How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Unlocked Before Selling

Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock shows "No SIM restrictions" on an unlocked iPhone. Unlocked phones earn the most when you sell.

By the SellUsediPhone team · Updated October 27, 2026

How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Unlocked Before Selling

To check whether your iPhone is unlocked, open Settings > General > About and find Carrier Lock: "No SIM restrictions" means it is unlocked. Any other message means the phone is locked to a carrier. Unlocked iPhones earn the highest offers because they work on any network.

What do the Carrier Lock messages mean?

MessageMeaning
No SIM restrictionsUnlocked
SIM lockedLocked to a carrier
Carrier name shownUsually locked to that carrier

Does a locked iPhone sell for less?

Slightly less, because buyers on other networks cannot use it. You can still sell it; see can you sell a carrier-locked iPhone and the sell locked iPhone page.

How do I get my iPhone unlocked?

  1. Pay off any device balance.
  2. Meet your carrier's unlock rules, such as a minimum time on the account.
  3. Request the unlock online or by phone.
  4. Restart the phone and check Carrier Lock again.

Is carrier lock the same as iCloud lock?

No. Carrier lock limits which networks the phone works on. iCloud Activation Lock ties it to an Apple Account and must be removed before any sale; see selling an iCloud-locked iPhone.

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