Full Guide - What is Carrier Lock 'No SIM Restrictions' on the iPhone

Part 1. What Does 'No SIM Restrictions" on Carrier Lock Mean?

To understand what carrier lock “No SIM Restrictions” means, it’s important to learn about the carrier lock itself.

Carrier lock tells you whether your iPhone is locked to a specific carrier or not. A Carrier-locked iPhone is tied for exclusive use with a particular SIM. This means you cannot use any other SIM card except the one locked with your device.

An advantage of locked iPhones is that they can be bought at significantly low prices. Some of the iPhone carriers include AT&T/Vodafone/T-Mobile/Verizon, etc.

They sell iPhones at discounted prices. But in exchange, you would be restricted to using only their SIM cards.

"No SIM Restrictions" next to the Carrier Lock implies that your iPhone is not restricted to a specific SIM or carrier. You are free to insert any desired SIM card into your iPhone and use its services.

This is great! Unrestricted iPhones are more convenient to use and also more valuable than locked phones. Now you’re smarter about what network provider lock “No SIM Restrictions” means. Don’t skip the next part to find out if your iPhone has any SIM restrictions.

Part 2. How to Check if Your iPhone is SIM Carrier Unlocked?

If you’re struggling to learn whether your iPhone has any SIM restrictions, don’t worry. It is possible to find your iPhone’s carrier lock status. Below we have compiled four practical ways to help you out. Keep reading to explore these methods in detail.

Method 1. Check Your iPhone’s Settings

Our first method will use the Settings app of your iPhone. It is the best way to check for any SIM restrictions on your device. Here’s a step-by-step guide to accessing carrier lock settings on your iOS phone.

Step 1 Go to “Settings” on your iPhone device.

Step 2 Now select “General” to open the general settings of your iPhone.

Step 3 Tap on “About” and scroll down to find the “Network Provider Lock” option. On some iPhones, it will be named as “Carrier Lock.”

If it says “No SIM Restrictions” next to the carrier lock option, your iPhone is carrier unlocked. This means you can use any SIM card on your phone. But if it shows “Carrier locked” your iPhone is locked to a particular carrier.

The Settings app may not show the carrier lock option on iOS 13 and below devices. But don’t worry. Our next method can help you confirm whether your iPhone has any SIM restrictions or not.

Method 2. Experiment with Different SIM Cards

Our next method is the most practical way to find out if your iPhone is unlocked. It utilizes the use of different SIM cards with your iPhone. For this method, you will need at least two SIM cards from different carriers. Make sure that they easily fit in your phone’s SIM tray.

Keep reading to find out how to use this method.

Step 1 Power off your iPhone before proceeding to remove the SIM card.

Step 2 Look for a small round opening the size of a pinhole to locate your SIM card slot.

Step 3 Use a SIM card ejector pin to remove the SIM card from your iPhone. If you don’t have a SIM card ejector, you can use a paperclip or a safety pin as well.

Step 4 Place your new SIM on the tray and slide in until it is fully inserted into your iPhone.

Step 5 Power your iPhone back on. If you see a message reading, “SIM Not Supported,” you’re dealing with iPhone SIM restrictions.

You can safely assume that your iPhone does not have a SIM lock if you do not see any such message. You can further confirm it by calling a friend or anyone else. If the call is connected, there are no SIM restrictions on the iPhone.

Method 3. Consult with Your Network Provider

Our next method is one of the most reliable ways to check for the SIM restrictions on your iPhone. It involves getting a consultation from your carrier service provider. They will be able to tell you the status of your smartphone’s carrier lock.

There are various ways to find the name of your carrier provider if you don’t know it already. You can find it:

• From the logo of your SIM card.
• The three digits of your phone number after the country code.
• Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to the “Network” or “Carrier” section to find the carrier name.

However, this is not a quick solution. It will take some time for your carrier to get back to you. Plus, they will need the IMEI number of your iPhone. So make sure you have that at hand before contacting them.

Method 4. Use an IMEI Checker

Last but not least! You can identify your iPhone carrier lock for “no sim restrictions” by using an online IMEI checker. These tools require the IMEI code of your phone. They will use the number to check if the device with the given code is locked to a carrier or not.

