Does AT&T charge to unlock an iPhone?

No. If the iPhone meets AT&T’s rules, AT&T unlocks it free of charge, including for people who are no longer AT&T customers.

Can I unlock an iPhone 11 on AT&T?

Yes. The iPhone 11 follows exactly the same rules as every other iPhone. Once it’s unlocked, you put another network’s SIM card in the tray.

My iPhone 14 has no SIM tray. Can it still be unlocked?

Yes. iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US use eSIM only. Once the phone is unlocked, you add the new network’s eSIM instead of putting in a card.

Will unlocking erase my iPhone?

Unlocking itself doesn’t erase anything. You only need to erase and restore the phone if you want to finish the unlock without a SIM from another network, and you back it up first.

Does a network unlock remove iCloud Activation Lock?

No. They’re different locks. A network unlock lets the iPhone use other networks; Activation Lock ties it to an Apple ID. Unlocking one doesn’t touch the other.

Can AT&T unlock a stolen iPhone?

No. AT&T won’t unlock a phone reported lost, stolen or involved in fraud, and neither will we or any honest service.

Network unlock

Unlocking an iPhone on AT&T (USA)

AT&T’s current rules, how to check whether your iPhone is already unlocked, and what to do if AT&T says no or the phone came second-hand.

6 minute read Facts checked 11 October 2026

Checked against AT&T’s unlock policy. Networks change their rules, so check there before you rely on a detail.

Rather not do it yourself? Let us handle it.

Tell us the phone, the country and the network. We check the phone first, then arrange the unlock with a specialist, so there are no forms or rules for you to work through.

We check the phone first: which network it’s locked to, and whether it’s been reported lost or stolen.
You don’t need to be the account holder, or track down whoever was.
No forms, account numbers or confirmation emails to chase.
If our check shows a lost or stolen report, we tell you before you pay for an unlock.
The phone stays with you the whole time.

Enter your IMEI number

It’s a 15-digit number. You can find it in Settings › General › About, or by dialling *#06#.

Country the phone is from

Network it’s locked to

Where do I find my IMEI?

The check costs $9.99. If the phone can be unlocked, you pay the specialist for the unlock itself, and you see their price first.

Doing it yourself, or letting us handle it

Doing it yourself with AT&T (USA)

Every one of AT&T’s rules has to be met: 60 days since it was bought, nothing left to pay, and not active on anyone else’s account.
Bought it second-hand? A balance on the seller’s account blocks the unlock, and AT&T won’t discuss someone else’s account with you.
There’s a form to fill in, a confirmation email to answer and a wait for AT&T’s decision.
If AT&T turns it down, you’re back to phone calls and emails to find out why.

Letting us handle it

Type in the IMEI, pick the country and network, and pay for the check.
We check the phone before you spend anything more.
We send you to the unlock specialist with everything filled in. You don’t need the account holder.

Let us handle it

If you’d rather do it yourself

An iPhone bought from AT&T in the US is usually locked to AT&T’s network until it meets AT&T’s rules. Once it does, AT&T unlocks it for free, and many iPhones now unlock by themselves. This page explains how to check, how to ask, and what to do if AT&T won’t help.

Check whether it’s locked

Your iPhone can tell you straight away.

Open Settings

Tap General, then About.
Find Carrier Lock

Scroll down to the line called Carrier Lock.
Read what it says

“No SIM restrictions” means the iPhone is already unlocked. “SIM locked” means it’s still locked to AT&T.

If it already says No SIM restrictions, you don’t need to do anything else. Put in your new SIM, or add your new network’s eSIM, and you’re done.

AT&T’s rules

AT&T will unlock an iPhone when all of these are true:

It was bought more than 60 days ago.
It’s paid off in full, with nothing left on an installment plan.
It isn’t active on someone else’s AT&T account.
It hasn’t been reported lost or stolen, or linked to fraud.
If you’re an AT&T customer, your bill isn’t overdue.

An AT&T Prepaid iPhone needs 12 months of paid service instead. Business phones also need the company’s permission, and any contract must be complete.

It may unlock by itself

AT&T says eligible iPhones on an AT&T plan should unlock automatically once they meet these rules. It’s worth checking Carrier Lock again before you ask.

Asking AT&T to unlock it

Find the IMEI

Dial *#06# or look in Settings, General, About. You’ll need the 15-digit IMEI for the request.
Fill in AT&T’s unlock request

Go to att.com/deviceunlock. You don’t have to be an AT&T customer: former customers and people who bought the phone second-hand can ask too, as long as the phone meets the rules.
Confirm the email

AT&T emails you to confirm the request. Open it and confirm, or the request won’t go ahead.
Wait for the result

AT&T emails you to say whether the unlock has been approved. You can also check at att.com/deviceunlockstatus.

Finishing the unlock on your iPhone

iPhones don’t need an unlock code. Once AT&T approves the request, you finish it on the phone.

iPhone with a SIM tray (iPhone 13 and earlier, or any iPhone bought outside the US): take out the AT&T SIM, put in the new network’s SIM, and follow the steps on screen.
iPhone 14 or later bought in the US (no SIM tray): open Settings, tap Cellular, then Add eSIM, and follow your new network’s instructions.
No new SIM yet? Back up the iPhone, erase it, then restore it from the backup. That also finishes the unlock.

Which iPhone do you have?

The rules are the same for every iPhone, from the iPhone 11 to the latest model. What changes is how you finish the unlock.

iPhone	How you finish the unlock
iPhone 11, 12 and 13, and SE models	Put in a SIM card from the new network
iPhone 14 and later, bought in the US	Add the new network’s eSIM in Settings

Not sure which model you have? Open Settings, then General, then About, and look at Model Name. Our guide to checking whether a phone is unlocked has more ways to tell.

If AT&T says no

There’s money owing on it. If you bought the iPhone second-hand, the seller may still be paying it off. Ask them to clear the balance, then try again.
It was bought less than 60 days ago. Wait until the 60 days are up and ask again.
It’s been reported lost or stolen. It can’t be unlocked. Our guide to buying a blacklisted phone explains how to get your money back.
AT&T won’t say why, or you can’t meet the rules. Our diagnosis checks which network the iPhone is locked to and whether it has been reported. If it can be unlocked, we direct you to a specialist provider, with your IMEI already filled in.