buys iPhones in any condition, even broken. Cash payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the unlock permanent?
Yes. It's done in the carrier's own database — your IMEI gets flagged as factory unlocked. It survives iOS updates, restores and SIM swaps. It isn't a jailbreak, an app or a chip.
How long does it take?
It depends on the carrier. AT&T with a clean IMEI takes 1 to 60 minutes. Sprint and Cricket take 1 to 7 days. Cases with unpaid balances or contracts can take up to 45 days. You see the exact turnaround on each service before paying.
Does it work in any country?
Yes. The unlock runs remotely off the IMEI, so you never ship the phone and you don't have to be in the US. We serve all of the Americas — Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Central America and the Caribbean.
What do I need to start?
Just the 15-digit IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone, or check Settings → General → About. We never need your Apple ID, your password or the phone in hand.
What if my device doesn't qualify?
If the order is rejected and we get refunded, you get a full refund. If we do not get refunded, there is no refund. If the order is rejected on receipt (for example, a mistyped IMEI), you get a full refund and we explain why; if it is accepted and later rejected because the IMEI belongs to another device or the device does not meet the service requirements, there is no refund. Services marked "usually no refund if it fails" almost never get refunded to us when they fail. For the status check + unlock services "Carrier unlock or eligibility diagnosis", if the response is only a carrier diagnosis, we refund the amount shown on the card. The "Checks whether the device is eligible to be unlocked and, if it is, unlocks it" service is an eligibility check: the answer is not refunded, but if the order is rejected and we get refunded, you get a full refund. If the case is unclear, your order goes under review and we email you; you do not need to do anything. Check the IMEI for free before buying.
Does it work if the iPhone has a balance owed or is reported?
Yes. There are specific services for devices with unpaid installments or under contract: they cost more and take longer, but the device does get unlocked. Note the balance is not cleared — what you owe stays owed. What we never do is touch a device reported lost or stolen.
Does my Samsung unlock with a code (NCK) or through the server?
A thirty-second test tells you: put in a SIM from another carrier and turn the phone on. If it asks for a network unlock code — and shows how many tries you have left — it's NCK, and what you buy is the code. If it starts up without asking but has no service, the unlock runs through the server. They're two different services: buying the wrong one does nothing.
How do I know it worked?
We email you as soon as the carrier responds. Your status link distinguishes an unlocked device from a carrier diagnosis. Only when it says unlocked should you test another carrier SIM and restart the phone if needed.
Ready to unlock your iPhone?
Pick your carrier and it is ordered in a couple of taps. From $5.
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