You can find various handy IMEI checking tools online. Although, most of these are not free. But they are a sure fix for finding any SIM restriction on your iPhone. If you don’t know how to access the IMEI of your device, here’s a quick way to find it.

Step 1 Go to “Settings” on your iPhone and choose the “General” option.

Step 2 Now, select the “About” option to open up the information on your device.

Step 3 Scroll down to find the IMEI code of your phone.

That was easy, right? However, finding the IMEI is not restricted to a single way. You can access it in various other ways on different iOS.

• You can find the IMEI written on the back of iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 1st gen SE, 6, and 6 Plus.
• For iPhone 6 to 13, you can find it on your iPhone’s SIM tray.

Provide the IMEI to your carrier after finding it. They will let you know if your iPhone is unlocked. If you end up finding that your phone is locked and you want to use a different SIM, don’t get distressed. There is an easy way out.

Keep reading to find out a quick way to remove the carrier lock on your iPhone.

Part 3. Quickly Remove Carrier Lock/SIM Restrictions With Dr.Fone

Whether you’re dealing with a locked SIM or wish to bypass the iCloud activation lock, Touch ID, or Face ID, Dr.Fone is your trusted friend. It is fast and reliable, requiring no technical expertise on your part. Plus, it is available for both Macbooks and Windows devices.

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Let’s find out how to use this powerful tool to get no SIM restrictions on the iPhone.

First of all! Download and install Dr.Fone on your computer. Then use our guide to rid of SIM restrictions on iPhone.

Step 1 Open the Dr.Fone app on your device after connecting your iPhone to the PC through a USB cable. Click on “Toolbox” from the menu on the left and select “Screen Unlock > iOS.”

Step 2 Select the “remove SIM locked” feature and click on “Start” to initiate the SIM unlock procedure.

Step 3 Dr.Fone will display all the details of your iPhone on your screen. Review the information and click on “Unlock now.”

Step 4 Dr.Fone will now ask you to jailbreak your device. You can click on “Jailbreak Guide” or “Watch video” if you are not familiar with the process of jailbreaking.

Step 5 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed further. You will be prompted to remove the SIM card and turn off the Wi-Fi connections. Re-insert your SIM once you are done and click on “Continue.”

Step 6 A new window will open on your screen. It will display the progress of the SIM unlock procedure. Click on “Done” to close the window once it’s completed.

That’s all! You have successfully removed the SIM restrictions on the iPhone with Dr.Fone. Now let’s go through some questions you might have before calling it a wrap-up!

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Q1. Why does my iPhone say SIM is not supported?

iPhone shows a “SIM Not Supported” message when your phone is locked to a specific carrier. This means that the SIM you are using is not compatible with your phone. You should use the SIM card from the carrier that supports your device.

Q2. How do I find out if my iPhone has SIM restrictions?

There are various useful ways to know if your iPhone has SIM restrictions. You can swap SIM cards or contact your carrier. But the most effective way is to access the settings app on your iPhone. Then, head to General > About > Carrier lock. If it says “No SIM restrictions” next to the carrier lock, there are no iPhone SIM restrictions.

Q3. Can I remove SIM restrictions on my iPhone?

Yes, you can easily remove SIM restrictions on your iPhone by contacting your network provider. They will require a serial number or IMEI of your iPhone. But the most convenient way to remove SIM restrictions is by using a carrier unlocker app like Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS). It works fast and requires no intricate procedure.

Conclusion

Understanding what carrier lock “No sim restrictions” means is invaluable. We have given you key insights into its meaning and four practical ways to check for SIM restrictions on the iPhone.

You can use your iPhone’s Settings, swap different SIM cards, or contact your carrier to find your SIM’s lock status. If your iPhone has any SIM restrictions, you can easily remove them with Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS).

Dr.Fone offers a safe and reliable way to bypass any type of lock on your iOS devices. You can remove iPhone SIM restrictions instantly with its SIM unlock feature. No need to go through a series of intricate steps. Dr.Fone makes managing your phone a work of seconds.

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